New public transit investments to build strong communities, fight climate change, and create new jobs across Canada

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

Investing in public transit infrastructure shortens commute times for families, creates good middle class jobs, grows our economy, and cuts air pollution. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $13 billion in 1,300 public transit projects for communities across Canada. This is the largest public transit investment in Canadian history, and as we build back better from the global COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to make these smart investments that support Canadians.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced $14.9 billion for public transit projects over the next eight years, which includes permanent funding of $3 billion per year for Canadian communities beginning in 2026-27. This announcement provides cities and communities the predictable transit funding they need to plan for the future, and is part of our plan to create one million jobs, fight climate change, and rebuild a more sustainable and resilient economy. These investments will:

Help Canadians move around easier and create new jobs by building major public transit projects, providing dedicated planning funding to accelerate future major projects, and supporting the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day.
Reduce pollution and create jobs for Canadians by enhancing public transit systems and switching them to cleaner electrical power, including supporting the use of zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure, complementing the work of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Support healthy lifestyles in our communities and meet the growing demand for active transportation projects, including by building walkways and paths for cycling, walking, scooters, e-bikes, and wheelchairs.
Help Canadians living in rural and remote areas travel to and from work more easily and access essential services, by working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to identify and create transit solutions that meet their needs.
Support our cities and communities by making a permanent and stable federal commitment to funding public transit, and facilitate partnerships between all orders of government, Indigenous communities, transit agencies, and other stakeholders to develop an approach to permanent public transit funding in a manner that offers the greatest benefits to Canadians.

Investing in public transit infrastructure will build strong communities across the country and deliver a better quality of life for all Canadians. The government will continue to invest in projects that best support our recovery, create middle class jobs and economic growth, and help us reach our climate targets. Together, we can create a Canada that is cleaner, more competitive, and more resilient for generations to come.

Quotes

"When we invest in public transit infrastructure, we are supporting good middle class jobs, creating better commutes, fighting climate change, and helping make life easier and more affordable for Canadians. We will continue to do what it takes to ensure our economic recovery from COVID-19 and build back a more resilient country for everyone."
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

"As we build back better, it is time to ambitiously invest in modern and sustainable public transit across our country, to reduce congestion, to help create a million jobs, and to support cleaner and more inclusive communities. Permanent, long-term funding for public transit will mean new subway lines, light-rail transit and streetcars, electric buses, cycling paths and improved rural transit. It will mean that Canadians can get around in faster, cleaner, and more affordable ways. And it will help drive us to net-zero emissions and ensure a more sustainable future for our kids."
The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Our government is committed to investing in public transit in communities across the country. We are working in collaboration with municipal, provincial and territorial governments to support Canadians in building a strong economy and clean environment."
The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

"Investing in cleaner and more affordable modes of transportation is an important part of Canada's strengthened climate plan – one that means we will exceed our 2030 target and that will put us on a path to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. Transportation accounts for one-quarter of Canada's emissions and represents an area that is in need of smart climate investments, like the ones that we have announced today, to support good Canadian jobs, a stronger economy, and a healthier planet."
The Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

Since 2015, the Government of Canada has spent over $13 billion in more than 1,300 public transit projects across Canada. These investments have helped build more than 240 kilometres of new public transit subway and light rail line, purchase over 300 zero-emission buses, and create almost 500 kilometres of active transportation trails, bike and pedestrian lanes, and recreational paths.
Through the Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada is already investing $28.7 billion to support public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
In October, as part of the Canada Infrastructure Bank's three-year, $10 billion Growth Plan, the government announced that $1.5 billion of the available funding will be used to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure so Canadians can have cleaner commutes.
Canada's strengthened climate plan committed to provide permanent public transit funding. The plan encourages cleaner modes of transportation, such as low and zero-emission vehicles, transit, and active transportation, to make communities healthier, less congested, and more vibrant.
In July 2020, the Government of Canada announced the Safe Restart Agreement, a federal investment of over $19 billion to help provinces and territories restart their economies while protecting the health of Canadians. The investment included a contribution of up to $2 billion to support municipalities with COVID-19 operating costs for six to eight months, and a commitment to cost-match more than $2.3 billion to support any additional provincial or territorial contributions for public transit.

Source : Prime Minister's Office

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Audio from Press Conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.MP3

Backgrounder: A Plan to Permanently Fund Public Transit and Support Economic Recovery

Historic investments made since 2015Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $13 billion for public transit projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.These historic investments in public transit have resulted in over 1,300 projects right across the country. Thanks to these investments, more than 247 km of new public transit subway and light rail line has been built, over 300 zero-emission buses have been purchased, and almost 500 km of active transportation trails, bike and pedestrian lanes and recreational paths have been created.For example, in Vancouver, BC, investments have allowed for upgrades to the Skytrain Expo and Millennium Lines. In Coldwell, MB, the purchase of a handi-van is providing mobility options for seniors and residents with disabilities, and in Montreal, the construction of the Réseau express métropolitain, a new automated light rail network that will span the greater Montréal area, is now well under way. With these investments, the government has worked with its provincial, territorial and municipal partners to create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster more inclusive communities.The impacts of COVID-19 and need to build back betterThe COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we use public transit but has not made it any less important. Public transit, rural transit solutions and active transportation infrastructure continue to provide reliable, fast, affordable and clean ways for people to get around. These benefits are felt the most by disadvantaged groups for whom car travel isn't accessible. Essential workers have relied on buses, subways, ride-sharing programs and pathways to get to where they are needed in grocery stores, hospitals and care facilities.In addition to providing an essential service, Canada's transit systems are key economic drivers, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in economic benefits, starting from the planning stage all the way through construction and operation. Investments in public transit, particularly in electrification, are critical to Canada's meeting its climate targets since the transportation sector accounts for about 25 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. As the government looks to economic recovery, public transit is critical to getting the economy moving again.Canada has a great story to tell on public transit. Most Canadians may not realize that Canada is a world leader in transit manufacturing. Automotive sector workers in Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Kingston, Saint-Eustache and Saint-Jérôme produce some of the world's best buses, subways and LRTs.Establishing the permanent public transit fundToday's announcement establishes the creation of a permanent public transit fund of $3 billion per year, beginning in 2026-27 . For decades governments have heard from municipalities and transit authorities that a source of permanent and stable funding is essential to allow for careful and long-term project planning and delivery.Over the coming months, Infrastructure Canada will work with provinces, territories, municipalities, local governments, Indigenous communities, transit agencies, policy experts and other stakeholders to develop programming for the $3 billion in permanent public transit funding in a manner that offers the greatest benefits to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Consultations on the design of the new permanent transit funding will begin in the near future to address how all orders of government can work in partnership to get the most out of investments in public transit.Accelerating ambitious public transit projects and planningThe government is moving rapidly to support the recovery from COVID-19. Building on these historic investments, today the government also announced additional public transit funding that will accelerate ambitious projects and planning that will: Help Canadians move around easier and create new jobs by building major public transit projects, providing dedicated planning funding to accelerate future major projects, and supporting the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day. Reduce pollution and create jobs for Canadians by enhancing public transit systems and switching them to cleaner electrical power, including supporting the use of zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure.Support healthy lifestyles in our communities and meet the growing demand for active transportation projects, including by building walkways and paths for cycling, walking, scooters, e-bikes, and wheelchairs.Help Canadians living in rural and remote areas travel to and from work easier and access essential services, by working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to identify and create transit solutions that meet their needs. The importance of safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems has been magnified over the course of the pandemic, and public transit will remain a critical element of the sustainable mobility of future cities, providing an efficient way to address congestion and reduce pollution, and enabling people in our communities to access jobs, services, and be active participants in those communities. Investments under these new funds will be directed to projects that best support the recovery from COVID-19 and create the greatest benefits for Canadians.Source : Infrastructure Canada

https://www.railfans.ca/news/backgrounder-a-plan-to-permanently-fund-public-transit-and-support-economic-recovery

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