British Columbians need efficient and affordable public transit to get them to work or school on time and back home safely at the end of the day.

Investing in public transit fights climate change, reduces commute times and builds stronger and more sustainable communities.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia, and Erinn Pinkerton, president and chief executive officer for BC Transit, announced more than $79 million in joint funding to purchase 118 new buses for use in Victoria and communities throughout British Columbia. The new buses will help shorten daily commutes, reduce the number of cars on the road and make the province a greener place to live.

The new buses will replace others at the end of their life cycle or increase capacity in communities where ridership is growing. The investment includes funding for 10 long-range electric buses that will provide greener transportation options in Greater Victoria. The new buses will be more efficient, have improved accessibility and safety features, and will support BC Transit's new NextRide technology and closed-circuit television security cameras.

This investment will help meet British Columbians’ transportation needs while cutting air pollution and making its communities better places to live.

Quotes:

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada —

“Many British Columbians depend on public transit to get where they need to go safely and efficiently. As communities in B.C. continue to grow, investments in public transit need to keep pace. By investing in reliable, efficient public transit, we are making a real difference in the lives of British Columbians, while protecting our environment and making our communities stronger.”

François-Philippe Champagne, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities —

“Public transit infrastructure is vital to building strong, sustainable communities where all residents have access to essential services and opportunities, and businesses can thrive. This investment in modern, eco-friendly vehicles serving communities across British Columbia will ensure that public transit services can continue to provide convenient, accessible transportation options that will improve the quality of life for residents today and contribute to a greener future.”

John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia —

“Our government is committed to making life more affordable for British Columbians, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and investments like this will help us do just that. Working together, we can provide transit that people need and we can put public transit on a solid road towards a truly sustainable future.”

Erinn Pinkerton, president and chief executive officer, BC Transit —

“These valuable partnerships have enabled BC Transit to actively pursue and implement low carbon technologies as we strive towards a cleaner, greener transit fleet. We are incredibly grateful to the Government of Canada, the Province of B.C. and our local government partners for their contributions and continued collaboration.” 

Learn More:

Investing in Canada Plan: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/bc-eng.html

Canada and British Columbia support transit improvements in communities across B.C.: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2018/11/canada-and-british-columbia-support-transit-improvements-in-communities-across-bc.html

Factsheet: provincial investment in BC Transit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/investing-in-bc-transit

A backgrounder follows.