Navdeep Bains, Federal Minister for Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, confirmed a huge federal payment of $32.4 million for six Brampton Transit projects.
Joined by several federal, provincial, and local politicians, Bains noted these six projects are part of 23 projects in Ontario that are to be funded through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF).
The applicable funding was based on transit ridership. Brampton Transit had its highest all-time ridership last year. It was one of the only cities in the GTA with growing ridership.
“Public transit is essential for those who work, study, and play in Brampton, as evidenced by our increasing ridership numbers,” Mayor Linda Jeffrey said.
Under the PTIF, all projects have to be jointly funded by the federal government and the municipality. The federal government will contribute up to 50 per cent of project costs.
Projects being funded:
- Sandalwood Facility expansion: $12.4 million
- Airport Road Zum corridor: $9.5 million
- 20 replacement buses: $6.1 million
- 3 new articulated buses: $2.1 million
- New Automated Vehicle Monitoring System: $1.2 million
- Expansion/replacement of transit shelters: $1 million
In all, Brampton will receive $32.4 million.
The city submitted the list of six projects back in October 2016, however funding was not guranteed. There was a chance the projects could be rejected.
Now that funding for the Airport Road Zum has been confirmed, Brampton Transit staff will be working to decide its endpoint. A consultation session is expected in the spring, with a decision to be made in the summer.
