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Provincial Gas Tax Funding Will Help Attract 33 Million New Transit RidersPosted on Wednesday, February 16 @ 16:06:29 CST by capebretoner
Ontario Liberal Press Release
February 16, 2005:
Provincial Gas Tax Funding Will Help Attract 33 Million New Transit Riders
$78 Million In Funding For Ontario Municipalities
The Ontario government is improving public transit in municipalities across Ontario through provincial gas tax funding. Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced today. These service improvements are expected to increase transit ridership by eight per cent by the end of 2007.
“Better public transit translates into more people on buses, trains, and streetcars. Gas tax funding will help lead to more than 33 million new transit riders by 2007,” said Takhar. “That means 44 million fewer car trips every year. Fewer cars on the road means a safer, faster, more convenient commute for everyone.”
The government is dedicating two cents of the provincial gas tax to fund 78 transit systems in 105 communities across Ontario. To date, $78 million has been distributed. The funding is being phased in and started with one cent per litre flowing to municipalities last October. It will increase to 1.5 cents per litre in October 2005, and two cents per litre in 2006. When gas tax funding is fully implemented, it will pump more than $600 million into public transit in communities across Ontario.
“This program is a big success. We are delivering on our commitment to fund public transit,” said Takhar. “Right now, one cent of every litre of gasoline pumped in Ontario is going toward new buses, new routes, and more frequent service. These are the kinds of transit improvements that really count for commuters.”
Provincial gas tax funding provides municipalities with stable, long term funding to better plan, and improve their transit systems.
The Ontario government will invest more than $1 billion over five years through the gas tax to improve public transit across the province. This investment is above and beyond existing provincial transit funding.
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