Ontario Budget 2001 : TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE

TORONTO — Finance Minister Jim Flaherty today announced the Province will focus $500 million of the $1 billion SuperBuild Millennium Partnerships initiative on transportation and environmental initiatives to enhance the quality of life for the people of Ontario.

"I am announcing a way to address the gridlock that is threatening to compromise the quality of life in our urban areas," Flaherty said.

The government will invest $250 million from the Millennium Partnerships initiative in strategic infrastructure projects in eight major urban areas: Ottawa, Waterloo Region, London, Windsor, Niagara Region, Hamilton, Sudbury and Thunder Bay. This initiative will invest in projects in four categories: addressing the gridlock, including transit expansion projects; environmental protection, including water and sewer upgrades; access to strategic highway corridors and international border crossings; and urban revitalization projects, including "public realm" components of downtown and waterfront renewal projects.

The government will address the gridlock in the GTA and the surrounding regions with a $250 million SuperBuild investment in inter-regional transit expansion. Working in partnership with municipalities, the federal government and the private sector, SuperBuild will invest in the expansion of inter-regional transit infrastructure such as commuter rail, light rail and dedicated transit ways.

"Since 1995, our government has invested more than $5 billion in the province's highway system. Our commitment is ongoing. We are determining how best to expand and manage our highways," Flaherty said. SuperBuild will examine opportunities for the private sector to contribute to our highway system, and begin the process of calling on the private sector to complete Highway 407 east to Highway 35/115.

Collectively these transportation initiatives support the government's made-in-Ontario Smart Growth initiative aimed at sustaining a strong economy, strong communities, a healthy environment and enhancing our quality of life.

"Investing in transportation will take some of the pressure off our highways in Ottawa, Toronto and several of our other largest cities and growing regions," Flaherty added. "We want to ensure...a seamless system of transportation and an excellent quality of life."

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For more information visit www.fin.gov.on.ca