Watts still optimistic about transit after budget
Posted February 11, 2014 9:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The federal budget didn’t have a lot in it for public transit improvements.
There were a number of multi-million dollar infrastructure promises but none of them centred on public transit.
But that doesn’t have Surrey’s mayor down and she still expects to go ahead with a number of initiatives.
Dianne Watts sees an opportunity for her city to grow by using the money from the Build Canada Fund, which is in its last year.
It hasn’t been finalized how the money will be doled out this year but Watts is optimistic Surrey will be able to apply for multiple projects under the fund.
“We really wanted to pay attention to the Build Canada Fund. That matrix and the criteria under that piece will be determined and that will be coming forward,” says Watts.
She applauded Ottawa’s handling of it so far.
“This really just reaffirms their commitment to work with all the municipalities in terms of the Build Canada Fund.”
Details on who is eligible for what funding should be finalized later this year.
The $8.8 billion fund was established in 2007 to help pay for municipal infrastructure projects until the end of this year.
“We in Surrey have put forward a number of projects under that Build Canada Fund. So those details, as far as I’m aware, will be laid out by the end of March,” says Watts.
