Toronto's streets will get new streetcars.
The government has invested in affordable and environmentally friendly transportation.
Officials including Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabhmitt Sarkaria, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Jamaal Myers reported on a milestone event for the metropolis. Toronto's streets will now be home to the first of 60 new Canadian-made streetcars.
"The City of Toronto is proud to work with our federal and provincial partners to invest in green, high-capacity transit. This major investment by our governments will add 60 zero-emission, fully accessible streetcars to our TTC fleet, along with the infrastructure to support those streetcars. Increasing the number of streetcars serving our City will improve service and encourage more people to choose transit over driving. This is good news for our transit system and the environment.," commented Olivia Chow.
A total of CA$ 568 million was allocated to the project, some of which went to the production of the streetcars themselves and some to the maintenance and upkeep facility. In addition, it is noted that the production of the new low-floor, high-capacity streetcars provides more than 300 well-paying jobs at Alstom's facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
"A thriving Toronto—with reliable and sustainable public transit—is very much a part of our economic plan. Just as creating good-paying, middle-class jobs in Canada and in this city is central to our economic plan. We are investing in Toronto, and in Toronto’s transit infrastructure," said Chrystia Freeland.
All 60 new streetcars manufactured in Canada will be delivered during 2023, 2024 and 2025. The project should bring Canada closer to the final target on its path to achieving zero emissions by 2050.
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