Families in the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows school district will no longer pay fees for eligible bus riders thanks to $185,990 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

The borrowing rates of high-cost, short-term cash loans – payday loans – will be lowered under regulations coming into effect Jan. 1, 2017.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is starting design work on an upcoming safety improvement project in Maple Ridge, to install median barrier on a 6.6-kilometre section of Highway 7, stretching from 240th to 272nd streets.

The B.C. government announced that it has invested, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), $323,000 in the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 Training Association (IUOETA).

The B.C. government recognizes the need for a long-term low barrier shelter and housing facility in the City of Maple Ridge and will provide approximately $15 million in capital and operating funding for a permanent facility once an appropriate location is determined.

The B.C. government is providing $270,000 to allow the 40-bed temporary shelter in Maple Ridge to remain open until the end of June 2016.

Students and teachers at Thomas Haney Secondary school, Garibaldi Secondary school and Westview Secondary school in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Secondary school in Pitt Meadows will benefit from innovative learning concepts being put into action thanks to 15 new K-12 Innovation Partnership projects.

Service BC will test expanded office hours at its Maple Ridge location in response to requests from local residents.