Paul Calandra announces new funding for public transport in York Region

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Province tops up Gas Tax funding to make up for reduced gas sales during COVID-19

NEWS January 19, 2022

The Ontario government is providing $16,995,822 to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services in York Region.

The funding is part of the province’s Gas Tax program which will allocate $375.6 million this year to 107 municipalities that deliver public transit.

"This is incredible news for Markham-Stouffville. Supporting our public transit systems is more important now than ever before," said Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham-Stouffville. "This new funding through the Gas Tax Program will contribute to our economic recovery and help provide better transit services to those who need it the most."

Funding for the Gas Tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year.

Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial Gas Tax revenue,

To make up for reduced gas sales due to COVID-19, this year’s Gas Tax funding includes one- time additional funding of $120.4 million to ensure municipalities can support their transit systems.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how critical public transit is for frontline workers and for Ontarians who depend on these services to get to medical appointments, the grocery store and other important locations,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Gas Tax funding remains a vital source of long-term transit funding that municipalities can rely on to help operate and expand existing public transit services – ensuring people have access to safe and reliable transportation when they need it.”

QUICK FACTS

▪ The 107 municipalities receiving funding through the Gas Tax program deliver public transit service to 142 communities representing more than 92 per cent of Ontario’s total population.

▪ The provincial and federal governments are providing up to $2.15 billion to support municipal transit systems across the province in response to COVID-19 through the Safe Restart Agreement.

which can be used to

extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility, or upgrade infrastructure.

▪ Ontario is developing regional plans that will help build a better transportation system across the province. The province has released draft regional transportation plans for Northern Ontario and southwestern Ontario, and planning is underway for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and eastern Ontario.