St. Albert, Alberta, November 5, 2010 – The City of St. Albert celebrated today the grand opening of the newly-renovated Dez Liggett Transit Facility, which will provide safer and more reliable public transit for the community of St. Albert.
Brent Rathgeber, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-St. Albert, Ken Allred, MLA for St. Albert, and Nolan Crouse, Mayor of St. Albert, were on hand for the grand opening celebration.
The Government of Canada contributed $2.8 million toward this project through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The Province of Alberta and the City of St. Albert contributed $694,400 and $300,000 respectively, toward the total estimated project cost of $3.8 million.
"The renovations to the St. Albert Transit Facility will be of tremendous benefit to residents of St. Albert," said MP Rathgeber, on behalf of Rob Merrifield, Canada's Minister of State (Transport). "Our government is proud to see the federal Gas Tax Fund being used for important transit projects like this one, which will strengthen and protect our environment and our communities for years to come."
"Public transit is very positive for the environment and represents a much-needed response to continuing growth," said Allred. "This facility is about enhancing the quality of life for the residents of St. Albert and is another step towards Alberta's goal of having the most advanced infrastructure in North America."
"Public transit is a vital service in many municipalities, and supporting it with appropriate facilities is part of ensuring this service can be delivered effectively," explained St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse. "The City of St. Albert is extremely pleased to have funding assistance from both the provincial and federal governments for this project. It is funding well spent and will truly make a difference in managing the transit service in our community."
Construction began in 2009 on the 5,000-square-foot expansion of the facility, which allows for more work and storage space, mechanical upgrades, as well as upgrades to waste oil and fuel tanks. As part of an additional project, fifteen new buses were purchased, including six articulated buses and nine regular 12-metre buses, bringing the fleet to a total of 55.
The federal Gas Tax Fund delivers infrastructure funding to local governments and other eligible recipients primarily for projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Between 2005 and 2014 the Government of Canada will provide over $1.2 billion to Alberta through the Gas Tax Fund.
The Government of Alberta has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and ensuring that our province's industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.
For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in Alberta, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit
www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Robert Lynch
Office of the Minister of State (Transport)
613-990-9573
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
OR Toll-free
1-877-250-7154
Dawn Fedorvich
Coordinator of Customer Service
St. Albert Transit Facility
780-418-6055 ext. 4120
www.ridestat.ca
Ken Allred
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Government of Alberta
780-459-9113
