File photo by Alec Ross, BlackburnNews.comFile photo by Alec Ross, BlackburnNews.com
London

Rapid Transit At Centre Of Infrastructure Funding Ask

It is unclear exactly how much London's revamped transit system will cost, but it is expected SHIFT will be the main focus when the city and province meet to talk infrastructure funding.

City engineers and planners are gathering public feedback during the environmental assessment process as they develop London's rapid transit plan. That is expected to be complete by the fall.

The goal is to reroute the bus system to link with the future high speed rail and existing train routes to make getting around, as well as to and from the city an easier process.

It is estimated the overhaul could cost upwards of $300-million.

Roughly $11.5-billion in infrastructure funding is available from the province through the Moving Ontario Forward program.

"We've got a very extensive process on-going over the next few months. It's looking at possible routes, modes of transit, how we would navigate the buses and how all of it would work. It's expected that at the end of that process we will have a much better idea of the cost," says London's Director of Community and Economic Innovation Kate Graham. "We will be sharing what the province what we know right now about our rapid transit plan."

Premier Kathleen Wynne urged southwestern Ontario's mayors to prioritize and make it known what local projects need funding.

The province is hosting a infrastructure funding consultation in London on July 29.

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