Ontario is providing $16,719,831 in funding to help York Region address the financial impacts on its transit system from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This funding is in addition to the $2 billion previously committed by Ontario and the federal government through the Safe Restart Agreement to help municipalities continue to deliver critical transit services.
During the peak of the pandemic, ridership dropped up to 90 per cent of normal levels for some of Ontario’s transit systems, which resulted in significant financial impacts for municipalities.
“A strong public transit system lies at the heart of our community, helping essential workers and students get to work and school safely during COVID-19,” said MPP Logan Kanapathi. “That is why I am happy to announce that the government is providing an additional $16,719,831 in funding to public transit systems in York Region.”
As part of the Safe Restart Agreement funding, municipalities need to work with the province to explore options to ensure local transit is safe, sustainable, affordable and integrated, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
To support this work, Ontario is allowing municipalities to use Safe Restart Agreement funding towards new initiatives to make it easier and more affordable to travel between different transit systems, like adding capacity for on-demand microtransit and increasing fare and service integration across the region.
Photo: “A strong public transit system lies at the heart of our community, helping essential workers and students get to work and school safely during COVID-19,” said MPP Logan Kanapathi.
