The Government of Canada and the City of Toronto announced a joint investment of $700 million towards the electrification of the Toronto Transit Commission’s bus fleet.

This funding will enable the TTC to purchase 340 zero emission buses and 248 bus chargers. It will also support upgrades to related infrastructure in eight bus garages, including site upgrades, equipment procurement, and charger installations. Once complete, this project will deliver better public transit for Torontonians with access to new, clean and comfortable transit options.

“Cities, including Toronto, have had no greater partner than our federal government. That’s why last July, our government provided $750 million to provinces and territories to support municipalities facing pandemic-related transit shortfalls. Today’s investment in electric busses delivers new, more comfortable options for Torontonians, and will help the city reduce both its emissions and fuel costs. This investment is yet another example our work to build affordable and sustainable transit for Canadians in communities from coast to coast to coast”, said Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The Government of Canada is contributing $349 million to this project through the Zero Emission Transit Fund. The City of Toronto is contributing $351 million.

“The City of Toronto is proud to work with the Government of Canada to invest in cleaner and greener transit infrastructure. This major investment by our two governments will add 340 zero emission buses to our TTC fleet along with the infrastructure to support those vehicles. This is good news for our transit system and the environment. Thank you to the federal government for working with our municipal government to invest in public transit infrastructure for the future,” said Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor of the City of Toronto.

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“Zero-emissions vehicles are the future of public transit and I am grateful for the generous support of the federal and municipal governments on this project. We are proud to be paving the way for transit electrification across North America as we work towards our goal of being completely zero-emissions by 2040. We are also pleased to be bringing new, clean, quiet vehicles to customers and employees across the City of Toronto,” said Jon Burnside, Toronto Transit Commission Chair.

Featured image: (L to R) Jon Burnside, chair, Toronto Transit Commission; Ya’ara Saks, MP for York Centre; Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor of the City of Toronto; and Fort Monaco, chief of engineering and infrastructure, Toronto Transit Commission. (Government of Canada)

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