Transit systems on the Sunshine Coast, Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Saltspring Island are in line for federal funding designed to help stimulate housing growth near transit.
The announcement was made by Sunshine Coast Liberal MP Patrick Weiler and Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO of BC Transit, and approval of funds for a transit system will be linked to the creation of greater housing density nearby.
The money is from the new Canada Public Transit Fund Baseline Funding stream that see more than 189 million dollars go to 33 transit systems operated by BC Transit.
It will be spent over ten years, starting in 2026, to upgrade, replace, or modernize public transit infrastructure.
“The federal government is committed to building high quality and affordable public transit,” Weiler says, “and this new long-term funding will make a big difference.”
Providing BC Transit with stable, predictable funding over the next 10 years will improve and expand these 33 transit systems across the communities they serve to help meet their needs for years to come.”
The money will be available in 2026 until 2036, with the goal of increasing the housing supply and affordability as part of complete, transit-oriented communities.
