David O. announces $1.1M for Sault transit

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

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Province Invests in Improving Local Public Transportation

Ontario’s Gas Tax Program is helping Sault Ste. Marie expand and improve public transit David Orazietti MPP announced today.

“The support from our government is helping Sault Ste. Marie make significant transit improvements for local commuters and visitors to our community,” said Orazietti. “Through numerous provincial programs, including making the provincial gas tax program permanent, we are assisting in reducing overall municipal tax pressures.”

Ontario is providing $1,166,217 in funding through the provincial gas tax program to Sault Ste. Marie to improve its public transit system.

This is the 12th consecutive year that the Ontario government is providing support to Sault Ste. Marie to improve its public transit system for residents and families. 

In 2013, the provincial government made its funding for the Gas Tax Program permanent to help municipalities improve transit.

In total $12,707,327 in new money for public transportation in Sault Ste. Marie has been delivered through this program as follows:

• Year 1 (1 cent per litre) $592,513
• Year 2 (1.5 cents per litre) $888,923
• Year 3 (2 cents per litre) $1,186,562
• Year 4 (2 cents per litre) $1,171,137
• Year 5 (2 cents per litre) $1,165,205
• Year 6 (2 cents per litre) $1,198,721
• Year 7 (2 cents per litre) $1,219,782
• Year 8 (2 cents per litre) $1,211,118
• Year 9 (2 cents per litre) $1,188,805
• Year 10 (2 cents per litre) $583,214 – (only includes 6 months funding to re-align with municipal/provincial budgets)
• Year 11 (2 cents per litre) $1,135,130
• Year 12 (2 cents per litre) $1,166,217

Ontario is building safe, reliable infrastructure to help create jobs and ensure a bright future for the province.

Between April and September of this year alone, the province announced support for more than 200 projects that will keep people and goods moving, strengthen the economy, connect communities and improve quality of life.

The 2015-16 gas tax funding builds on that progress.

“Once again the Government of Ontario has made a strong funding commitment to the City of Sault Ste. Marie for the operation of local public transit. The $1,166,217 in Gas Tax Funding will continue to support ongoing expanded regular transit service, which includes the recently opened new St. Mary’s and Superior Heights High Schools. In addition, for the first time, Gas Tax Funding will support our expanded Community Bus service to the New Mill Market and Sault Canal properties located on our community’s developing waterfront. Public transit service for the disabled in Sault Ste. Marie also benefits from the Gas Tax Funding, as we are able to assist more individuals with their travel needs throughout the community by adding increased hours of Para bus service and a badly needed second dispatcher to assist with the daily deployment of our fleet of Para buses,” said Don Scott, Manager, Sault Ste. Marie Transit & Parking.

Investing in transit is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up.

The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUICK FACTS

• One bus takes up to 40 vehicles off the road, and keeps 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere each year.
• In 2014, there was an increase of more than 217 million trips on municipal transit systems across the province, compared to 2003. This is the equivalent of removing approximately 181 million car trips from Ontario roads.
• Ontario’s population is expected to grow by approximately 40 per cent by 2041, placing additional importance on having modern infrastructure to support a growing population.
• Research shows that every $100 million of public infrastructure investment in Ontario boosts GDP by $114 million, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors.

LEARN MORE

Moving Ontario Forward

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