The City of Barrie is bolstering their bus fleet thanks to a transit funding agreement between the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
The details announced Tuesday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while in Barrie outlined $688 million worth of projects in five Ontario cities.
Barrie, Waterloo and Sudbury will receive about $30.6 million combined for 20 projects.
Of that funding, Barrie is receiving $4 million; money that will be used to purchase 13 new transit buses.
"We are actually facing a life cycle issue to replace the fleet,” says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. “We were going to struggle to replace all the buses that we needed too so this funding is a wonderful thing."
The buses will arrive over the next two years. The city will also buy six specialized transit vehicle for people with mobility issues.
"It's something I've advocated for,” says Conservative Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard. “It's a good announcement and gets people moving."
About $500 million of the projects being announced Tuesday will be in Toronto, with Ottawa next on the list at $156 million.
"In communities across the province this investment will shorten commute times and make public transit more efficient and more inclusive," Trudeau says.
The federal funds can be used against up to half the costs of eligible projects; the funding is retroactive to April 1 to cover any costs cities and provinces have incurred since then.
Trudeau made the announcement alongside Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
For a full list of projects being funded through this announcement you can click here.
With files from Jordan Press/ The Canadian Press.
