Thunder Bay transit projects get $25M boost
The federal, provincial and municipal governments announced more than $25 million in funding for 13 transit projects in Thunder Bay on August 28.
The investments come as part of the public-sector’s plan to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Much of the funding is being directed toward the expansion of the city’s bus fleet, as well as enhancements to fare-management systems, safety equipment and mobility systems.
The city will, for example, buy four conventional buses to help make the transit system more reliable, 14 specialized paratransit buses will provide accessible, door-to-door service for passengers who need more assistance, and invest in 40 new bus shelters and several hundred new mobility pads to improve accessibility.
“Many residents in Thunder Bay rely on public transit to get around each day,” said Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay−Rainy River. “These investments with our partners are helping make our city more liveable and sustainable, now and into the future.”
There is, however, funding available for construction projects. The governments will spend approximately $8.2 million on upgrading four existing transit hubs. The work includes widening sidewalks, installing automatic doors, real-time passenger information screens and heated shelters, and building a new transit hub that improve passenger accessibility and overall quality of the public transit system.
A further $2.2 million will be spent on building 23 pedestrian crossovers in high-traffic areas throughout the city, while $1.4 million has been set aside to build new sidewalks and multi-use trails to improve accessibility to public transit stops. Finally, $700,000 has been earmarked for renovations to the city’s public transit garage. That scope sees the replacement of overheard doors, a section of the roof and other components.
“This investment is transformative,” said Bill Mauro, Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay. “Not since Thunder Bay Transit became the first transit agency in Ontario to be 100 percent accessible back in 2007 has there been a multi-year investment in our service as consequential as this. Together, we will make transit safer and even more accessible with new hubs, new buses, an electronic payment system, and many other improvements touching on virtually every aspect of transit.”
The Government of Canada is investing over $10.4 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $8.5 million, while the City of Thunder Bay is contributing over $6.6 million.