Windsor is getting more than $100 million in funding dedicated to transit over the next 10 years.
The money is being unlocked from the provincial and federal governments, but there’s a catch.
The city would have to invest $39 million to unlock the funds.
"Our cost share to unlock that $145 million is about $39 million,” says Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens. “So a lot of money is flowing from the province and federal government to basically improve transit."
How the funding breaks down is $58 million over ten years from the federal government and $48.25 million from the provincial government. Windsor’s share is $38.6 million.
Dilkens tells CTV Windsor it’s a perfect opportunity to look at a regional transit system.
“For us I think that means a stronger commitment to regional transit being able to build the infrastructure and build the routes to allow our residents to be able to get to employment areas whether it's on Patillo Road, whether it's out in Leamington, wherever it is in Essex County,” says Dilkens.
Tecumseh Mayor and Grey County Warden Gary McNamara also supports regional transit.
“Making sure it's affordable and the most important piece that I think is to make sure it's sustainable for the future,” adds McNamara.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce says regional transit will help hundreds of businesses.
“From our employers, a lot of them from the county, they are looking for people and the workforce is there but sometimes getting the workforce in the right place at the right time is a challenge,” says President Rakesh Naidu. “So hopefully this will make a difference.”
The city has eight weeks to put a plan in place and will call a special meeting to approve the priorities laid out by administration.
