Latest news with #NorthBayTransit
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Canada and Ontario invest in public transit infrastructure for North Bay residents Français
NORTH BAY, ON, Aug. 6, 2025 /CNW/ - North Bay is gearing up for more sustainable and convenient transit thanks to a combined investment of over $20.6 million from the federal and provincial governments and the City of North Bay. Announced today by MP Pauline Rochefort, MPP Vic Fedeli, and Mayor Peter Chirico, this funding will make transit safer and easier while cutting down on carbon emissions. The investment will replace eight conventional buses with hybrid buses in the North Bay Transit fleet and support new sidewalks and stormwater system upgrades. The city will also use these funds to upgrade a transit terminal and the fare collection system. Investments in public transit help Canadians get where they need to be, create new manufacturing and construction jobs, reduce pollution, and make life more affordable. Quotes "Transit is key to connecting and creating communities while also building them stronger. This new transit funding will make it safer and easier for people in our community to get where they need to go while reducing emissions." Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming "Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing nearly $70 billion to deliver the largest transit expansion in Canadian history. Today's investment will help upgrade and expand transit infrastructure in North Bay, connecting more people in our community to housing and jobs, supporting local businesses and growing North Bay's economy while we work to protect Ontario against economic uncertainty and unjust U.S. tariffs." Vic Fedeli, Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing "This investment will help us support and improve a more sustainable, modern transit system in North Bay. From hybrid buses to upgraded infrastructure, these projects will make transit safer, more accessible, and more convenient for everyone. We're grateful for the continued support through the ICIP program over the years, which has been instrumental in helping us strengthen our city's transit network." Quick Facts Through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada is investing $8,362,099, the Government of Ontario is investing $6,896,755 and the City of North Bay is contributing $5,433,480. Investments in public transit help Canadians get where they need to be, create new manufacturing and construction jobs, reduce pollution, and make life more affordable. In 2021, the government announced significant public transit funding that includes billions in support for zero emission buses, rural transit solutions, active transportation, and support for major projects to accelerate the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day. The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities. The CPTF supports transit and active transportation investments in three streams: Metro Region Agreements, Baseline Funding, and Targeted Funding. Visit the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website for more information. The Ontario government is investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade to build public transit. Ontario is also providing the City of North Bay with $784,736 in funding through the province's 2024-25 Gas Tax program. The Gas Tax program provides Ontario municipalities with a stable source of dedicated funding that can be used to increase public transit service, purchase new vehicles and improve accessibility to increase transit ridership. Public Transit Infrastructure Stream Housing and Infrastructure Project Map Strengthened Climate Plan 2024-25 Gas Tax Funding by Municipality Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Renée LeBlanc Proctor, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, [email protected]; Media Relations, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Dakota Brasier, Ontario Minister of Transportation's Office, [email protected]; Gord Young, Communication Officer, City of North Bay, 705-474-0400, ext. 2505, [email protected]
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Highway 37 project in North Bay could get environmental exception to proceed
The 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 between Mare Island in Solano County and Sears Point in Sonoma County is considered one of the most problematic roadways in the state of California. About the only thing that moves slower than the traffic on Highway 37 is the progress to correct the problem. But now it looks like the state is prepared to suspend some of its own regulations in order to get that job done. "We know that there's this 10-mile stretch between Sears Point and Mare Island that is an absolute bottle neck," said Assemblymember Lori Wilson. "And it doesn't have to be commute hours. This is kind of like an all-day thing. There's a small window to get through there unscathed." As an Assembly member from Solano County, Wilson is well aware of the gridlock on Highway 37. And so are her constituents. So, she spoke at a committee hearing last week to make sure that her fellow legislators understood, as well. "It is so unreliable that North Bay transit operators won't even run buses on the corridor because it would be impossible to stick to a regular schedule," she told members of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. The state has plans to widen Highway 37 to two lanes each way, and they've been talking about it for decades, held up mainly by a lack of funding. But something else is standing in the way — the animals that live in the salt marshes on either side of the roadway. Some of them have protected status, specifically the salt marsh harvest mouse, the California clapper rail, its cousin the California black rail and the white-tailed kite. The law said no construction can be done nearby during critical periods in their life cycles, and that would have a profound impact on the road project. "Based on their life cycles, it would reduce construction time period to basically about three months out of a 12-month year," said Wilson. "Which you can imagine if you could only build three months out of a 12 month year, how long that project would take." So, Wilson has introduced Assembly Bill 697 which would exempt the Highway 37 project with what's known as an "incidental take" permit. Construction crews would still have to take precautions to protect the wildlife, but the state won't automatically assume that something terrible will happen. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission said that's vital for the project to happen at all. "The way the law is written now," said MTC spokesperson John Goodwin, " because there is the possibility of harm being done to these animals, work cannot take place. This would allow work to take place in this location." It seems like common sense, but that hasn't always been the hallmark of California law. Now, lots of regulations, from housing rules to environmental laws to species protection are being reconsidered. And Wilson may be one of the new species of Democrat legislators, willing to take a second look at a law's practical value. "We needed to strive to have these aspirational goals, but at the same time, you have to be balanced," she said. "So, you can't just swing the pendulum the whole other way and not care about people. Because the whole point of doing this work is to support people." AB 697 passed the committee with a unanimous vote. The current Highway 37 project is expected to cost about half a billion dollars, and Goodwin said, while there are still plenty of funding issues to work out, if all goes well, it's possible construction could begin sometime in 2027.
