SURREY – Residents of Surrey Centre will soon see more concrete plans of a proposed expansion of the light rail transit (LRT) thanks to a new agreement signed between the federal and provincial governments.Communities across British Columbia will benefit from more than $900 million in funding to support public transit infrastructure projects across the province.
“Efficient and sustainable public transit plays an important role in keeping ourcommunities among the best places in the world to live, while contributing to clean economic growth. Supporting projects like the LRT in Surreymeets local needs and supports the renewal of public transit systems. By working with our provincial and municipalpartners, we will deliver real support through projects like this which will help make a better city for the residents of Surrey Centre,” said Sarai, Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
This agreement marks a critical step to make infrastructure dollars available in British Columbiafora long list of projects that are not only shovel-ready, but shovel worthy. Local transit projects have been identified, representing all the federal funding under the new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund for British Columbia. And in order to have a productive construction season, the funding will be made available retroactively to April 1, 2016.
The strength of our communities depends greatly on the state of our infrastructure. It affects how we live and supports our day to day activitiesin countless ways. Projects like the Surrey LRT will support a healthy environment, reduce commute times, promote healthy living while generating clean economic growth to ensure that British Columbiaremains among the best places in the world to live.
This new funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada: the Government of Canada’s $120-billion plan to support public infrastructure from coast to coast to coast over the next 10 years.Phase 1 of Investing in Canada provides well over $10 billion in immediate investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects and social infrastructure projects.
In British Columbia, projects under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, another component of Phase 1 of Investing in Canada, will be submitted and approved for funding in the coming months. The province’s total federal contribution under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund is $225 million.
This funding will help revitalize and restore public infrastructure in our communities, laying the foundation we need to build for tomorrow. Details on Phase 2of Investing in Canada will be announced in the next year.
