“Provincial investment has been fundamental to building and maintaining ridership. Since 2004 provincial investment has supported the addition of a combined 67,000 hours of conventional and specialized transit service and ridership growth of 3.3 million annual trips. In addition, Provincial investment has been critical to fleet replacement and expansion, the upgrading and expanded use of smart bus technology and the construction of a state-of-the-art satellite facility.  Provincial investment has been critical to building a better transit service supporting three key objectives of economic, environmental and social sustainability.”

• Larry Ducharme,General Manager, London Transit Commission

“Transit Windsor is reaping the benefits of financial support from the Province of Ontario through the purchase and introduction of hybrid buses into our fleet.  Not only have we been able to reduce the average age of our fleet from 14 years to 10 years, this community has seen a reduction of greenhouse gases and a reduction of our dependency on fossil fuels by 20 per cent. We look forward to continued partnerships to improve the communities we live in.”

• Patrick Delmore, Director of Operations, Transit Windsor

“This fits right into city council priorities of making the City of Windsor a better place for our residents as we push forward on council’s vision of maintaining a vibrant community.”

• Bill Marra, Windsor City Councillor and Chair of the Transit Windsor Board

“In 2010, Lanark Transportation Association drove over 14,000 passengers to medical appointments and other essential day programs.  As a result of the funding received from the Government of Ontario, Lanark Transportation Association continues to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable members of Lanark County.”

• Marilyn Bird, Executive Director, Lanark Transportation Association

“The provincial investment in the City of Brampton’s public transit system is vital to our growth. The funding has allowed us to increase service hours, purchase new buses and successfully launch the city’s first Bus Rapid Transit service, Züm. Brampton Transit recorded its highest yearly ridership growth in 2010, with a 12.6 per cent overall increase.”

• Sue Connor, Executive Director, Brampton Transit

“To complement the ongoing current enhancements to our transit system, which have resulted from previous years of provincial gas tax funding, I am pleased to report that we are now providing half hour bus service directly to the front entrance of the newly constructed Sault Area Hospital. The new hospital was built in the north end of our community and transit service was limited to this area. Funding from the Government of Ontario has created the opportunity for Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services to link the new hospital with rest of our community.”

• Don Scott, Manager of Transit and Parking, Public Works and Transportation Department,
  City of Sault Ste. Marie

“Gas tax funding has allowed Guelph Transit to enhance and expand service options for riders. We have been able to implement a bi-directional perimeter route which has significantly increased the level of customer service, and contributed to the sustained growth of Guelph Transit ridership. Gas tax funding has been instrumental in allowing the City to continue to invest in transit during challenging economic times.”

• Michael Anders, General Manager, Community Connectivity and Transit, Guelph Transit

“With a long-term transit strategy in place, Durham Region appreciates the annual funding and commitment from the Province of Ontario to build our transit system strategically. Since amalgamating transit services in 2006, Durham Region Transit (DRT) has purchased new buses, refurbished its fleet and expanded service with almost 54,000 additional operating hours. Funds from the Province were used to design DRT’s Westney Division maintenance and storage facility expansion.

Provincial funds were identified to begin in 2010 and continue a bus stop hard-surfacing project, a factor in Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance, to assist Durham residents with mobility challenges. In the future DRT will introduce an automatic bus stop annunciation system and on-line trip planning.

With the financial assistance from the Province, Durham Region is dramatically improving our transit network, increasing mobility in the community, reducing congestion and improving air quality.”

• Roger Anderson, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Regional Municipality of Durham and Chair of the Durham Region Transit Commission.

“Through provincial transit funding, The Regional Municipality of York continues to build a modern transit network that will help increase the reliability and efficiency of our transit system. In partnership with the Province, we are transforming the way people move throughout the region and ensuring our transit system keeps pace with planned growth in the region.”

• Bill Fisch, York Region Chairman and CEO