Acting Mayor Dominic Pasqualino, Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, Manager of Transit Services Brad Loroff - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
The province has announced a new funding stream to provide smaller communities with an opportunity to develop or enhance public transportation.
The Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF) will supply a total of $5 million annually to successful applicants.
“OTIF will directly support municipalities, Indigenous communities and nonprofit organizations with inter-community projects like bus services, on-demand shared rides, and door-to-door transportation,” said Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria. “Crucially, it will address some of the key first and last-mile gaps in existing public transit networks.”
Communities are also able to apply for funding together if they are looking to develop a transit system between two municipalities, over one within a community.
“Access to transit is important to our communities in the north, reliable transit systems are crucial for our residents, not only getting to work or school, but also for accessing healthcare, visiting family and friends, and staying connected,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP, Kevin Holland. “The Ontario Transit Investment Fund will offer new and innovative ways to connect commuters travelling to and from Thunder Bay.”
OTIF will provide funding for up to 5 years to support the start-up and growth of transit services across the province.
A project must fill a transit service gap to be eligible for funding.
Projects will not qualify for funding and will not be approved if they duplicate an existing service.
If you are looking to apply, or for more information, click here.
