Latest news with #CanadaPublicTransitFund
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Winnipeg councillors begin hearing on fourplexes, four-storeys zoning changes
Winnipeg councillors began a multi-day hearing on new zoning rules on Monday that would allow up to four units on residential lots across the city. The proposed changes would also allow construction fourplexes up to four storeys high within 800 metres of frequent transit routes. These projects would be permitted without the need for a public hearing, as long as they meet design standards like lot coverage and setbacks. Dozens of people registered to speak at the hearing, roughly evenly split between those in support and those in opposition. The hearing is expected to last multiple days, beginning with supporters like Michael Hems. "I believe that we need to just allow our housing stock to grow in a way that curbs urban sprawl, because to many Winnipeggers out there, they understand our infrastructure is crumbling," he said. Councillors agreed to make the changes to get more than $122 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Critics say the plan will take away the right of people to have a say on developments. Others argue that the changes will not lead to a significant increase in housing construction, because other factors such as the cost of materials and labour shortages hamper the industry. St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes says city staff have addressed some of his concerns, but not all of them. He and River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow won a vote earlier this year, rescheduling the hearing from March until June, to allow more time for public consultation. "That created, I think, a kind of a spirit of compromise," Mayes told reporters on Monday. "So, it's been respectful so far. We'll see. Tempers will rise at some point, probably mine included. But you know, so far so good, I think." Mayes says he still worries the minimum lot size for fourplexes with no back lane is too small. Mayor Scott Gillingham says the federal government has mandated the changes, and the city needs money for housing. "We have talked publicly and consistently about the fact that I think as of six months ago, the vacancy rate in Manitoba was below two per cent," he said. "It's very difficult to find housing in Winnipeg right now." Gillingham says other federal funding programs like the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund and the Canada Public Transit Fund also make zoning changes a requirement. In total, he says more than $450 million in federal money depends on the city following through on its rezoning commitment. To qualify for the full funding, Winnipeg must issue building permits for 14,000 units by next year. Councillors are expected to vote on the zoning changes later this week, after all delegates have spoken.
CBC
28-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
TransLink announces 4% fare increase for 2025
The TransLink board of directors has approved an average fare increase of four per cent, which will take effect on July 1, 2025. It's the highest increase since the start of the pandemic, with single-zone fares increasing 15 cents from $3.20 to $3.35. Two-zone fares will increase by 20 cents to $4.85, and three-zone fares will rise by 25 cents to $6.60. Fare increases were cancelled in 2020 as the pandemic hit and held at an average increase of 2.3 per cent per year from 2021 to 2024. The increases were kept below inflation and managed through the federal Safe Restart Agreement, designed to help provinces and territories recover from the effects of the pandemic. According to the TransLink board, the agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2024. Looming shortfall Last summer, TransLink said in a statement that current relief funding from the government would be coming to an end in 2025 and that without a new solution to address the funding gap, potential cuts would need to be made. The statement talked about cutting bus service in half, cancelling all NightBus and West Coast Express services, and significantly reducing HandyDART, SkyTrain and SeaBus services. WATCH | TransLink CEO explains funding challenges: Even with a recent crackdown on fares — TransLink reports that 2.2 million riders were checked last year — 2024 revenues of $63 million were down by approximately $2 million from 2023. TransLink says it expects to be short by about $72 million this year, and starting next year, it is predicting an annual operational shortfall of $600 million. Late last week, the federal government announced more than $1.5 billion over 10 years for transit in Metro Vancouver under the new Canada Public Transit Fund. Quinn said in a statement that he was looking forward to continuing TransLink's partnership with Ottawa to expand transit and meet the region's needs. Difficult for low-income riders, advocates say "Paying more and getting less is honestly, I think, why some people are protesting. "It's absolutely crazy in the Lower Mainland," said transit rider Faith Brown. "Why aren't our taxes paying for this?" Brown also expressed concern for people on fixed incomes and pensions and said she found it really frustrating that there weren't other options to help cover the costs falling on transit riders. Denis Agar agrees that it will be difficult for low-income riders. "There's no question that it's going to be a hardship, especially for people that have to do the three-zone fare," said Agar, who is the executive director of Movement, a non-profit that fights for better public transit in Metro Vancouver. "That means over $200 a month now for someone commuting from Surrey to Vancouver." He says that it's below what fares used to be in 2020 when inflation is factored in, but added that it's not much solace for people. Agar also said that the fare increase will only provide TransLink with about $20 million in revenue when it needs $600 million. He says he is pushing for low-income fare passes — which, he says, have worked in other cities, including Kamloops, Calgary, Edmonton and Regina.
CBC
21-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Feds commit $1.5 billion over 10 years for Metro Vancouver transit
The federal government has committed more than $1.5 billion over 10 years for Metro Vancouver's beleaguered transit network. A statement from the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities says the funding deal for TransLink is the first metro-region agreement under the new Canada Public Transit Fund. The funding from 2026 to 2036 is in addition to $663 million announced by Ottawa in January for TransLink infrastructure over the same period. TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn says in the statement that the service looks forward to continuing its partnership with Ottawa through the new deal, and it continues to work with all levels of government to expand transit to meet the region's needs. However, Quinn has previously said TransLink was facing an annual operational shortfall of $600 million starting next year. He said last July that without funding to address the gap, transit services would face "significant cuts." Last March, the B.C. government gave TransLink an injection of $479 million in provincial funding to maintain services and fares. The Canada Public Transit Fund, announced by the federal government last year, is set to start doling out $3 billion a year beginning in 2026. The federal government also announced Friday a contribution of $189 million over 10 years for B.C. Transit, a provincial Crown corporation serving communities outside Metro Vancouver.
CBC
11-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
With aging — and fuller — buses, N.B.'s cities are welcoming new transit funding
Fredericton is the latest New Brunswick city to receive federal funding to help sustain its transit system, which the city says saw a 20 per cent increase in ridership just last year. The city says money will mean three new hybrid buses, a half-hour service for additional routes, and more consistent maintenance. Just last year, Fredericton Transit expanded to include Sunday service. "For the most part, people are happy we've expanded [to] Sunday service," said Charlene Sharpe, the manager for Fredericton Transit. "To be honest, people say it's not enough. You know, having hourly service during the day, it's just not frequent enough. So they're looking for more." The federal government announced $8.29 million in transit funding for the city of Fredericton on Monday. Of that, $5.29 million will be spread over the next 10 years for the upgrade, replacement or modernization of the transit system. As well, around $3 million went to the three hybrid buses — with the city pitching in $1.4 million. The larger share comes from the Canada Public Transit Fund, which Fredericton qualifies for as an established urban transit system, said Sharpe. The $3 million for new buses comes from a rural-specific fund, which Sharpe said Fredericton qualifies for because its population is under 150,000. Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers said while the city's growth is welcomed, it also means an increase in affordability challenges. "People are looking for ways to lead more affordable lifestyles," she said. "And being able to rely on public transit as a way to get around a city is really important." Currently, Fredericton has half-hour service during peak times on busy routes, and midday half-hour service for the 10/11 route. When half-hour service expands in April, the city said midday service will be added for routes 12, 13, 14 and 15, routes 16 and 17 will have midday service on the southside and routes 116 and 216 will start the evening peak half-hour service an hour early. Saint John, Moncton hope to replace aging infrastructure As part of a series of transit announcements across the country, the federal government announced funding for Saint John and Moncton transit last week. Moncton and Dieppe's transit systems will get $11.5 million over 10 years — over $1.6 million for Dieppe and nearly $10 million for Moncton. Angela Allain, the director of public transit for Codiac Transpo in Moncton, said the focus for the funding will be replacing buses and purchasing new vehicles to respond to growth demands. "We have approximately 10 buses right now that are on our docket to be replaced within the next several years, just due to mileage," said Allain, adding some buses are more than 20 years old. "So this infrastructure funding is much appreciated and will go a long way for many years to come." Saint John Transit will receive $6.3 million over 10 years through the Canada Public Transit Fund. Nick Cameron, the chair of the transit commission, said the predictability is welcomed. He said while it isn't the largest sum the commission has ever received, having the funding broken down over 10 years means the ability to make long-term plans. But Cameron said that broken down annually, the yearly allotment wouldn't even be enough for a conventional diesel bus — which he said runs around $900,000 — let alone an electric bus, which could be closer in the area of $1.6 million. So, he said to address the issue of Saint John Transit's aging fleet, additional funding from other sources would be required. Of the 40 full-size buses in the fleet, 25 of those are a brand that doesn't even exist anymore, said Cameron. Twenty-three of the fleet's buses are more than 15 years old — which Cameron says is the typical retirement age of a bus. With a hard-working mechanic team, Cameron said that retirement age has been extended to around 20 years, but he said that's pushing it. "That does create a reliance on parts, and parts are getting much more expensive over the past few years," he said. "Supply chains have been disrupted through COVID and now, as we're seeing with the tariff discussions, so we need to reduce that dependency on parts," he said. "I know some folks would like to see an improvement in service, but there is a real acute need to refresh the fleet, and that will help our operation budget so we can look at changes to the service and improvements."
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds giving $663M for Metro Vancouver transit, but funding woes remain: TransLink CEO
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. — The CEO of Metro Vancouver's transit operator says he's grateful for the federal government kicking in tens of millions in annual capital funding over the next decade — but the money doesn't solve TransLink's looming operational financial woes. The federal government and TransLink on Monday announced more than $663 million in federal funding for TransLink infrastructure from next year until 2036. TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said at the announcement at North Vancouver's SeaBus terminal that the infrastructure funding would help keep the current system in "good condition," but other funding woes remain. "While the capital funding announced today is crucial and needed, I also want to make it clear that it supports already committed projects and it does not solve our operating funding shortfall," Quinn said. He said the regional transit operator is still facing an annual operational shortfall of $600 million starting next year, and an agreement to address it is still in the works. TransLink said last July that without the funding gap being addressed, all transit services would face "significant cuts." "I remain hopeful that we can find a way forward to create a sustainable funding solution," Quinn said Monday. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the funding was coming from the federal government's Canada Public Transit Fund, which was announced in 2024. Also at the announcement were members of the TransLink Mayor's Council including City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan. Buchanan said she felt people's frustration over traffic troubles that have long dogged the city. "Not only are they frustrated, employers are frustrated because many of the people who come to the North Shore are coming for their jobs, and there's no competitive way to get here right now, other than the car," she said. A statement from TransLink and the federal government says the federal money will target "key improvements" to public transit in the face of "rapid population growth." It says the funding will allow TransLink to improve existing transit infrastructure, and Quinn says in the statement that the funding will go toward a "much-needed transit expansion in Metro Vancouver." The Canada Public Transit Fund, announced by the Trudeau government last year, is set to start doling out $3 billion a year beginning in 2026, aimed at both public transit and so-called active transportation infrastructure. The federal government touts the fund as "the largest public transit investment in Canadian history." Last March, the B.C. government had given TransLink an injection of $479 million in provincial funding to maintain services and fares. Wilkinson was representing Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Nathaniel Erskine-Smith at Monday's announcement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2025. The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
