Ontario is boosting support for Oakville, providing us with reliable, long-term funding to improve and expand local transit and offer more travel options for commuters and families.
This is great news for commuters and families in Oakville Increasing gas tax funding will help improve service, get more people on public transit and tackle congestion.
Starting in 2019, Ontario will increase funding for Oakville and other municipal transit systems across the province through an enhancement to the existing gas tax program, doubling the municipal share from two cents per litre to four cents by 2021. There will be no increase in the tax that people in Ontario pay on gasoline as a result of the enhancement to the program.
“The stable, reliable funding from the gas tax is what municipalities need to make long-term improvements to our transit services. This boost in funding will mean improved transit service, reduced congestion and a more livable Oakville for all our residents,” commented Mayor Rob Burton.
Oakville, which has received an average of about $2.3 million per year in gas tax funding, could see its funding increased to an estimated $2.9 million in 2019-20, $3.5 million in 2020-21 and to $4.7 million in 2021-22.
Oakville is able to use gas tax funding to make major infrastructure upgrades, buy additional transit vehicles, add more routes, extend hours of service, implement fare strategies and improve accessibility.
Research shows that every $100 million of public infrastructure investment in Ontario boosts GDP by $114 million, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Supporting stronger public transit systems is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.