The federal government announced that more than $136 million in joint funding will be coming to the province for five transit projects across B.C.
The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Patty Hajdu, made the announcement at the BC Transit yard in Langford Friday morning.
B次元官网网址淲e know that as we make these investments in infrastructure, weB次元官网网址檙e starting to see a return on investment,B次元官网网址� Hajdu said. B次元官网网址淔irst of all itB次元官网网址檚 getting people back to workB次元官网网址ut also itB次元官网网址檚 making things easier for our citizensB次元官网网址o get to where they need to go.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: BC Transit spends over $600,000 on new Victoria buses
The five transit projects will involve adding 118 new buses to the BC transit fleet, refurbishing existing buses, introducing on-board cashless fare and GPS tracking technologies to 790 buses, building 100 new transit shelters and purchasing generators for transit facilities in Whistler, Kamloops and Nanaimo so service can continue during power failures.
B次元官网网址淲e know people will take public transit when they can get from point A to point B in an efficient and reliable way,B次元官网网址� Hajdu said.
The federal government is contributing $60 million to the project with the province matching the dollar amount.
B次元官网网址淲e have a very strong mandate in our government to make sure we are giving people options for transit,B次元官网网址� said Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture and MLA for Saanich South.
Local governments will also be contributing funding to the projects, bringing the investment amount to around $136 million.
One of the new technologies being added to buses is the ability for individuals to check when buses are available or arriving using their smartphones. The technology has already been implemented in Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Whistler, Squamish and Kamloops. The next two cities receiving it will be Kamloops and Victoria.
READ MORE: BC Transit tests second electric bus on Victoria streets
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 making the ride experience easier for our customers,B次元官网网址� said Aaron Lamb, vice president of asset management for BC Transit.
There will also be cashless options for payment using smartphones or cards added to buses.
New buses with GPS and cashless fares can be expected to roll out in the late summer or fall of 2019. Bus shelters will be coming out right away, Lamb said.
B次元官网网址淲e know that efficient public transit systems are one of the ways that citizens count on us,B次元官网网址� Hajdu said. B次元官网网址淚t enhances productivity, it enhances quality of life and is a key component in our other agenda which is protecting the environment.B次元官网网址�
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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