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A pledge from the federal government to fund as much as 50 per cent of transit improvements over the next three years has dangled a tantalizing prospect in front of Ottawa City Hall.
The Liberals revealed their plan Tuesday to increase the federal share of transit funding over three years “to get projects moving quickly.”
That would amount to $3.4 billion across Canada and $1.4 billion in Ontario.
In Ottawa, city council has already locked in a $3-billion plan to extend its LRT to the Bayshore Shopping Centre, Algonquin College and Place d’Orléans, while bringing the Trillium Line O-Train to Riverside South, all by 2023.
For the blueprint to be “affordable,” the city has counted on one-third funding each from the provincial and the federal governments.
But with the Liberals agreeing to cover 50 per cent of transit costs in the short term, the city could potentially urge the feds to stick with the funding formula over an extended period.
Under that scenario, the city’s contribution to future LRT extensions could be substantially reduced.
The prospect of keeping millions in the bank further raises the question of what more the city can do over the next decade.
There are two priorities the city might pursue with any extra money. One would be a rail link between the Trillium Line and the Ottawa International Airport, which the city didn’t include in its Stage 2 rail plan because the $155-million estimate is simply too rich.
The other is a $160-million LRT extension to Trim Road, also considered unaffordable with each level of government contributing equally to the $3-billion project.
The federal Liberals want to spend $3.4 billion on public transit over three years starting in 2016. The new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund would be divvied up to provinces based on transit ridership.
The next two years are key for transit investments at Ottawa City Hall. The Confederation Line LRT will start running between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair station in spring 2018. The city’s expectation has been to begin building the second stage when first stretch is complete.
Now might be the time for the city to start looking hard at advancing LRT to Kanata, something not thought possible until after 2031.
Money available for pipes and sewers
The federal budget could also offer opportunities for the city to upgrade pipes and sewers. The budget earmarks $2 billion over four years for the work and the Liberals are also offering to pay as much as 50% of the eligible costs. The Liberals, however, have already sunk $62 million into Ottawa’s cornerstone sewer project: An interceptor tunnel for combined sewage overflow.
Housing help includes money for fixes
Ottawa Community Housing and the city’s social services department could get a boost from the budget. The Liberals want to spend $2.3 billion over two years on affordable housing, including $573.9 million on repairs and energy retrofits on existing units.
City benefits from culture funds, rail study
Other pots of money in the budget will draw the city’s interest. There’s a fund to help communities renovate infrastructure for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 and another fund for arts and heritage facilities.
A small bundle of cash in the budget for Via Rail to undertake technical studies would be good for the city. The money would help the train company look at safety upgrades at its level crossings.
And while there’s no dollar figure attached to it, the Liberals are vowing to work with other levels of government to reduce guns and gang violence.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
Key numbers:
$120 billion over 10 years for infrastructure across Canada
$3.4 billion over three years for public transit across Canada
$1.4 billion over three years for public transit for Ontario
As much as 50 per cent of eligible costs on transit projects covered by feds
$2.3 billion over two years for affordable housing
$168.2 million over two years for Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
$150 million over two years to regional development agencies to celebrate Canada’s 150
$7.7 million for Via Rail to conduct technical studies, incl
查看原文...
The Liberals revealed their plan Tuesday to increase the federal share of transit funding over three years “to get projects moving quickly.”
That would amount to $3.4 billion across Canada and $1.4 billion in Ontario.
In Ottawa, city council has already locked in a $3-billion plan to extend its LRT to the Bayshore Shopping Centre, Algonquin College and Place d’Orléans, while bringing the Trillium Line O-Train to Riverside South, all by 2023.
For the blueprint to be “affordable,” the city has counted on one-third funding each from the provincial and the federal governments.
But with the Liberals agreeing to cover 50 per cent of transit costs in the short term, the city could potentially urge the feds to stick with the funding formula over an extended period.
Under that scenario, the city’s contribution to future LRT extensions could be substantially reduced.
The prospect of keeping millions in the bank further raises the question of what more the city can do over the next decade.
There are two priorities the city might pursue with any extra money. One would be a rail link between the Trillium Line and the Ottawa International Airport, which the city didn’t include in its Stage 2 rail plan because the $155-million estimate is simply too rich.
The other is a $160-million LRT extension to Trim Road, also considered unaffordable with each level of government contributing equally to the $3-billion project.
The federal Liberals want to spend $3.4 billion on public transit over three years starting in 2016. The new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund would be divvied up to provinces based on transit ridership.
The next two years are key for transit investments at Ottawa City Hall. The Confederation Line LRT will start running between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair station in spring 2018. The city’s expectation has been to begin building the second stage when first stretch is complete.
Now might be the time for the city to start looking hard at advancing LRT to Kanata, something not thought possible until after 2031.
Money available for pipes and sewers
The federal budget could also offer opportunities for the city to upgrade pipes and sewers. The budget earmarks $2 billion over four years for the work and the Liberals are also offering to pay as much as 50% of the eligible costs. The Liberals, however, have already sunk $62 million into Ottawa’s cornerstone sewer project: An interceptor tunnel for combined sewage overflow.
Housing help includes money for fixes
Ottawa Community Housing and the city’s social services department could get a boost from the budget. The Liberals want to spend $2.3 billion over two years on affordable housing, including $573.9 million on repairs and energy retrofits on existing units.
City benefits from culture funds, rail study
Other pots of money in the budget will draw the city’s interest. There’s a fund to help communities renovate infrastructure for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 and another fund for arts and heritage facilities.
A small bundle of cash in the budget for Via Rail to undertake technical studies would be good for the city. The money would help the train company look at safety upgrades at its level crossings.
And while there’s no dollar figure attached to it, the Liberals are vowing to work with other levels of government to reduce guns and gang violence.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
Key numbers:
$120 billion over 10 years for infrastructure across Canada
$3.4 billion over three years for public transit across Canada
$1.4 billion over three years for public transit for Ontario
As much as 50 per cent of eligible costs on transit projects covered by feds
$2.3 billion over two years for affordable housing
$168.2 million over two years for Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
$150 million over two years to regional development agencies to celebrate Canada’s 150
$7.7 million for Via Rail to conduct technical studies, incl
查看原文...
