Province pitches in over $4.9 million for city transit, Batchewana road projects

The province is pitching in over $4.9 million for five Sault Ste. Marie Transit Service infrastructure projects and a road construction project for Batchewana First Nation. 

All projects were nominated by the province for the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), and will now be reviewed for eligibility by the federal government. 

If approved for federal funding, the six nominated infrastructure projects will be eligible for up to $15.3 million from federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. 

“These are critical infrastructure projects for our local communities,” said Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano during Friday’s funding announcement at the Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association. “As a province, we want to ensure that we do everything we can to help our local municipalities - help reduce the burden on our local municipalities, and do everything we can to help them develop critical infrastructure and important transit needs within the communities.”

“I’m very proud to be able to work together with Chief Sayers of Batchewana First Nation and Mayor Christian Provenzano at the City of Sault Ste. Marie to ensure that we can assist our partners.”

If approved for federal funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services could see new buses, the construction of a northern transfer point, relocation of the downtown bus terminal, replacement of bus shelters, and upgrades to bus fare boxes and automatic vehicle location systems. 

“It means better user experience - air conditioning on buses, things like bike racks on buses and proper heating, and also the services that are on the bus as well,” said Brent Lamming, director of community services, while speaking to reporters Friday. “So we’re looking to modernize our fleet.”

Meanwhile, Batchewana First Nation could see a new road in the northwest region of its Rankin community that would ultimately allow for more housing. 

“In the times of reconciliation, I am so impressed with how the government’s arising to meet some of the expectations that we set out from our perspective in regards to the relationship,” said Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers. 

The province anticipates that some of the infrastructure projects could begin as early as the fall of 2019 if approved by the federal government.