Feds give Calgary Transit $325 million to buy 259 electric buses
Posted Jun 19, 2023 10:34 am.
Last Updated Jun 19, 2023 8:24 pm.
The federal government announced Monday it has awarded more than $325 million to the City of Calgary for the electrification of the city’s transit buses.
Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, Calgary-Skyview MP George Chahal, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek were in the city to highlight the investment and continued partnership between the federal and municipal governments.
The Canadian government said in a press release these funds build on a $165 million investment made on Feb. 1, 2023 through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Mayor Gondek said in a release that the purchase of these buses will help the city reach their goals relating to climate change.
“This contribution will allow us to transition the transit fleet to zero-emission vehicles more quickly and adds to funding already secured through council,” she said. “When it comes to climate change, we are committed to taking actions which are both economically and environmentally sustainable.”
This money is set to be used to purchase 259 new, zero-emission public transit battery electric buses, it added.
In upcoming years, Calgary is expected to complete infrastructure upgrades to two existing transit garages — the Spring Gardens and Anderson Garages, including the installation of charging cabinets and dispensers “with spare capacity for future electric bus purchases.”
Alongside the buying of equipment, this funding will also go toward training, design, engineering services and utility works.
