The government of Canada and the town of Cochrane, Alberta, will provide joint funding of C$103,800 (US$77,000) to plan the electrification of the city of Cochrane’s transit system.
Through this investment, the town will undertake a planning study that will look at the electrification of Cochrane On-Demand Local Transit. It will involve assessing the economic, technological and environmental benefits of transitioning to a low carbon fleet of vehicles, as well as the potential risks and constraints.
“Across the country, communities are taking climate action by looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint. The town of Cochrane is doing just that by planning a possible transition of their on-demand transit service to a full fleet of zero-emission vehicles. As communities continue to upgrade local infrastructure to help achieve Canada’s emission reduction targets, residents also benefit from a cleaner, quieter and more efficient commuting option,” said George Chahal, member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview.
The government of Canada is contributing C$83,040 (US$62,000) to the project through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF), with the town of Cochrane contributing C$20,760 (US$15,000).
The ZETF is currently accepting applications under the Planning and Capital streams. Eligible applicants can seek funding to help cover planning and capital costs related to electrifying school transportation and public transit systems, including the purchase of zero emission buses and related infrastructure. The ZETF helps communities transition to zero emission transit and school buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Canada’s net-zero emission targets. The fund is closely coordinated with the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s commitment to invest $1.5 billion in zero-emission buses as part of its three-year Growth Plan.
The government of Canada is investing C$14.9 billion (US$11.73 billion) over the next eight years in reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit. This includes C$3 billion (US$2.36 billion) per year in permanent, predictable, federal public transit funding, which will be available to support transit solutions beginning in 2026-2027.
The ZETF complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. The plan commits the federal government to providing permanent federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation options available in every community.
The government of Canada is investing C$10 million (US$7.4 million) through the ZETF over five years to help transit bus operators to complete planning work and increase their level of readiness to transition to zero emission bus fleets.
“The town of Cochrane is excited for the government of Canada’s investment in our community and pleased to provide our support as we work towards our commitment to environmental stewardship and enhanced connectivity,” said Jeff Genung, mayor of Cochrane.
The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) has been supporting Canadian municipalities with their fleet transition. The consortium’s mission is to support the commercialization of technologies through industry-led collaborative research, development, demonstration, and integration projects that bring innovative design to Canada’s low-carbon smart mobility ecosystem. Cochrane will be the first municipality in Alberta to utilize CUTRIC’s expertise.
“Decarbonizing public transit isn’t just a choice, it’s a necessity and [this] announcement in a small municipality like Cochrane showcases a bold step toward not only reducing our carbon footprint, but enhancing the quality of life for residents,” said Josipa Petrunić, president and CEO of CUTRIC. “On-demand transit offers flexible and efficient transportation tailored to the demands of a community, and by embracing innovative technologies and data-driven approaches, Cochrane is seizing another opportunity to be a leader in Canada’s sustainable future.”
