Government of Canada provides $5.65 million for bus fleet expansion

The Canadian government kicked in $5.65 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund for the purchase.

“This important investment in public transit will help to meet the environmental objectives and public transportation needs of the Capital Regional District,” Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn said. “Through our successful infrastructure partnership, the government of Canada is supporting [British Columbia] communities and the health of the environment.”

According to the government of Canada, the new buses will be used to implement the initial transit phases of the Capital Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy.The City of Victoria and the Capital Regional District have designed Douglas Street as the preferred transit corridor in both the Regional Growth Strategy and the associated “TravelChoices” strategy.

The total cost of the new buses will be $12.8 million, with BC Transit providing the remainder of funds.

“I’m pleased that this funding will expand the bus fleet in the capital region and increase options for environmentally sustainable transportation,” said Ida Chong, minister of Community Services in British Columbia. “This government partnership will go a long way to encourage more residents in Greater Victoria to leave their cars at home by choosing public transit.”

Gas Tax Fund available for green infrastructure projects

Funding from the Gas Tax Fund is available to local governments in Canada for infrastructure projects that contribute to national environmental outcomes of cleaner air, cleaner water or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In British Columbia, the Union of BC Municipalities administers the fund.

In August, the partners of the Gas Tax Fund announced the transfer of $11.3 million to support the construction of the E&N Rail Trail, a 17-kilometer multimodal trail that will extend from the Johnson Street Bridge in downtown Victoria to Humpback Road in Langford.

“Fleet expansion will provide improved transit service throughout the region,” said Susan Gimse, president of the Union of BC Municipalities. “In combination with the construction of the E&N Rail Trail, the Gas Tax Fund is assisting the CRD to achieve its goal of better cycling, walking and public transit services.”

Government has committed billions for infrastructure improvements

Recently, the government of Canada and British Columbia signed a framework agreement under Building Canada, the government’s new long-term infrastructure plan. Under the agreement, over $1 billion has been set aside for projects in British Columbia through the Building Canada Fund component of the plan. The framework agreement also confirms that the province of British Columbia will receive $25 million in base funding annually, for a total of $175 million through to 2014.

Approximately $1.5 billion will flow to British Columbia municipalities through the Gas Tax Fund between 2007 and 2014. Overall, the total federal commitment to British Columbia is $2.7 billion over seven years under Building Canada.

For more information on the Gas Tax Agreement, click here.

For more information on the Canada-British Columbia Building Canada Infrastructure Framework Agreement, click here.