Today, Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John's East, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Sheilagh O'Leary, Deputy Mayor of St. John's, announced a joint investment of more than $11.8 million to improve public transit in St. John's.
This investment will enable the purchase of up to 18 accessible, paratransit hybrid or electric vehicles to replace the current gasoline-burning fleet used in the GoBus service in St. John's and Mount Pearl. This will help ensure the stability and continuity of the paratransit service, which does not follow a fixed route or schedule and provides individualized rides. Additionally, all 120 Metrobus shelters in St. John's will also be getting solar panel kits, which will allow the city to illuminate the shelters using solar energy instead of electricity.
This investment will also enable the construction of a shared-use path from Logy Bay Road to Portugal Cove Road. Existing gravel trails will be upgraded to a three-metre-wide asphalt surface with rest areas, trailheads, landscaping, signage and wayfinding. Existing access paths from nearby streets, street crossings and intersections will also be upgraded to create a continuous and comfortable route.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, building resilient communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
