Kenora is one of two municipalities in northwestern Ontario still operating its own bus service. Image: Tim Davidson
Several municipalities across the Northwest are getting a share of the nearly $379.5 million in provincial gas tax funds to put towards various transit related projects and programs.
Those can include extending service hours, the purchase of new transit vehicles, the expansion or addition of routes, improving accessibility or upgrading infrastructure.
Ontario’s Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney calls transit a key driver of economic growth in the province.
“As more people return to public transit, our government is providing municipalities with the funding they need to accommodate growing ridership, while ensuring they can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit service for people in their communities.”
Funding for the gas tax is based off of the number of litres of fuel is sold across the province the previous year.
Communities which support public transit service receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected.
There is also something of a bonus this year for municipalities, as the province is kicking in a one time additional round of funding of $80 million to the gas tax program due to reduced gas sales as a result of the recovery to the pandemic.
- Atikokan: $24,438
- Fort Frances: $72,403
- Dryden: $66,769
- Kenora: $145,510
- Greenstone: $37,726
- Machin: $9,183
- Sioux Lookout: $50,091
- Thunder Bay: $2, 233,767
- Schreiber – Terrace Bay: $22,830
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