Ontario Investing $399,143 in Local Municipal Transit

Provincial gas tax funding will help operate and expand local public transit services in Brockville, South Grenville and North Grenville!

Brockville – The Ontario government is investing $399,143 to support public transit in local municipalities through the 2024-25 Gas Tax program, announced Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

One of the transit services the funding will support is the River Route Bus Program for residents of the Town of Prescott, as well as the townships of Augusta and Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

The funding, which can be used to expand service hours, increase routes, purchase new vehicles and improve accessibility to increase transit ridership, is being made available to the following municipalities:

• Brockville $216,098
• Prescott, Augusta, Edwardsburgh Cardinal $122,974
• North Grenville $60,071

“This funding is great news for people in these communities who rely on local transit services,” said MPP Clark. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are investing in local transit to give people in Brockville, South Grenville and North Grenville more ways to connect with work, school and the people and places in their community that matter most to them.”

The Ontario government is investing over $380 million in 106 municipalities across Ontario to improve local transit through the Gas Tax program.

“The Provincial Gas Tax funding is a crucial component to the sustainability of the River Route Transit Service, which is helping the residents of Augusta, Edwardsburgh Cardinal and Prescott get to school, work, appointments, stores, and enjoy friends and family in our communities,” said Mayor Gauri Shankar, Town of Prescott

“This gas tax funding is great news and very timely for our River Route Bus Program that services our three municipalities in Augusta, Prescott, and Edwardsburgh Cardinal. Each year, our ridership increases, and each municipality has received positive comments from their residents. This funding certainly supports our program needs and gives us confirmation of a successful venture, which gives residents a great economic choice for transit between communities,” said Mayor Jeff Shaver, Township of Augusta

“We extend our sincere thanks to Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and MPP Steve Clark for this vital funding to support public transit in South Grenville. These much-needed dollars will enhance services, improve accessibility, and strengthen connections within our community. We deeply appreciate the province’s commitment to investing in local transit solutions like the River Route,” commented Mayor Tory Deschamps, Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal

“No matter where you live, workers and families deserve access to fast, reliable and affordable public transit that connects them to good jobs and housing,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government will continue to work with municipalities in every corner of our province to improve their transit systems so they can provide the services Ontarians depend on for decades to come.”

For 2024-25, municipal Gas Tax allocations have been maintained at 2023-24 levels. In addition to the Gas Tax program, the government supports municipal transportation projects through the Connecting Links program and the Ontario Transit Investment Fund.

QUICK FACTS:

• The 2024-25 Gas Tax program supports public transit systems in 106 municipalities, representing 93 per cent of all Ontarians.
• The Gas Tax program provides $0.02 per litre of gasoline sold in Ontario to support municipal transit systems.
• Municipalities may use Gas Tax funding for transit operating and capital costs.