Canada and Alberta fund 89 projects to improve public transit across the province

The governments of Canada and Alberta have announced $270.3 million for 52 new projects across Alberta through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding – just over $132.9 million – while the province is investing more than $79.4 million through Alberta’s Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP). Municipalities are contributing the balance of $58 million.

In addition, Alberta announced a further $156.5 million in GreenTRIP funding for 37 projects and is providing up to two-thirds of the cost for those projects. Municipalities will provide the balance of $79.2 million, for a total of $235.7 million.

The list of new public transit projects includes significant investments in Calgary for critical work to support the city’s Green Line LRT corridor. It also includes other important projects, such as the design and construction of bus bay turnouts and shelters in Fort McMurray, which will provide a safe location for passengers to get on and off buses away from traffic. Buses in Strathcona County will also be replaced, achieving 100 per cent accessibility for this municipality’s transit fleet ahead of schedule, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Government of Canada recognizes how important affordable and efficient transit infrastructure is to growing the middle class and getting Canadians to work on time and back home quickly at the end of a long day. We are very pleased to announce new public transit projects, which will help make municipalities across Alberta stronger, more inclusive and sustainable, while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

These projects are in addition to the 49 public transit projects announced for Alberta on September 1, 2016 as part of the signing of the Canada-Alberta bilateral agreement.

Quick Facts

• This funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada’s historic plan to support public infrastructure across the country.
• The long term infrastructure plan will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit, green and social infrastructure, transportation infrastructure that supports trade, as well as rural and northern communities.
• This announcement marks a major federal infrastructure investment milestone. Including the projects announced today, over 1,000 projects have been approved for Government of Canada funding since November 2015.
• The Government of Alberta’s nearly $236-million contribution in this announcement and the $106.2 million transit investment announced on September 1, 2016, are from the province’s GreenTRIP fund, for a total of $342.2 million
• Alberta municipalities will provide a total investment of $243.5 million.
• Since the program began in 2008, Alberta’s $2 billion GreenTRIP investment has supported 133 approved transit projects. The program, now coming to a close, offers up to two-thirds of funding from the province.