FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 9, 2019
Ontario’s Government for the People Boosting Transit Funding for Municipalities Support will Help Enhance and Expand Transit Systems Across Ontario
TORONTO – Yesterday Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation announced that Ontario’s Government for the People is helping municipalities across the province expand or improve their public transit systems with Ontario’s gas tax program.
“We are investing in public transit to make it a more convenient travel option and attract more riders,” said Yurek. “More public transit will cut through gridlock and get people moving.”
This year, the province is providing $364 million in gas tax funding to 107 municipalities providing public transit service to 144 communities across Ontario. These communities represent over 92 per cent of Ontario’s total population.
Funding for Ontario’s gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province. The program provides municipalities with two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues. Municipalities receiving gas tax funding must use these funds towards their public transit capital and/or operating expenditures, at their own discretion, including upgrading transit infrastructure, increasing accessibility, purchasing transit vehicles, adding more routes and extending hours of service.
“Our government is working to make life better for the people of Ontario. Through Ontario’s gas tax program, the City of Brantford will receive $1,306,752 and the County of Brant will receive $119,749 in funding this year,” said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma. “This investment will help improve the daily commute for many who travel the riding every day.”
The share that each municipality receives under Ontario’s gas tax program is based on a formula of 70 percent ridership and 30 percent population. These funds serve both the needs of large and small municipal transit systems.
Municipalities that contribute financially to public transit services are eligible for funding. Municipalities not currently providing transit can become eligible for funding if they start up fully-accessible transit services.
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For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org