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BWG Transit looks for government funding to speed aging bus replacement

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is eligible to get about $578,000, which it would split with the federal and provincial governments
Transit Bus
A BWG Transit bus. Submitted photo

Council gave the go-ahead this week for town staff to apply for an infrastructure fund worth about $578,000 that could see the replacement of an aging BWG Transit bus fleet.

Of that total funding Bradford West Gwillimbury would be eligible for, the town would cover $154,096, according to a town staff report.

If BWG’s application is successful, the other funding would come from the federal government ($231,115) and the provincial government ($192,577) through the 10-year Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, read the report.

“Seven years is the life of the fleet. We just celebrated our fifth birthday, and seven years is fast approaching,” said Paul Dubniak, transportation technologist with the town.

“We are seeing declines,” including in the buses’ transmissions and HVAC systems.

No specific timeframe, other than within 10 years, has been given to use the funding, but May 28 is the deadline for the first intake of applicants, he told council at a May 21 meeting.

The money could also be used in BWG to upgrade bus shelters and terminals, he added.

It would take about 18 months to get new vehicles once funding is received, Dubniak said.

All technology, including smart-fare boxes and cameras, can be moved to the new vehicles, he said.

Deputy Mayor James Leduc said he supports replacing the buses and then the shelters through the program, which will see up to $8.3 billion in combined federal, provincial and other partner funding for public transit.

Even with the upcoming federal election, “I assume there will be an infrastructure build moving forward.”