Transit in the Chatham-Kent and Essex area is getting another shot in the arm to get people moving.
Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, announced on Friday afternoon Chatham-Kent will receive $965,600 and Leamington will receive $208,300, their share of the annual gas tax funding for regional transit. The 2020 transit funding is about the same as last year.
Anne-Marie Millson, manager of Chatham-Kent's Engineering and Transportation Division, said the cash will offset the cost of operating extended hours of service and keeping longer routes going. Millson said transit costs the municipality about $2.5 million a year to operate but only collects roughly $625,000 in fares annually.
Chatham-Kent will also receive $500,000 in community transportation grants to improve the existing transportation service and provide accessible transportation options for low-income families and the rural community. Leamington will get $606,400 to continue its inter-community bus service linking Leamington, Kingsville, Essex, and Windsor.
"Our government is taking action to build a better transportation system and get people moving in Chatham-Kent-Leamington and across southwestern Ontario,” said MPP Nicholls. “The plan includes actions to connect smaller communities to larger centres, improve access to jobs and critical services and encourage an open and competitive business environment.”
