Province to provide $215M for green transit projects

A new public transit fund will dole out $215 million over five years for low-emission vehicles in Alberta communities, announced Transportation Minister Brian Mason Tuesday.

“Our goal is to increase transit ridership across the province,” he said at a news conference. “I encourage municipalities and other organizations ... to put forward their best and most innovative projects.”

The Alberta Community Transit (ACT) Fund effectively replaces the $2-billion GreenTRIP program, which launched in 2008 and provided one-time capital funding for public transit projects.

“GreenTRIP is more or less finished,” Mason said. “Almost all of the money has been dispersed under that program.”

The ACT Fund is open to municipalities, Métis settlements and transit authorities, scoring applications on factors including environmental and social benefits. Applications will be received until December.

The program is partially funded by carbon revenue through Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan, accounting for $115 million of the available cash.

“This is strictly a merit-based program,” Mason said. “We want to show Albertans how their money is being invested to improve public transportation across the province.”

The province is looking for proposals that highlight regional solutions and reduce the carbon footprint of transit, he said.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said the move encourages a collaborative approach between local transit authorities.

“It’s music to our ears,” he said. “We’ve been working very closely with our regional partners to improve transit services.”

I encourage municipalities and other organizations ... to put forward their best and most innovative projects.