Trudeau makes $3M funding announcement for transit in the Sault (update, 15 photos)

MP Terry Sheehan says approximately $3-million in federal funds will be made available to the city for transit infrastructure improvements as result of today’s funding announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

A total of $3.4-billion will be made available to municipalities through the federal government’s transit infrastructure fund announced by Trudeau this morning at the bus barn on Huron Street.

Sheehan said the calculation of the city’s share is early and may increase or decrease, depending on what applications are made to the government.

He noted other entities within the riding, including First Nations and Prince Township, may also apply for their own infrastructure dollars.

“There is opportunities for more support, when and if we receive applications from improvements to transit,” said Sheehan.

Mayor Christian Provenzano said the city relies on the other levels of government for all types of funding.

“When programs like this come into play, and we can access money to modernize our infrastructure, that’s less money we have to take from our one revenue-generating source — which is taxes. That leaves that money to invest in not only economic development, but in quality of life issues,” said Provenzano immediately after the announcement.

Provenzano said the bus barn itself has been identified by city staff as requiring an update.

“It’s one of our oldest buildings that needs the most work,” said Provenzano.

The mayor suggests there are other transit infrastructure projects the city my apply for.

“It’s early stages on this. We will have to see what the parameters of the program are and see what we have here that fits,” said Provenzano.

Trudeau is in Sault Ste. Marie as part of a swing through Northern Ontario.

He is scheduled to move on to Thunder Bay this afternoon where he will make another appearance at that city's municipal bus barn.

On Thursday, Trudeau stopped in Sudbury, where he confirmed the federal government's commitment to contribute $26.7 million to a road extension project.