| March 1, 2010 SURREY – Surrey and White Rock commuters will benefit from $13 million in federal and provincial infrastructure funding to improve rapid bus transit along Highway 99, enhancing public safety and creating jobs. “This dedicated bus lane will be of tremendous benefit in getting commuters from our community to work more quickly, and reducing traffic congestion,” says South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert. “This is a strong step forward in increasing safety on Hwy 99 while reducing smog.” “We have been listening to the people of Surrey and their concerns regarding public transit and congestion,” says Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal. “This investment will make public transit a more attractive option to commuters, improve traffic flow, and reduce the growth of pollution and greenhouse gases pumped into the air.” “This project supports the growth of our South Fraser communities,” says Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordie Hogg. “And with Highway 99 being one of the busiest traffic corridors in the Lower Mainland, this project will increase our traffic capacity and improve commute time.” “This is a great addition to our local transit system,” says Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux. “We’ve seen visitors and local residents really embrace public transit over the 2010 Olympic Games and this project is an important step forward in reducing emissions.” The governments of Canada and British Columbia will each invest $6.5 million in the construction of 6.2 kilometres of shoulder bus lane, northbound, along Highway 99 from King George Highway to Highway 91. Today’s announcement represents a contribution of over $17 million from the Government of Canada, and over $18 million from the province of British Columbia for a total of 15 new infrastructure projects across British Columbia. The federal and provincial governments are together investing over $35.4 million to improve highways and local roads across British Columbia. The federal contribution to the projects comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. Including today’s announcement, almost 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $470 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia. The provincial contribution is part of a three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which will help build vital public infrastructure in every region of British Columbia. Since October 2008, over $4.4 billion in infrastructure projects have been announced across British Columbia. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. The website www.creatingjobs.gc.ca has more information on federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia. For more information on previous local infrastructure announcements, visit MP Hiebert’s website www.russhiebert.ca, MP Grewal’s website at www.ninagrewal.ca, MLA Hogg’s website at www.gordonhoggmla.bc.ca, MLA Cadieux’s website at www.stephaniecadieuxmla.bc.ca and follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MLACadieux -30- | |
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