Vancouver, British Columbia, September 28, 2007 - TransLink is getting a
boost to expand and upgrade its fleet thanks to $49.1 million in federal
funding from the Gas Tax Agreement.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Stockwell Day,
Minister of Public Safety on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, together with
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. The Minister and the Premier
were joined by TransLink Chair Malcolm Brodie and Union of BC
Municipalities (UBCM) President Elect Susan Gimse at the UBCM convention
today in Vancouver.
"Canada's New Government is providing funding that will help Metro
Vancouver meet its infrastructure needs and maintain Canada's commitment
to support a stronger, safer and better country," said Minister Day. "I am
proud to be part of delivering these results for the Province of British
Columbia."
This money will contribute to the purchase of 199 buses in 2008:
90 vehicles will expand the fleet (21 articulated hybrid buses and
69 clean-diesel buses).
109 alternative technology buses will replace older existing models.
The Metro Vancouver region has allocated its full share of funding
under the Gas Tax Agreement to TransLink for transit improvements.
TransLink will have received $122.8 million over the first three years of
the Gas Tax Agreement, and that total will rise to approximately $307
million by 2010.
"An expanded TransLink fleet that uses more green technology is good
news for Metro Vancouver transit riders and all Lower Mainland residents,"
said Premier Campbell. "This funding will mean more options for commuters,
cleaner air and another step toward our goal of reducing B.C.'s current
greenhouse gas emission levels by 33 per cent by 2020, to 10 per cent
below 1990 levels."
Overall, the Province of British Columbia will receive $635.6 million
by 2010 through the Gas Tax Agreement. "This investment through
the Gas Tax fund will benefit all communities in Metro Vancouver," said
President Gimse. "A bigger fleet means improved service and more riders."
"Revenue from the Gas Tax Agreement helps us expand our bus fleet,
and also gives us the financial capacity to move to more environmentally
friendly models," said Chair Brodie. "We thank the federal government for
helping municipalities and major urban regions to maintain and improve
their infrastructure while also promoting sustainability and environmental
benefits."
The total cost of the 199 new buses will be $139 million. TransLink
will cover the remaining cost. Previous contributions from the Gas Tax
Agreement had helped TransLink to purchase 258 new buses in 2006 and 2007.
Today's announcement follows on delivery of $40.3 million in funding
through the federal Public Transit Agreement in the fall of 2006 which
contributed to the purchase of 34 SkyTrain cars and 24 community
shuttles.
Through its unprecedented $33-billion "Building Canada" plan, Canada's
New Government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to
help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. As part of this plan, the
Government of Canada extended the Gas Tax Fund by an additional $2 billion
per year nationally from 2010 to 2014. The Gas Tax Agreement is
administered in British Columbia by the Union of BC Municipalities.
Please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/
or http://www.civicnet.bc.ca/ for
background information on the Canada – BC – UBCM Gas Tax Agreement.
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Contacts:
Karine WhitePress Secretary to the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon613-991-0700Marc BlackCommunications
ManagerMinistry of Community Services250-356-6334
Paul TaylorRelationships and Communications AdvisorUnion of BC
Municipalities250-356-2938
Ken HardieTransLink Director of
Communications604-453-4606Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
