Thank you to Councillor Mark Mackinnon (above) for representing the City  on this announcement today!

March 31, 2017, Guelph, Ontario – The governments of Canada and Ontario are making investments to create jobs and grow the middle class while building a foundation for a strong, sustainable economic future. Investing in public infrastructure supports efficient and affordable transit services that help Canadians safely get to and from work, school and other activities on time.
MP Lloyd Longfield, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced today that the City of Guelph’s new public transit project has been approved.
Part of the City of Guelph’s transit funding will include $9,681,491 from the Federal Government which will be matched by the City of Guelph. Guelph will benefit from the following projects:
$7,370,770 for Transit Bus Replacement: including 24 conventional buses and 9 specialized vehicles;
$1,300,000 for replacing fare boxes on all buses to improve efficiency, reduce potential for fraud and missed fares, and automate validation of student passes (U-pass) and transfers;

$363,221 to upgrade 132 bus stops to ensure multi-route stops have shelters and, where possible, all stops are accessible;

$147,500 for developing a Transportation Master Plan for Guelph that addresses all modes of transportation including transit, vehicular transportation, active transportation and trails;

$500,000 for upgrading the traffic signal control system that coordinates traffic signals along major streets. This involves replacing two outdated systems with a new system that will reduce traffic congestion and delays and enable transit signal priority.

These projects are part of a list of 312 projects announced across Ontario on March 31, 2017, under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). The federal government is providing 50 per cent of funding for these projects and the provincial government and municipalities will provide the balance of funding.

Also on March 31, Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged the importance of public transit to Canadians, as stated in Budget 2017, by announcing federal funding for major GO Transit Regional Express Rail projects across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Ontario for the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.
Quotes:
“Efficient and sustainable public transit plays an important role in keeping our communities among the best places in the world to live while supporting the middle class and those working hard to join it. 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.”
-Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph
“I am pleased to have a federal partner that shares our commitment to investing in modern, accessible public transit. These upgrades to our transit system will benefit our entire community and improve riders’ experience for a more comfortable and efficient daily commute.”
-Liz Sandals, Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph
“I want to thank the Government of Canada for this funding, which represents a major investment in the future of Guelph’s transit system. New buses, bus shelters, fare boxes, and signal controls will all improve the customer experience – while boosting operational efficiency at the same time. This is a big day for Guelph Transit and for the City of Guelph.”
-Mayor Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph