111 Huron Street flooded by gully-washer of Liberal cash

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI

******************** Orazietti announces $888,923 in provincial gas tax funding for Sault Ste. Marie Transit: Year Two

Sault Ste. Marie — The McGuinty government's gas tax funding program has increased ridership by 3.4 per cent across Ontario and expanded and improved transit services in Sault Ste. Marie, MPP David Orazietti announced today.

"We are delivering on our commitment to provide provincial gas tax funding for public transit in Sault Ste. Marie," said Orazietti. "The gas tax revenue is important to our city because it is a source of long-term, stable funding, allowing Sault Ste. Marie to plan for local transit improvements as well as manage financial challenges."

Last year Sault Ste. Marie received $592,513 in provincial gas tax funding.

This year's provincial gas tax funding for Sault Ste. Marie Transit totals $888,923.

Increased ridership reduces traffic congestion, commute times and smog.

Transit riders benefit from more convenient and efficient transit systems.

"This commitment by the province is allowing us to look at innovative opportunities and partnerships to provide a high quality customer-driven transit system," said Mayor John Rowswell.

In 2004/05, Ontario started sharing one cent a litre of the gas tax with municipalities across Ontario, resulting in $156 million for local transit funding.

In the second year of the program municipalities will receive one-and-a-half cents a litre, totalling $232 million.

The investment will grow to two cents a litre by October 2006.

Funding from the gas tax program is in addition to the government's other commitments to strengthen Ontario’s public transit.

By 2009, the government will invest more than $1 billion in gas tax funding on public transit.

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