SARNIA,
ON, May 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Communities across
the country are developing strategies to minimize greenhouse gas
emissions, including lowering carbon emissions from public
transportation.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities, His Worship Mike Bradley, Mayor of
Sarnia, and Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of the
Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC),
announced a combined investment of $188,116 for the
development of a plan to transition to a fleet of zero emission
public transit buses in Sarnia.
The work being undertaken by CUTRIC builds on targets identified in
Sarnia's Climate Change Action
Plan and will focus on examining the economic, technological, and
environmental benefits of fleet electrification, while also
identifying any risks and key barriers.
By investing in the electrification of Canada's public transit systems, the
Government of Canada is making
clean and affordable transportation available in communities across
Canada, growing our country's
economy, and improving the lives of Canadians.
Quotes
"This collaboration with Sarnia
and CUTRIC underscores our government's commitment to a transition
to sustainable transportation and preserving the environment for
future generations. We're proud to support these important projects
that help lay the foundation for the successful roll-out of clean
public transit services in communities across Canada."
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"As we work to meet the targets identified in our Climate Change
Action Plan, we want to make sure crucial green initiatives advance
in a way that is well thought out and benefits both taxpayers and
the environment in a sustainable way. The development of an
implementation strategy will be a tremendous step towards
that, and one we couldn't take without this support from our
partners at the Government of Canada and CUTRIC."
His Worship Mike Bradley, Mayor of Sarnia
"Transitioning to low-carbon transit in Sarnia is about more than reducing emissions,
it's about investing in the community's future. Sarnia is already a leader in hydrogen. Now,
through embracing sustainable public transportation solutions,
Sarnia is not only safeguarding
the environment but fostering economic growth and joining a growing
urban mobility revolution. CUTRIC and the City of Sarnia share a vision for progress,
and we're proud to be charting a course toward a cleaner, greener
tomorrow."
Dr. Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban
Transit Research & Innovation Consortium
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is
contributing $150,493 to this project
through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF). The City of Sarnia is contributing $37,623.
- Sarnia Transit provides public transport in both the
City of Sarnia and the independent
village of Point Edward,
Ontario.
- The ZETF helps communities transition to zero emissions transit
and school buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute
to Canada's net-zero emissions
targets. By electrifying their bus fleets, communities are working
toward a cleaner environment for our kids while supporting Canadian
manufacturing.
- The Fund is closely coordinated with the Canada Infrastructure
Bank's Zero-emission Bus Initiative through which the CIB has
committed more than $1.5 billion to
supporting the deployment of zero emission buses.
- The ZETF complements Canada's
strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy
Economy. Through the plan, the government has committed to
providing federal funding for public transit in support of making
clean and affordable transportation options available in every
community.
- Through an agreement with CUTRIC, the Government of
Canada is investing $10 million through the ZETF over five years to
help transit bus operators to complete planning work and increase
their level of readiness to transition to zero emissions bus
fleets.
- CUTRIC's mission is to support the commercialization of
technologies through industry-led collaborative research,
development, demonstration, and integration projects that bring
innovative design to Canada's
low-carbon smart mobility ecosystem.
Associated Links
Zero Emission Transit Fund
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/zero-emissions-trans-zero-emissions/index-eng.html
Canada Infrastructure Bank – Zero Emission Buses Initiative
https://cib-bic.ca/en/sectors/public-transit/
Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-on-eng.html
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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada