Minister of Transportation and MPP for York – Simcoe Caroline Mulroney was in Bradford Friday afternoon to share the announcement that Bradford West Gwillimbury will be receiving $379,965 in funding as part of the province's Gas Tax program.
The Ontario government is providing the funds to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services.
The funding is part of the province’s Gas Tax program which will allocate $375.6 million this year to 107 municipalities that deliver public transit, with Simcoe County receiving $1,391,871 in funding.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how critical public transit is for frontline workers and for Ontarians who depend on these services to get to medical appointments, the grocery store and other important locations,” said Mulroney. “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 – ensuring people have access to safe and reliable transportation when they need it.”
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.
To make up for reduced gas sales due to COVID-19, this year’s Gas Tax funding includes one-time additional funding of $120.4 million to ensure municipalities can support their transit systems.
"We topped it up so all our municipalities would get at least the same amount as last year," said Mulroney.
Last year, Bradford received $378,054 from the program.
The funds received this year will go towards BWG Transit operational costs.
To view BWG Transit schedules, visit the town website here.
