Governments of Canada and Ontario invest in Peterborough-Toronto freight rail analysis

PETERBOROUGH, ON, Dec. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Modern and efficient transportation routes are crucial to encouraging and supporting economic activity, facilitating trade, and creating good paying, middle class jobs. The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing in well-planned infrastructure that will make it easier to move people and products across the country, while supporting sustained economic growth and productivity for years to come.

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women and Member of Parliament for Peterborough?Kawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough, today announced funding for the Peterborough-Toronto Freight Rail Analysis project.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $65,000 towards this project, which will build on economic and engineering work already completed. The Government of Ontario is also providing up to $65,000 towards this project.

The project will define freight infrastructure requirements and outline the projected economic impact of potential future freight rail improvements along the Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain rail corridor. Specifically, the project will evaluate the benefits and impacts associated with enabling increased freight rail capacity along the corridor.

Quotes

"Our government is investing in the assessment of increased freight rail services in the Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain corridor. A better understanding of economic, environmental, and social impacts of infrastructure projects like this one will help protect our environment, support the creation of new jobs, and grow our economy."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women and Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"I am pleased to see the support for developing a project to increase freight rail services throughout the Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain corridor. This is an important step to ensure reliable freight service in our community."

Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Budget 2017 proposes over $10.1 billion in trade and transportation projects across Canada. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• The Government of Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges, and water and wastewater infrastructure in the province's history ? more than $190 billion in public infrastructure over 13 years, starting in 2014-15. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/on-eng.html

Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/programs-infc-summary-eng.html#mic

Build ON 2017 Infrastructure Update: https://www.ontario.ca/page/buildon-2017-infrastructure-update

Smart Cities Challenge: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cities-villes-eng.html

Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada