Canada and Ontario invest in public transit and active transportation infrastructure for residents of Niagara Region

The Voice of Canada News

Niagara Falls, Ontario —The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities of the Governments of Canada and Ontario. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than Canadians’ personal health. It is having a profound effect on the economy.

That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.

Strategic investments in public transit and active transportation infrastructure play a key role in ensuring Ontarians can get to work and essential services on time then safely back home at the end of the day.

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines; Sam Oosterhoff, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West and Stephen Crawford, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure and Member of Provincial Parliament for Oakville on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; Jim Bradley, Chair of Niagara Region; His Worship Jim Diodati, Mayor of the City of Niagara Falls; and His Worship Walter Sendzik, Mayor of the City of St. Catharinesannounced funding for 31 public transit projects in the Niagara Region.

Several of the projects across the region involve improvements to transit routes and infrastructure, including new buses, renovations to bus shelters as well as new surveillance systems to ensure passenger safety. New fare payment technology will enable customers to use one method of contactless payment to access all of the transit systems across Niagara Region.

In Niagara Falls, the construction of a multi-modal hub on Bridge Street will increase access to local transit and transportation alternatives for residents using the GO regional transit system and help keep pedestrians safe in a traffic-centric location.

In St. Catharines, 21 new buses and four new paratransit vehicles will add capacity to the existing bus fleet, encouraging more residents to choose public transit by providing them with more frequent and accessible bus service. 

The projects announced support a regional approach to public transit throughout Niagara, St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, and Welland to help build inclusive and resilient communities. By modernizing and expanding public transit systems in the region and connecting residents to active transportation alternatives, Ontarians can get around their communities safely while protecting the environment.

The Government of Canada is investing over $31 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is providing more than $26 million to the projects, while the municipalities are contributing more than $21 million.

Quick Facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• $28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Across the province, Ontario is investing more than $7.3 billion in public transit infrastructure over 10 years through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Quotes

“Investing in modern and integrated public transit systems and active transportation is essential for building healthier and more resilient communities. The projects announced today in the Niagara will increase availability and improve accessibility of public transit allowing residents to getting where they need to go safely and affordably. This is a great example of how we are working with our partners to build stronger, more sustainable infrastructure that will serve communities now and in the future.”

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

on behalf of The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Investing in public transit infrastructure across Niagara Region, we are working cooperatively with our partners to support jobs, improve our communities and build confidence as we safely and sustainably restore economic growth. Today’s investments in St. Catharines Transit shows how we are working together to build infrastructure that makes people’s lives better by giving them more options for getting around their communities safely and affordably.”-Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

“Investing in the local transit infrastructure of the Niagara Region will not only modernize and expand the public transit system, it will also contribute to kick starting the local recovery and create jobs. Ontario’s contribution will help the Niagara Region move forward with local priority projects and deliver improved transit to communities.”- The Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure

“We move another significant step closer to the completion of 31 new projects that will be game-changers for the City of Niagara Falls and the Regional Municipality of Niagara. These investments will improve capacity, reliability and accessibility of local public transit infrastructure for the people of Niagara, including passengers who require specialized care.”- Sam Oosterhoff, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West

“On behalf of Niagara, I am pleased to see all three levels of government coming together to make a meaningful investment in public transit across the region. In the challenging time when everyone is grappling with the effects of COVID-19, it is encouraging to know that we can still all continue to focus on funding critical infrastructure to ensure the sustainable delivery of public services.”-Jim Bradley, Niagara Regional Chair

“The Major announcements mark another great stride in transportation in Niagara Falls and the Region. Transit is a key area where we have come together in the Region to make significant progress, helping people travel more fluidly, seamlessly and effortlessly in Niagara. We could not be more thrilled about the government’s support of these critical projects in our community.”- Jim Diodati, Mayor, City of Niagara Falls

“Integrated transit has been identified as a strategic priority for St. Catharines City Council. These investments further strengthen the infrastructure that is going to be required for a fully integrated and public transit system, not just for our City, but the region as a whole. That will mean a system that supports the growth of our economy and moving people quickly and efficiently, in a more environmentally responsible way. Thank you to our federal and provincial partners to making these investments and helping create more prosperity across our community.”-Walter Sendzik, Mayor, City of St. Catharines

“The City of Welland is pleased to have received this funding so we can move ahead with the construction of a new transit operations facility, which will meet with needs of a growing public transit network. The new facility will provide space for maintaining and managing all conventional and specialized buses and staff training.”-Frank Campion, Mayor, City of Welland

“This funding will assist Fort Erie to continue its expansion of public transit to better serve our residents and to facilitate the eventual integration of the local transit systems in Niagara into one Region-wide system.”-Wayne H. Redekop, Mayor of Fort Erie