Federal Gas Tax Fund makes project possible
Kitchener, Ontario, September 4, 2013 – A project designed to improve pedestrian areas and vehicle traffic on Kitchener's Highland Road has been completed thanks to the federal Gas Tax Fund. The project, which also saw upgrades to the storm sewer underneath the road system came to a total project cost of $1,293,000 and was entirely funded by the Government of Canada.
"We all rely on safe and secure road networks, which is why maintaining key roadways is so important to ensure that Canadian communities remain among the best places in the world to live in. The improvements to Highland Road will ensure the quality of this vital connection for businesses, families and residents of Kitchener for years to come,"
said Stephen Woodworth, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre. "Our Government is proud to support economic growth across Ontario by investing in local infrastructure priorities through the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer."
The project involved the reconstruction of 725 metres of Highland Road from Stirling Avenue S to Hoffman Street. Work included the replacement of the road base, asphalt paving, concrete sidewalk, curb, and gutter additions, and upgrades to the storm sewer.
The federal Gas Tax Fund provides predictable, long-term funding for Canadian municipalities to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure that achieves positive environmental results. More specifically, the Fund supports municipal infrastructure projects that contribute to cleaner air and water and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fall into the following categories: drinking water, wastewater infrastructure, public transit, community energy systems, solid waste management and local roads.
"As citizens, we all contribute to the federal Gas Tax Fund, through our daily travels and the purchases we make. I am pleased to see these funds being invested back into our community where they can be allocated to important projects such as the improvements made to Highland Road,"
said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr. "This funding has allowed us to improve Highland Road, not just for vehicular traffic, but for cyclists and pedestrians as well; ensuring we are meeting the objectives outlined in our Transportation Master Plan."
"The federal Gas Tax Fund delivers for Ontario's municipalities by meeting our pressing need for infrastructure investment,"
said Russ Powers, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). "Through our unique federal-municipal partnership, municipalities invest the Fund exactly where it is needed the most which helps to make our communities safer, more efficient and prosperous."
The federal Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this program, and passed legislation to make it a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund to provide additional funding for communities going forward. Between 2010 and 2014, the City of Kitchener will receive more than $25.1 million from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.
AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO delivers Canada's Gas Tax Fund to Ontario municipalities, except Toronto, twice a year, on a per capita basis. The Ontario model is unique and has proven to deliver through its transparency and effectiveness. Municipalities rely on the Fund's administration model which provides flexibility and a long-term, predictable and stable allocation to invest in local priority projects.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up to date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada or follow us on Twitter @INFC_eng.
For more information on the federal Gas Tax Fund at work in Ontario communities, visit Gas Tax At Work or @GasTaxInOntario on Twitter.
Contacts:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Rebecca Sloan
Junior Communications Specialist
Corporate Communications & Marketing City Hall
rebecca.sloan@kitchener.ca
519-741-2200 extension 7458
Brian Lambie
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Media Contact
Lambie@redbrick.ca
416-729-5425
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
