Gas Tax Funds Help Fuel Thunder Bay Transit

THUNDER BAY – Ontario’s Gas Tax Program is helping people in Thunder Bay get out of their cars and onto public transit. “Ontario government support of over $18.9 million since this program was introduced, is paying off for the City of Thunder Bay – allowing Thunder Bay Transit to make significant transit improvements for local families and visitors to our community,” stated Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

“I am pleased that Ontario’s Gas Tax Program continues to promote transit growth in Greenstone, Schreiber, Terrace Bay and Thunder Bay, as well as across the Province. Our government is committed to improving transit service for all commuters who depend on it to get to work, to school, and back home every day to their families,” stated Michael Gravelle, MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior North.

“Transit plays a critical role in the vitality of our City and contributes to quality of life for citizens taking over 10,000 trips daily on our Transit system, as well as visitors. Thunder Bay gratefully acknowledges the Province’s ongoing investment in the Gas Tax Program. This funding allows us to continue to improve Transit locally and work towards a healthy, vibrant, connected and strong City,” acknowledged Mayor Keith Hobbs.

For the 11th consecutive year, the Ontario government is providing support to the City of Thunder Bay to improve its public transit system for families. This year, Thunder Bay Transit will receive $1,872,782 through our government’s Ministry of Transportation Gas Tax Fund. Since the inception of the Ontario Gas Tax Fund, the City of Thunder Bay has received over $18.9 million.

City Transit has used this funding to assist with making things better for passengers, and encouraging ridership growth by:

• Maintaining a modern and accessible transit fleet – both conventional and specialized bus replacement
• Customer service improvement initiatives such as better passenger information and way-finding systems
• Increasing accessibility and better passenger connectivity at bus stops by enhancing stop infrastructure, upgrading shelters

Expanding public transit is part of the government’s economic plan

The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

QUICK FACTS

§ With this year’s allocation, the Ontario government has committed $3.1 billion in gas tax funding since 2004.
§ In 2013, Ontario made its Gas Tax Program permanent to help municipalities improve transit.
§ One bus takes up to 40 vehicles off the road, and keeps 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere each year.
§ In 2013, there was an increase of more than 204 million trips on municipal transit systems, compared to 2003. This is the equivalent of removing approximately 170-million car trips from our roads.