Hamilton promised $370 million in new transit cash
But it’s not yet clear how quickly the federal and provincial money will become available over the 10-year timeline.
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8...-transit-cash/
Hamilton can expect a major transit cash influx of $372 million over the next decade under a new infrastructure spending agreement between the province and federal government.
That amount would theoretically cover the city's still-unfunded plan for a new bus barn and additional buses needed to begin adding new express transit routes throughout the city.
But it's not yet clear how quickly that money will become available to the city – and there are three elections expected at each level of government within the 10-year funding timeframe. That includes a provincial election this June and a federal election in 2019.
City finance head Mike Zegarac said he was still waiting on details Friday for how the promised cash would be rolled out and over what timelines.
But he noted the city will also have to review how it will cover its own required project commitment of around $138 million. (The federal government committed $204 million, with the province promising $168 million.)
The city is already spending $36 million allocated through an earlier phase of federal transit funding. That money is going to planning and early works on the planned bus storage and maintenance facility in the lower city, as well as some new buses.