Alberta transit grants to fund light-rail vehicles, electric buses

The Alberta Community Transit Fund will award a total of CA$215 million to communities for the purchase of light-rail vehicles, electric buses and a dedicated bus lane, the Alberta government announced late last week.

Of the total, the government awarded CA$101.8 million to Calgary Metropolitan Region, CA$95.4 million to Edmonton Metropolitan Region and CA$17.8 million to other communities, according to an Alberta government press release.

The transit grants are awarded to help municipalities address "the needs of their growing communities, while increasing environmentally sustainable transit options and improving rider experience," government officials said.

Calgary will use the funds to purchase 15 new light-rail vehicles and 52 compressed natural gas buses. In Edmonton, the dollars will go toward two light-rail stations, a dedicated bus lane on Terwillegar Drive and 28 new electric buses.

In the first three years, the grants will be funded with CA$141.4 million from the Climate Leadership Plan.

"These transit projects will help Albertans get to where they need to go in a timely and cost efficiently way while helping to reduce pollution and ease congestion," said Brian Mason, Alberta's transportation minister.