Governments get on board with transit investments
The Société de transport de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke’s bus company, was the recipient of more than $7.4 million dollars from the federal and provincial governments on Thursday in support of ten projects meant to improve services. The funding comes as a part of ongoing efforts on the part of both governments to invest in public transit infrastructure.
The announcement was made jointly by Marie-claude Bibeau, minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton–stanstead, and Luc Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Sherbrooke and minister Responsible for the Estrie Region. The government of Canada will invest over $4.1 million, representing 50 per cent of the overall cost, while the government of Quebec will contribute over $3.3 million, or roughly 40 per cent. The Société de transport de Sherbrooke will provide the remaining funding needed for the ten projects planned for the coming year.
These projects include the purchase
of six urban hybrid buses, refurbishments to the bus lane that serves the University of Sherbrooke and the transfer station at the Carrefour de L’estrie Mall, the installation of new information systems for transit users at stops to improve the user experience, new software to improve maintenance operations, the installation of self-service stations, two market studies, and other digital infrastructure work.
“Thanks to these projects, Sherbrooke’s public transit users will enjoy more accessible and efficient services,” Bibeau said. “The improvements will certainly encourage more citizens to use public transit while allowing the city of Sherbrooke to reduce its environmental footprint.”
“The Government of Quebec’s investment, together with that of the Government of Canada and the Société de transport de Sherbrooke, will greatly improve transit flow and the user experience. The various projects will contribute to Sherbrooke’s growth while improving air quality and the quality of life,” Fortin added. “These environmentally responsible alternatives to automobile travel will make Sherbrooke an ideal choice for families and workers seeking a modern, sustainable, and safe lifestyle.”
Bruno Vachon, president of the Société de transport de Sherbrooke, said that all of the projects included in the investment plan have already been approved and should begin to be put in place between now and 2018.