Transit riders in Cobourg and Port Hope will benefit from more than $1.7 million in combined federal, provincial and municipal investments aimed at improving local transportation services.
The funding announcement was made Thursday by federal, provincial and municipal officials as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
In Cobourg, nearly $1.2 million is being invested in public transit improvements. The funding will support the purchase of three new gasoline-powered buses equipped with contactless payment technology, with the first vehicle already in service.
The Cobourg project also includes the construction of a transit operations office and accessibility upgrades at 10 bus stops throughout the community.
Funding for the Cobourg initiative includes approximately $468,000 from the federal government, $390,000 from Ontario and just over $312,000 from the Town of Cobourg.
In Port Hope, more than $560,000 has been invested to replace three conventional transit vehicles that had reached the end of their service life.
The Port Hope project received $225,000 in federal funding, approximately $187,000 from the province and just over $150,000 from the municipality.
Officials say the investments will improve reliability, accessibility and the overall rider experience while helping residents access jobs, education, healthcare and other services.
Local leaders noted that public transit is particularly important in smaller communities where residents may rely on the service for daily transportation needs.
The announcement comes as both municipalities continue to expand and modernize their transit systems in response to population growth and evolving transportation demands.
In addition to the infrastructure funding, Port Hope and Cobourg also received support through Ontario’s Gas Tax program, which helps municipalities fund transit operations and capital projects.
The province says it is investing nearly $70 billion in public transit projects across Ontario.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
