New buses, new fare boxes, traffic signals that give priority to buses and upgraded bus stops will be where Guelph Transit spends the $9.7 million it got from the federal government on Friday.
The city will be matching those funds, meaning over $18 million in upgrades to the system are on the way.
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield announced that Guelph Transit will be getting a total of $9,681,491 as part of the federal government's Public Transit Infrastructure Fund announcements made on Friday.
The federal money will be spend as follows:
- $7.4 million for 24 new buses and nine specialized vehicles.
- $1.3 million for replacing fare boxes to improve efficiency, reduce fraud and allow for automatic validation of U of G bus passes and transfers.
- $500,000 to upgrade traffic signal control systems on major streets.
- $363,000 to upgrade 132 bus stops, improving accessibility and providing more shelters.
- $148,000 towards the city's Transportation Master Plan.
"Faster, better and more efficient," said Longfield in making the announcement at the Guelph Transit headquarters on
"By working with our provincial and municipal partners, the Government of Canada will deliver real support through projects like this which will improve the efficiency, accessibility and develop a master transportation plan for the residents of
Guelph MPP Liz Sandals was on hand for the event and thanked the feds for the money.
"We're thrilled that we have a federal partner in our transit projects, finally," Sandals said.
With Mayor Cam Guthrie out of town, councillor Mark MacKinnon, who called it "a great day" for Gueph Transit, public transportation and the City of
Guelph Transit currently sees over 7 million trips a year.
"This will help improve the customer service experience all throughout
Guelph CAO Derrick Thomson made the point of recognizing Andrew Cleary, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1189, who was at the event, and praised the work of transit staff.
"It's not just an investment in our infrastructure, it's an investment in our people," Thomson said.
