Durham Region and communities from Pickering to Clarington benefit from more than $9 million in Gas Tax revenue

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Published January 19, 2022 at 2:31 pm

The Ontario government is providing more than $9 million to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services in Durham Region through its Gas Tax program, which will allocate $375.6 million this year to 107 municipalities that deliver public transit.

“This funding allocated to our region will help ensure residents … have access to safe and reliable transportation to get to work or pick up essential items like a prescription or go to a doctor’s appointment,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, the Pickering-Uxbridge MPP and Ontario’s Finance Minister. “Helping frontline workers get to and from work each day with reliable transportation throughout the pandemic is vital to our community’s recovery from the effects of COVID-19.”

Funding for the Gas Tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial Gas Tax revenue, which can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade infrastructure.

“Our Government knows that supporting public transit systems like Durham Region Transit is more important than ever to ensure that public transit continues to be a reliable and accessible option,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, who noted that the government added a one-time extra payment of $120.4 million this year to make up for reduced gas sales during the pandemic and to ensure Durham residents have access to the “safe and reliable public transportation they need, when they need it.”

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney agreed, saying public transit is “critical” for people to get to medical appointments, the grocery store and other important locations.

“Gas Tax funding remains a vital source of long-term transit funding that municipalities can rely on to help operate and expand existing public transit services.”

Total funding provided to Durham Region through the program this year is $9,369,547.

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