Tom Vair, CAO; MPP Ross Romano; MP Terry Sheehan; Mayor Matthew Shoemaker; Brent, Director of Community Services; Nicole Maione, Manager of Transit and Parking

The City of Sault Ste. Marie will soon receive upgrades to its municipal transit after a combined investment of almost $7.8 million from the federal government, the provincial government, and City of Sault Ste. Marie.

This was announced by Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, Ross Romano, Member of Provincial Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, and His Worship Matthew Shoemaker, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.

“Transit is one of the most important municipal services, and financial assistance from our government partners will help the City implement badly needed upgrades that will ensure we can better support the movement of people throughout Sault Ste. Marie – whether it be to and from work, appointments, essential or recreational services,” said Mayor Shoemaker.

The portion of the investment coming from the federal government is $3,104,040, with the remaining balance of funded by the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Government of Ontario.

“This is great news for Sault Ste. Marie," said Sheehan. "Investing in public transit infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth, reducing air pollution, and creating inclusive communities, where everyone has access to public services and employment opportunities.”

The project will bring the fleet new electric buses and a charging station, diesel buses, paratransit buses, and passenger vans resulting in vehicles on the road that produce less air pollution, use less fuel, and have lower maintenance costs compared to their existing vehicles. The new buses will also give riders with mobility needs greater independence and help them easily connect to community services. The City will also upgrade its maintenance equipment and service vehicles.

Quick facts

• The federal government is investing $3,104,040 through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of ICIP to support 3 public transit projects across Sault Ste. Marie. The Government of Ontario is contributing $2,586,442, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie is contributing $2,090,173.
• PTIS stream supports the building, expansion, and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks.
• Including today’s announcement, over 260 infrastructure projects or project bundles under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream have been announced in Ontario, with a total federal contribution of nearly $5.5 billion. 
• The federal government is investing $14.9 billion over the next eight years in reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit. This funding includes $3 billion per year in predictable federal public transit funding which will be available to support transit in Canada beginning in 2026-27.
• The Ontario government is investing historic amounts in municipalities to expand public transit – including $7.3 billion in provincial funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to fund the construction, expansion and improvement of public transit networks.
• Since 2015, the federal government has announced an unprecedented investment of over $30 billion in thousands of transit projects in communities across the country.
• Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day—ranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, to environmental threats to our water and land.

Associated Links

Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

• https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Public Transit Infrastructure Stream

• https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/pti-itc-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario

• https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-on-eng.html

Strengthened Climate Plan

• https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html