$79M for buses in BC as part of three-government investment: PM

VICTORIA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined British Columbia’s premier in announcing funding for 118 new transit buses across the province to replace those at the end of the lives.

The prime minister and premier announced a joint investment of $79 million among federal, provincial and municipal governments that will also allow for 10 long-range electric buses that would provide greener transportation options in Greater Victoria.

Trudeau told a crowd inside a BC Transit bus body shop in Victoria that the buses will be more energy efficient and have improved accessibility and safety features as part of a public system that needs to keep pace with growing communities.

Premier John Horgan says a strong transit system is essential to making communities more affordable and to greening the province’s transportation infrastructure.

The federal and provincial governments have each contributed $31 million for the new buses while municipalities are pitching in $16 million.