Medicine Hat will receive $2.6 million in federal money to put toward replacement of aging city buses.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Ottawa will cover about one third of the cost of bus replacements in Medicine Hat and an active transportation plan, and a new tracking system for city transit from the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
A release Thursday states Medicine Hat will receive $2.6 million to replace public transportation vehicles as they approach end of useful life.
The city will put $5.4 million toward the purchases, though city officials would not confirm details to the News when asked Thursday.
As well, federal officials state the city’s current work on “an active transportation plan,” due this fall, received $75,000 toward the $125,000 total cost.
A new scheduling system for city buses will be partially paid for over four years, with $38,400 in federal funds toward the $96,000 total cost.
The projects were among grants worth $60 million announced for 50 Alberta communities by federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault in Red Deer.
That city received the largest grant ($11.1 million) as it plans to rehabilitate a CPR Pedestrian bridge – a “significant historical landmark” that forms part of the Trans Canada Trail – at a total cost of $19.1 million.
Lethbridge will receive $1.2 million in funding to install bicycle lanes on eight-block section of Fourth Avenue South, as well as $50,000 toward a pedestrian overpass at Stafford Drive over Highway 3.
Banff, Canmore and other municipalities in the Bow Valley regional transit service share $3.9 million to purchase electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
The Town of Coaldale received $100,000 for trail development.
