No. H 033/09
For release - March 3, 2009
TORONTO — Municipalities and regional transportation authorities can now apply for federal funding to encourage and promote green public transit or other alternatives to driving in their communities. The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), today announced on behalf of Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, Round Two of the Government of Canada's ecoMOBILITY program at the 7th Annual Urban Transportation Summit in Toronto.
"Our government is helping keep our economy moving, create new jobs and deliver results for the environment," said Minister Merrifield. "This program is another example of how we are supporting our partners in taking concrete steps to promote greener transportation alternatives for Canadians, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help stimulate our economy."
The Government of Canada's $10-million ecoMOBILITY program seeks to cut urban passenger transportation emissions by helping Canadians choose public transit or other sustainable transportation options like walking, cycling and carpooling.
Projects selected for funding under Round One were announced January 8, 2009, and provided a total of almost $3 million to municipalities and regional transportation authorities for initiatives to help residents increase their use of green transportation. Proposals for Round Two funding will be accepted until May 1, 2009. Through the program, the government is taking action to find ways to meet transportation needs and reduce costs to Canadians, and protect the environment.
Details about the application process can be found at www.tc.gc.ca/ecomobility.
A backgrounder with further information on ecoMOBILITY is attached.
- 30 -
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
The Government of Canada's $10-million ecoMOBILITY program seeks to cut urban passenger transportation emissions by helping Canadians choose public transit or other sustainable transportation options like walking, cycling and carpooling. By working with municipalities across Canada, this initiative helps develop programs, services and products that improve transportation choices and quality of life for Canadians in their communities.
While respecting provincial and territorial jurisdictions and planning priorities, the government is committed to finding ways to work together more effectively to improve transportation and mobility for Canadians in urban areas.
Funding is available to municipalities and regional transportation authorities as part of the contribution program. Examples of the measures that the ecoMOBILITY program encourages include:
- policies such as land use guidelines that complement increased use of sustainable transportation options (e.g. development approval policies that mandate access to transit services);
- programs to raise awareness and motivate changes in personal travel choices (e.g. workplace-based commuter options programs that engage staff and market new incentives to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips to and from work);
- services that offer individuals a tangible benefit or disbenefit related to the use of particular travel modes (e.g. guaranteed ride home programs for carpool members or reduced parking rates for carpool vehicles); and
- products that make sustainable transportation more convenient (e.g. enhanced transit information services or online ride matching systems for workplaces).
The ecoMOBILITY program complements ongoing efforts to address air emissions and congestion from all transportation sectors. It is an important element of the Government of Canada's ecoTRANSPORT Strategy, which aims to improve the health of Canadians and the environment by reducing the environmental impacts of transportation; secure Canada's future prosperity and competitiveness by making critical transportation infrastructure sustainable both economically and environmentally; and promote an efficient transportation system that supports choice and the high quality of life that Canadians expect.
For more information about the Government of Canada's environmental agenda and the ecoMOBILITY program, www.tc.gc.ca/ecomobility.
March 2009
