Ontario Provides More Money for Public Transit in Durham Region
Province tops up gas tax funding to make up for lower gas sales
February 24, 2023
DURHAM – The Ontario government is providing more money to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services in the Region of Durham. The funding is part of the province’s gas tax program which will allocate more than $379.5 million to help 107 municipalities operate and improve local transit. The funding for Durham Region is as follows:
- Durham Region – $9,348,843
“Our government knows that municipal transit systems are essential to the success of our local communities, connecting people and families to jobs, housing and wherever they need to go,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. “Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we continue to step up to the plate to provide the funding municipalities need to ensure transit remains a safe and reliable option in communities across Ontario.”
“Constituents in Ajax and Durham Region have expressed their dissatisfaction with local transportation. I am pleased that our government has established this new comprehensive programme”, said Patrice Barnes, MPP for Ajax. “It supports our local transportation by providing over $9 million in funding to help fill service gaps or purchase new equipment in Ajax and the surrounding communities.”
“Since taking office in 2018, our government has made a commitment to Ontarians to keep costs down by eliminating the licence plate renewal fees and cutting the gas tax back on July 1, 2022” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “The delivery of this gas-tax money back to the Region of Durham will fund the much-needed transit projects that DRT requires, and our government is focused on funding municipal projects to efficiently service our growing population and its transit needs.”
“The Ontario government is committed to improving public transit in the Region of Durham, and we are proud to see this new funding to support the expansion and improvement of transit services,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “This investment will help to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and provide more reliable and efficient transit options for the people of Durham.”
Funding for the gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected.
To make up for reduced gas sales due to ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gas tax program includes one-time additional funding of $80 million to help ensure municipalities can continue to support their transit systems.
“Public transit is a key driver of economic growth in Ontario, helping people get to where they need to go, whether it is to work, school, or run errands,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “As more people return to public transit, our government is providing municipalities with the funding they need to accommodate growing ridership, while ensuring they can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit service for people in their communities.”
Gas tax funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade local infrastructure.
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