The federal government has cracked open its coffers with $1.49 billion in new transit infrastructure money for everything from new transit vehicles to upgraded stations. The money will cover $688 million worth of projects in five Ontario cities lined up to be the first recipients of the dedicated transit funding. Under the new federal program, provinces are required to fill half of their funding wish lists before Ottawa can begin distributing the money. Similar work is ongoing in British Columbia, which — like Ontario — signed a transit funding deal first, given the volume of outstanding work required. The infrastructure money this year and next is focused on repairing Canada'a aging water and public transit infrastructure, as well as for smaller projects that can be completed by 2019.

Source: CBC News August 23, 2016 12:10 UTC