A joint investment of $11.8 million from the Provincial and Federal Governments and the City of St. John’s was announced today to enhance public transit infrastructure.

This funding will support:

• the purchase of up to 18 accessible, paratransit hybrid or electric vehicles to replace the current gasoline-burning fleet used in the GoBus service in St. John’s and Mount Pearl
• solar panel kits to be installed on 120 Metrobus shelters, which will allow the city to illuminate the shelters using solar energy instead of electricity
• the construction of a shared-use path from Logy Bay Road to Portugal Cove Road. This project will upgrade the existing gravel trails to a three-metre wide asphalt surface with rest areas, trailheads, landscaping and signage.

Read the Provincial release

The City's contribution to these projects is $3.1M.

Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary attended the announcement on behalf of Council.

"With 49% of our GHG emissions coming from transportation, the funding that is being announced today is going to go a long way to support our efforts to conserve energy, reduce our transportation costs and our carbon footprint," said the Deputy Mayor. "Whether you take the bus, walk, cycle, use a mobility aid or drive a vehicle, St. John’s aspires to be a City on the Move, as outlined in our strategic plan. Building an accessible and well-connected transportation system is an important part of creating a healthy and vibrant community."