Thanks to successful a Rural Transit Solutions Fund grant application, a new specialty bus and bus shelter is coming to Wallaceburg.
“Engineering and Transportation staff submitted an application to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund for the purchase of an 8-Metre accessible ARBOC Specialty Transit Vehicle (bus) and the construction of a bus lane and shelter for the Community of Wallaceburg,” said Ann-Marie Millson, manager of engineering, transit and capital asset management, in a staff report.
“This hub is to be located at the County Fair Mall and will accommodate the Inter Urban Bus for Route A and the new conventional/accessible On Request Route for the Community of Wallaceburg which launched in August 2022.”
In order to adhere to the terms and conditions of the grant, Chatham-Kent Council approved the following staff recommendations at their Monday, December 12, 2022 meeting:
– The Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign and enter into a contribution agreement with the Government of Canada.
– The Engineering division be authorized to prepare and coordinate approval for any necessary reporting forms and forward to the Government of Canada.
– The General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering be authorized to approve the construction tender.
Millson said a letter was received on October 7, 2022 announcing that Chatham-Kent was approved in principle for the funding.
Wallaceburg Councillor Carmen McGregor said she appreciated the work by staff to pull the grant application together and securing the funding.
“What a difference it will make in our community of Wallaceburg,” McGregor said.
“To have another vehicle coming in with accessibility access to it and to now have a shelter where most of our residents often have to stand out in all kinds of inclement weather.”
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has been awarded up to 80% of total eligible projects costs to a maximum federal contribution of $320,000, Millson added.
The estimated project costs, prior to tender is $400,000.
The municipality’s share of the project is $80,000 and will be paid from the Transit Lifecycle Reserves, Millson said in her report.
