The city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, received a C$325.2 million (US$246.15 million) commitment from the government of Canada to support the transition of its transit fleet to zero emissions. The funding is provided through the Zero Emission Transit Fund and is in addition to the C$165 million (US$124.17 million) the city received through an agreement with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) for the same project.
"Shifting bus fleets towards zero emission buses is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while investing in people's quality of life. Alongside our partners in Calgary, we are investing in cleaner air and the creation of good jobs for Calgarians. We will continue to work with them and communities across Alberta to build a sustainable economy and a bright future for all Albertans," said Canada Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic LeBlanc.
Calgary plans to purchase and deploy up to 259 zero-emission transit buses, as well as complete infrastructure upgrades to two existing transit garages to house and charge the new vehicles. The Spring Gardens and Anderson Garage upgrades will include the installation of charging cabinets and dispensers with spare capacity for future electric bus purchases.
"This contribution will allow us to transition the transit fleet to zero-emission vehicles more quickly and adds to funding already secured through council. When it comes to climate change, we are committed to taking actions which are both economically and environmentally sustainable," said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
The city is targeting a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as part of its Green Fleet Strategy. Calgary Transit ordered 14 electric buses from Vicinity Motor Corp. in 2021 that will be part of the transit provider’s electric bus pilot, which is expected to launch later this year. According to the city, the pilot will help Calgary Transit gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of integrating electric buses into its fleet, as well as supporting readiness for future electric bus deployments.
CIB CEO Ehren Cory added, “We are proud to partner with the city of Calgary to help increase access to sustainable, modern public transportation. The CIB is accelerating Calgary's path to net-zero by enabling the purchase of 259 zero-emission buses. As part of our mandate, we partner with public transit owners and service providers across the country to provide Canadians with cleaner public transportation options for future generations."
