NEWS RELEASE
MPP ANN HOGGARTH
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Ontario is making it easier for commuters and families to get around Simcoe County, with funding to launch a new inter-municipal transit service.
The province is investing $8.4million over four years to support the purchase of 14 conventional buses and 8 specialized buses for Simcoe County, which will help launch the county’s proposed plan to implement a county-wide public transit service.
This investment is one of many the province has made to support key municipal transit projects, to enhance and expand local transit systems, manage congestion, and offer more travel options for commuters and families.
Ontario's plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change includes free prescription drugs for everyone under 25, and 65 or over, through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, and free preschool child care from 2 ½ to kindergarten.
Quotes
“Our investment will help serve as a new, practical way for people throughout Simcoe County to get around. The new buses will help connect families and communities, and I am delighted that we are moving forward with this initiative.” — Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Transportation
“I am pleased that our government is making this important investment in Simcoe County. Providing transit between our local communities will make it easier for residents to get to school, medical appointments, and to enjoy the culture and services that each town has to offer.” — Ann Hoggarth, MPP for Barrie
“We thank the province for investing in our new regional transit service which will launch with its first route in early August this year. Our Council is extremely excited to launch the Simcoe County LINX and connect our communities and residents to key service and employment hubs across the region, while providing an affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible transportation option from one end of our amazing county to the other.” — Gerry Marshall, Warden and CAO of Simcoe County
Quick facts
- Ontario is investing $8.4 million over four years to support the purchase of new buses for Simcoe county
- This initiative is funded through the 2018 Ontario Budget.
- Since October 2003, Ontario has committed $44.75 million in Simcoe County to support public transit.
- Over the next 10 years, Ontario is investing more than $106 billion on new and upgraded transit and transportation infrastructure to drive economic growth and support about 65,000 jobs, on average, each year.
- Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to the website
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