The government of Canada and the city of Lethbridge will provide joint funding of C$134,813 (US$101,615) to transition the city of Lethbridge to zero-emission buses.
The investment in the creation of an Implementation Roadmap will help the city of Lethbridge reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future while providing an affordable way for residents to get to where they need to go. The study will assess benefits, risks and constraints associated with the transition to a zero-emission fleet and help build modern, reliable public transportation services for the residents of Lethbridge.
"The work towards electrifying transit helps us reach our net-zero emissions goals. This planning study in Lethbridge is the next step towards a full zero-emission city transit fleet that will improve local transit services while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Our government will continue to work with municipalities and provinces to invest in sustainable transit options and improve the quality of life of all Canadians,” said Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance of Canada Randy Boissonnault.
The government of Canada is investing C$107,850 (US$81,218) in the project through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF). The city of Lethbridge is contributing C$26,963 (US$20,305).
The ZETF helps communities transition to zero emission transit and school buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Canada’s net-zero emissions targets. The fund is closely coordinated with the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s (CIB) Zero-emission Bus Initiative, through which the CIB has committed more than C$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) to supporting the deployment of zero emission buses.
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.
Since 2015, the government of Canada has invested more than C$24.8 billion (US$18.6 billion) in transit projects across the country, providing Canadians with cleaner and more efficient commuting options.
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.
"On behalf of Lethbridge City Council, I am very pleased that our project application is being largely supported through grant funding by Infrastructure Canada. Our transit fleet will be a significant component, as we collectively strive towards a greener future with sustainable energy use. With this grant funding, we will be able to create an Implementation Roadmap outlining a full transition of having zero-emission buses, which will be a huge step forward for Lethbridge,” said Mayor of Lethbridge Blaine Hyggen.
Federal funding is conditional on the signing of funding/contribution agreements.
