Canada and Ontario support improved cycling and public transit infrastructure for Guelph residents

The Voice of Canada News:

GUELPH —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 transportation infrastructure play a key role in supporting affordable and sustainable transportation services that allow Ontarians to get to work, school and essential services on time, and safely back home at the end of the day.

Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Stephen Crawford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Oakville and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and His Worship Cam Guthrie, Mayor of the City of Guelph announced funding for two projects that will expand Guelph’s public transit fleet while supporting its transition to clean energy transportation.

The first project involves the expansion and enhancement of the cycling network in Guelph. Construction of new accessible bike paths and improvements to bike path intersections will improve safety for cyclists and provide direct access to the city’s public transit system.

The second project consists of the construction of a new Guelph Transit terminal building at Guelph Central Station that meets accessibility and energy efficiency standards. The new building will include passenger waiting areas and public washrooms, as well as amenities for transit employees.

Together, these investments will make it easier for cyclists and public transit users to get around their community safely while protecting the environment.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.8 million to the cycling network expansion and $2.7 million to the Guelph Central Station project through the Public Transit Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is providing over $3 million, while the City of Guelph’s contribution is more than $11 million to both projects.

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 public transit systems that are better connected to active transportation networks is essential to building the healthy, sustainable communities of tomorrow. Adding new accessible paths to Guelph’s growing cycling network and building a modern, efficient transit terminal are great examples of working with our partners to build infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities while taking action on climate change.”- Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Today, Ontario is investing an additional $3 million to support local transit infrastructure in Guelph, adding to the more than $33-million investment announced in January. With the approval of these projects and this joint investment of more than $18 million from Ontario, the federal government and the City of Guelph will help jump start the local recovery and create much needed jobs. I am very pleased that Guelph is now able to move forward with these local priority projects and to deliver improved transit to the community.”- Stephen Crawford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Oakville and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure

“As Guelph continues to grow, it’s critical that we invest in accessible, sustainable infrastructure projects that support our community’s vision for a connected city where people can move around freely. The funding announced today represents an important step forward as we work to make this vision a reality. On behalf of Council and the City of Guelph, I want to thank the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario for their contributions to these important projects, and for their continued partnership in helping Guelph achieve its climate goal to be a net-zero carbon community by 2050.”- Cam Guthrie, Mayor, City of Guelph