Federal government commits $1.5 billion to Ontario infrastructure including many cycling projects

The Government of Canada has committed $1.5 billion in funding to the province of Ontario under the new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The federal government and the province reached a bilateral agreement that will provide more than $2.97 billion in combined funding to projects throughout the province that are designed to reduce commute times and make public transit more efficient for residents of the province.

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Many of the projects will see cycling infrastructure improved for commuters in Toronto and Ottawa. To date, almost $700 million has been committed to approved projects including 18 projects that will see cycling infrastructure in the two cities bolstered.

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Toronto residents will notice improvements around the city to the cycling infrastructure thanks to the funding. Projects include Eglinton connects streetscape improvements and cycle tracks, new bicycle parking at 40 Toronto Transit Commission stations, and connecting cycling lanes between Flemingdon Park and the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood.  The funding will also go towards Eglinton Avenue East bike lanes, the York University cycling connections and the Dufferin Street North trail and cycling track. New signalized crossings for cyclists across the city have also received approved funding.

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Ottawa residents will notice improvements with new bicycle shelters and enclosed bicycle parking at Transitway stations to encourage commuters to get to transit stations by bicycle. There will also be improvements to cycling and pedestrian links at MTO overpasses. Work will be done to Rideau river crossings at Confederation Heights to Carleton University and Bank at Riverside (near Billings Bridge). There will also be new rural bike lands, reconstruction of a sidewalk around Croydon to put in a cycle track, Kanat North cycle links at Carling at March Road and Herzberg at March Road. Funding goes towards the Hunt Club Cycling Links at Riverside to Paul Benoit and at the Queen Elizabeth DriveCrossings at Commissioner’s Park and at Queen Elizabeth Place.

Now that's an entrance! Justin Trudeau and Kathleen Wynne arrive by bus for transit announcement @CBCToronto pic.twitter.com/M7gEUra0R3

— Kate McGillivray (@McGillivrayKate) August 23, 2016

Other infastructure projects that have received approved funding can be found in Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Waterloo, Greater Sudbury, and Barrie.