Waterloo region among area municipalities receiving funding to improve transit services

The Region of Waterloo is among more than 100 municipalities receiving funding from thefederal and provincial governmentsfor transit services.

The region is getting about$8,550,600, as part of the Safe Restart Agreement, to helptransit systems addresspandemic impacts.The money will cover revenue losses, operating expenses and provincial transit priority projects including fare and service integration and On-Demand transit.

Guelph is also on that list for about $3 million.

"This joint funding is imperative to ensure Guelph can continue to recover its ridership and get commuters where they need to go safely," said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.

Other area municipalities are receiving the following:

• Brantfordreceiving about$812,000.
• Woodstock receiving about $270,000.
• Stratford receiving about $120,700
• Brant County receiving about $35,000.
• St. Marysreceiving about $34,100.

The federal government announced in July 2020 it would provide $19 billion to the provinces and territories to help fund a "safe restart" of the Canadian economy, helping communities bounce back from the pandemic.

The Ontario government will receive $7 billion overall, with $4 billion devoted to the province's 444 municipalities. Approximately $1.6 billion was distributed as part of the agreement's first phase.