Two projects in the City of Belleville are on the receiving end of some federal funding.
Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis announced on Monday morning $2.6 million for two public transportation projects.
Half of those funds will expand Belleville’s active transportation system says Ellis.
This funding will support the construction of three kilometres of new sidewalk and multi-purpose trails in the North East Industrial Park and upgrade 20 bus shelters that will be fully accessible.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk says that work is already underway and is expected to be completed in two phases in the summer of 2021.
The other $1.3 million will go towards the purchase of four new city buses.
Panciuk says it has been quite a while since the City has purchased new buses.
The new buses have been ordered and are expected to join the fleet in the spring of 2021.
Councillor Bill Sandison is the Chair of Belleville’s transit committee and he says two buses will help support the growing demand for public transit in the city, while the other two will be used to help support transit expansion into Ward 2.
The funds are from the public transit infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure plan.
The Government of Ontario is also contributing over $2.2 million to improve public transit in the community, with nearly $1.1 million towards the North East Industrial Park and more than $1.1 million towards new bus purchases and overall transit expansion.
The City of Belleville’s contribution is nearly $2 million.
