The City of Quinte West has recently received a chunk of federal and provincial money to make some critical public transit improvements.
After making an application in spring 2019, City Council was told on Monday that an Investing in Canada Infrastructure grant for a $1.6 million transit route, connecting Quinte West to Belleville, had been approved and the payment from upper levels of government had been made.
The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
- Total funding: $1,651,400
- Federal portion: $660,560
- Provincial portion: $550,411.63
- Municipal portion: $440,428.37
- Cost of Operation: $250,000 (added to 2020 budget)
The money is being used to do a feasibility study and to buy and equip five buses, which would include:
- Feasibility study: $150,000
- 4 low floor public transit buses: $800,000
- 1 low floor specialized bus: $130,000
- On board surveillance system for all buses: $80,000
- Smart card technology/fare boxes: $120,000
- Bike racks: $21,000
- Collision avoidance system: $25,000
- Bus shelters: $110,000
- Contingency: $215,400
The proposed route would service Loyalist College, Belleville General Hospital and other “employment areas” in Belleville.
