Local officials from Fredericton have officially announced a combined investment of 177,140 CAD for the development of a new strategy to transition the City’s public transport fleet to zero emission vehicles, as part of the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF).
The announcement was made by the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, Kate Rodgers, Mayor of Fredericton, and Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC).
The new project will see the preparation of a low carbon transition plan which focuses on the economic, technological and environmental benefits of a move to zero emission operations. The plan will also focus on the considerations and constraints related to a low-carbon vehicle fleet, and include a current state assessment, advanced feasibility and optimisation study, a development concept, benefits and risk evaluation and an implementation plan, alongside recommendations.
Aligned with the city’s goals to reduce its carbon footprint, Fredericton will also receive annual funding for public transit for long-term transit goals, as well as an additional 3 CAD million for the purchase of three hybrid buses through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund to both expand and improve the city’s public transit system.
The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, said:This planning project is the key to successfully integrating zero emissions transit in Fredericton.
The Government of Canada is proud to partner with communities looking to lower their GHG emissions, to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for generations to come.
