Government of Canada and City of Barrie Join in Public Private Partnership to Deliver Much-Needed Upgrades to Barrie’s Transit Facilities

October 13, 2011

Project to improve quality of public transit services; renew aging infrastructure

October 13, 2011 - On behalf of the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute up to $5.8 million through the P3 Canada Fund towards the Barrie Transit Facility Project.

“A strong transit system is key to enhancing and strengthening a local economy. With the P3 approach, the City of Barrie will receive a new transit facility on time and on budget and will be moving the operations and maintenance of its bus fleet to a performance-based contract which will provide higher quality bus operations and services to residents in our community,” said Mr. Brown.

The City of Barrie will contribute up to $17.7 million towards the balance of the capital costs. Once selected, the private sector proponent will design, build and finance the construction of the transit facility in addition to the operation and maintenance of the City’s bus fleet.

“The City of Barrie is proud to partner with the Government of Canada to provide Barrie residents with much-needed upgrades to our transit facilities,” said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “We believe that these investments will help to improve operational efficiency and quality of services for our residents and is the first step to increasing transportation ridership.”

“Since the launch of the P3 Canada Fund in 2009, PPP Canada has seen growing interest from municipalities that are considering P3s as alternative means to delivering community-based infrastructure,” said Greg Melchin, Chair of PPP Canada Inc. “The City of Barrie is demonstrating another innovative P3 approach to delivering high quality services that will meet the needs of Barrie residents now and in the years to come.”

The renovation of the transit facility will provide enhanced operation and maintenance services to sustain the current bus fleet; improve operational efficiency and quality of services; increase transportation ridership; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; produce direct economic and social benefits for Barrie both during and after construction; and encourage competitive bidding on the operations and maintenance of the City’s fleet.

___________________________________