THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Transit could get more than $10.4 million from Ottawa, via Queen's Park, to upgrade its fleet and infrastructure.
In total the province has nominated 13 Thunder Bay transit projects to the federal government, seeking approval under Ottawa’s rural and northern and public transit infrastructure streams of the 10-year, $30-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
The largest single ask would provide $2.73 million to build a new transfer hub and make improvements at four existing hubs to allow for better accessibility.
The province wants to earmark another $2.33 million to build 20 kilometres of pedestrian facilities, which it says would include either sidewalks or multi-use trails to improve access to bus stops.
Another $1.64 million would be spent to purchase 12 specialized buses and four conventional buses to replace existing buses in the transit fleet.
The money would also help keep drivers safer.
The province is seeking $350,000 to purchase driver shields on 48 buses and updated mobility securement devices. Another $870,000 would allow for the purchase of electronic fare management systems for 48 conventional buses and hand-held readers for 25 specialized transit vehicles.
Forty new bus shelters and other improvements at 378 stops would cost $640,000 and $360,000 was asked for to refurbish nine buses to decrease service interruptions due to mechanical failure.
The province also asked for $730,000 to construct 21 pedestrian crossovers to improve access to bus stops and $100,000 to purchase and implement an on-demand mobility software system that will allow passengers an Internet-based trip management option and a payment platform.
The money is part of $480 million being requested by the province through the federal program.
"Ontario is keeping its promise to make sure people can get where they need to go in a safe and efficient way," said Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott, in a release issued early Friday evening.
"Infrastructure investments help businesses to move goods and deliver their services more broadly and efficiently. And they create jobs, helping to make Ontario open for business."
