TRANSIT CASH: What can you buy for $500 million?

The tripartite funding agreement for Hamilton transit covers seven major projects:

A $260-million bus barn in the lower city that will eventually be capable of charging and maintaining 100 electric buses. That project will be put out for tender soon but could take two years to finish.

Buying 85 new buses for $73 million to beef up service on critical corridors by 2026. The city has already ordered 13 of these via its 2021 capital budget.

About $8.4 million in improvements to speed up transit on the A-Line between the waterfront and airport, including signal priority measures and queue-jumping lanes.

Buying 92 new compressed natural gas buses for $114 million to replace aging standard-sized and large, “bendy” buses.

A $31-million replacement of a low-slung rail bridge over Birch Avenue near the planned new bus barn.

About $9.7 million in “active transportation” improvements like sidewalks, bike paths and a pedestrian bridge.

About $9 million for dispatch and geolocation technology to give real-time information to would-be riders.