Ontario’s Government for the People Announces Grants to Help Improve Transit in Communities Across the Province – Forty Ontario Communities to Receive Funding to Support Projects

WOODSTOCK – Today Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, announced that the Town of Tillsonburg will receive $1,457,732 of support through the Community Transportation Grant Program.

 

“This investment will improve the quality of life for many people in our communities that are currently underserved by transit,” said MPP Hardeman. “Whether it’s seniors, students or others, access to transit helps people get where they need to be and live active, independent lives.”

 

Ontario’s Government for the People is helping 40 communities across the province improve transportation services within and between communities to make it easier for people to get around.

 

Through the program, the province will provide municipalities with $30 million over five years to support local transit and intercommunity bus service in areas with little or no public transit. Funding will be provided for 45 different projects in 40 communities.

 

“This investment is part of our commitment to building strong and connected rural communities,” said MPP Hardeman.

 

Up to $30 million in grants over five years will be awarded to municipalities to partner with community organizations, health agencies, transit agencies, school-bus and private transportation operators, to coordinate local transportation services and/or run intercommunity routes.

 

The new Community Transportation Grant Program builds on a successful pilot program that provided nearly $3 million in funding for 22 municipalities since 2015. In the first year of the pilot program, more than 28,000 people used the new services to make more than 105,000 trips.

 

The program will make it more convenient for Ontarians, including seniors, students, youths and persons with disabilities to access essential services in their communities, connect with other transportation services, and travel between cities and towns.

 

-30-

 

For more information:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239