Two Ontario municipalities will see financial support from the government of Canada through its Zero Emission Transit Fund as they work to plan and execute a transition to zero-emission transit buses.
In Burlington, Ontario, the joint investment of C$462,500 (US$343,769) is divided between a C$370,000 (US$275,312) contribution from the government of Canada through the Zero Emission Transit Fund and C$92,500 (US$68,828) from the city of Burlington.
Burlington is targeting 2050 to become a net carbon zero community per its Climate Action Plan. The city has been working with the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) to develop zero-emission solutions for its transit fleet.
“This funding will help to take that work to the next level so we can look into implementing some zero-emission solutions. As part of our Climate Action Plan, the city is committed to transit as an environmentally-friendly way to help residents in our growing city get around,” said Burlington City Councilor and Deputy Mayor of the Environment for the City of Burlington Ray Nisan.
In 2022, CUTRIC received C$78,000 (US$59,860) from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to analyze the techno-economic and life-cycle emissions associated with transitioning Burlington Transit’s fleet to fuel cell electric buses across all routes and blocks.
"We know that for most public transit agencies, the transition to zero-emissions is a significant financial and technical challenge. By fostering collaboration and pooling resources, we can create a future where interconnectedness drives sustainable mobility, addressing Canada's environmental priorities head-on. This joint project is yet another step toward shaping a greener, more connected tomorrow, and we're proud to have Burlington as part of this effort," said CUTRIC President and CEO Josipa Petrunić.
The city of Quinte West, Ontario, is also a member of CUTRIC and the city has been working with the company to plan Quinte Transit’s transition to zero-emission buses. The joint funding for the municipality, which includes C$100,000 (US$74,409) from the government of Canada and C$25,000 (US$18,602) from the city of Quinte West, will complete the planning work with CUTRIC that includes the evaluation of the economic, technological and environmental aspects of deploying zero-emission transit vehicles.
"Thanks to the investments by the federal government and the city of Quinte West, the goal to transition Quinte Transit vehicles to zero-emissions is moving forward in a positive direction. This announcement is a great example of how federal and municipal governments can work together to deliver sustainable transit infrastructure that minimizes our community's environmental footprint,” said Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison.
