The Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) is hoping to increase transit options for residents in the Calgary region.
The organization recently submitted its Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP) funding proposal to the Province in hopes of receiving $200 million in funding for projects in Airdrie, Cochrane, Bow Valley and Calgary.
“These investments are part of the Calgary Regional Transit Plan, which aims to increase the mobility of the region’s residents and reduce both traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Truper McBride, CRP chair and Cochrane mayor. “These critical investments will also support the Calgary Metropolitan Plan and promote economic development while providing regional residents with enhanced accessibility to jobs, schools, medical facilities and recreational opportunities.”
Cochrane’s proposed projects, which will be jointly funded by GreenTRIP and the municipality, include purchasing four buses at a total cost of $3.6 million, a $4.77-million transit terminal, a $20.8-million bus storage and maintenance facility and a local transit system, valued at $640,000.
The City of Airdrie also submitted its application and is hoping to be compensated $2.8 million for its purchase of five buses and start-up equipment for its transit system.
Calgary, Banff and Canmore also submitted proposals. More requests are expected from the Calgary region, including Chestermere and Okotoks.
If approved, the first of these new projects is expected to start in 2012. All projects will likely be completed by 2016.
The long-term goal of the CRP’s Regional Transit Plan is to develop a network of local and inter-municipal bus and rail transit services throughout the region.
The GreenTRIP initiative is a provincial funding program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the expansion of public transit services throughout Alberta.
