April 25, 2023 – Infrastructure Canada announced several recipients of funding to decarbonize their bus fleets.

The funding is made available through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF).

In British Columbia, the Langley School District is receiving $13,800 through the ZETF to develop a strategy to transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs). The project includes assessing the existing bus fleet, developing a roadmap to zero emissions, determining maintenance and operational needs, establishing costs, and developing an implementation and rollout plan.

The Langley School District No. 35 is contributing $3450 toward the project.

In Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Transit is receiving $336,000 through the ZETF to plan for the electrification of its fleet. The City of Saskatoon is contributing $84,000.

With this funding, Saskatoon Transit will create a five-phase strategy that will review the costs, assess the risks and advantages, and identify the infrastructure and internal resources needed to transition to a low-carbon fleet.

Additionally, this plan will guide the City of Saskatoon’s efforts to meet its goal of electrifying the city’s entire fleet.

In Ontario, the Toronto Transit Commission is receiving $349 million through the ZETF for the electrification of its bus fleet. The City of Toronto is contributing $351 million to the project.

This funding will enable the TTC to purchase 340 zero-emission buses and 248 battery-electric bus chargers. It will also support upgrades to related infrastructure in eight bus garages, including site upgrades, equipment procurement, and charger installations.

Launched in 2021, the $2.75-billion Zero Emission Transit Fund offers support to public transit and school bus operators across Canada who are electrifying their fleets.

The ZETF is accepting applications under both its Planning and Capital streams. Eligible applicants can seek funding to help cover planning and capital costs related to electrifying public transit systems and school transportation, including the purchase of zero-emission buses and related infrastructure.

This fund is coordinated with the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s commitment to invest over $1.5 billion in zero-emission buses.