York Region gets $16M transit funding boost

The municipality is among 111 across the province to receive a piece of the province's $365.3 million gas tax program

Newmarkettoday.ca
March 13, 2020
Deborah Kelly

The Region of York is to receive more than $16.2 million in public transit funding through the province's annual gas tax program.

The municipality is among 111 across the province to receive a piece of the $365.3 million in funding to expand and improve local transportation, announced Minister of Transportation and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney today.

The gas tax funding can be used to upgrade infrastructure, increase accessibility, purchase transit vehicles, add more routes and extend hours of service.

York Region Transit operates 65 full-time, rush hour and limited routes, 35 school services, and six Viva bus rapid transit routes.

Last year, York Region’s share was slightly higher, at $16.7 million, and was used to help operate and maintain the fleet.

"Investing in public transit is part of our plan to get Ontario moving," said Mulroney in a news release. "From transit investment in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to adding more service in rural and northern communities, our government is committed to improving transit in every corner of the province."

The gas tax program is in addition to the regional transportation plans Ontario is developing to help fight gridlock, improve outdated infrastructure and keep goods and services moving across the province, she added.

The amount of the fund is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province. Municipal allocations are based on two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues.

York Region Transit by the numbers (2018):

22.6 million: total ridership
40%: revenue to cost ratio
406,504: Mobility Plus ridership
129: bus routes
677: total buses
137: Mobility Plus, On Demand vehicles