Nearly $100 million to be invested in upgrades to Windsor transit

Transit Windsor bus in Windsor, Ont. on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. (Chris Campbell/CTV Windsor)

Windsor’s transit system will see some new improvements thanks to a $100 million investment.

Around $71 million will come from the federal and provincial governments through an ‘Investing in Canada Infrastructure’ grant with the city outing up the remainder.

Riders will see upgrades including an automated fare system, bus stop and shelter upgrades and some upgrades to the terminal.

As well, over the next four years 34 of the old diesel and hybrid busses will be replaced with hybrid electric vehicles.

During Monday night’s council meeting, councillors voted 9-2 in favour of putting the money into transit support projects rather than a new transit garage.

The cost of a new garage is about $190 million.

Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie and Ward 2 Coun. Fabio Constante voted against.

“We chose to go in a different direction,” McKenzie said. “At some point in time, either this council or subsequent council will have to deal with building a new garage. It will be a substantial investment. We are all aware of that. We chose to delay that last night with the decision that council fund other programs within the master plan.”