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Burlington, Ont.—Jan. 15, 2025— Today, the City of Burlington joined the federal government to announce a nearly $14 million investment in Burlington’s public transit infrastructure, through the Baseline Funding stream of the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF).
The City of Burlington continues to advocate for investments in public transit and this funding will help the City make key improvements to its public transit system. As the City aims to grow Burlington Transit’s annual ridership to meet the needs of the growing local population, this funding will help with long-term planning, upgrading, replacing, or modernizing current public transit and active transportation infrastructure.
The CPTF will allow Burlington Transit to:
- Achieve the City’s transit and active transportation mobility goals for transit and active transportation, such as those outlined in its Integrated Mobility Plan,
- Meet annual transit needs, keep its assets in a good state of repair and expand Burlington’s transit system as the population grows and
- Help achieve climate goals through the commitment to purchase zero emission buses.
The Canada Public Transit Fund is the largest public transit investment in Canadian history. The Fund will deliver stable funding for municipalities and transit agencies with the resources they need to plan and implement key public transit projects that will meet their needs for decades to come.
Quick Facts
- The federal government is investing up to $13,978,110 over ten years through the Baseline Funding stream of the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF). This funding is a result of the City of Burlington submitting an expression of interest, in 2024, to the Baseline Funding stream to receive funding.
- This investment supports integrated planning, improved access to public transit and active transportation, and the development of more affordable, sustainable and inclusive communities in Burlington. Starting in 2026-27, Baseline funding will be provided to the City of Burlington, conditional on the City submitting a capital plan and signing a funding agreement.
- Burlington Transit has 70 conventional buses and 15 specialized transit vehicles. From 2019 to 2024, there was approximately a 40 per cent increase in transit ridership in Burlington, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Burlington Transit offered seven routes that offered 15-minute service or better during peak travel times and provided over 68,000 specialized transit trips in 2024.
- Public transit investments in Burlington support the Burlington Transit 5-Year Business Plan focused on planned community growth, service expansion and connection to the City’s Integrated Mobility Plan and Burlington’s Climate Action Plan. Service expansion helps support transit growth where there is development of communities around the Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). It also helps the City reach its goal of being net carbon neutral by 2050, while supporting a growing population and connecting the community. The next Transit 5-Year Business Plan in 2025 will include plans to expand and improve transit through increased frequency on many routes.
- Burlington’s population is expected to grow by over 40 per cent in the next 25 years. This investment will support current and future generations.
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Quotes
Adam Van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton, on behalf of the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“Investments in public transit ensure all our residents can participate fully in the life of our community. They are good for the environment, for reducing traffic congestion and good for business, bringing workers to jobs. I am very grateful for this investment from our partners in the federal government which provides the predictable, sustainable funding we need to build a transit system for today and tomorrow.”
The Honourable Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington
“Burlington is a great place to live. It’s important that our local services can keep pace with the growing number of people that come to live in our community. That’s why the federal government is partnering with the City of Burlington to invest nearly $14 million over 10 years to ensure that the residents of Burlington can continue to enjoy modern and reliable public transit services.”
Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament for Oakville North—Burlington
“We launched the Canada Public Transit Fund to partner with communities across the country on projects that will support Canadians’ transit needs for decades to come. Our announcement today is one such example that will not only improve existing services for those travelling within Burlington but will also allow Burlington Transit to expand and meet the growing needs of the community.”
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“Investments in public transit ensure all our residents can participate fully in the life of our community. They are good for the environment, for reducing traffic congestion and good for business, bringing workers to jobs. I am very grateful for this investment from our partners in the federal government which provides the predictable, sustainable funding we need to build a transit system for today and tomorrow.”
Deputy Mayor of Environment Rory Nisan
“As the region grows, people are seeing our traffic get worse and public transit is an important option to beat the congestion, so the federal government’s major contribution is excellent news. We need to keep going further and this long-term funding will help us build a better system.”
Commissioner, Community Services, Jacqueline Johnson
“The Canada Public Transit Fund will not only have a positive impact on our transit service, it will also back important initiatives to better prepare the City’s infrastructure and transit services for Burlington’s growing and diverse community. These funds from the federal government will support our work to make transit a more viable and efficient option for all in Burlington.”
Photo
from L-R: Hassaan Basit, City of Burlington CAO; Jacqueline Johnson, City of Burlington, Commissioner, Community Services; Catherine Baldelli, Director, Burlington Transit; City of Burlington Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith; City of Burlington Deputy Mayor of Environment and Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan; Adam Van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton; City of Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward; Gary Carr, Halton Region Chair; City of Burlington Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna; City of Burlington Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte
Links and Resources
Burlington Transit 5-Year Business Plan
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Media contact
City of Burlington Communications
communications@burlington.ca
Media Relations
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
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