[URBAN NOTE] "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earmarks up to $840M for Toronto transit"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC notes some very good news for funding of Toronto transit.

Signal upgrades on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, new buses on the city's highly travelled bus routes, and repairs and upgrades that will make the city's transit system fully accessible are just some of the projects the TTC will fund with the up to $840 million that's on the way from the federal government.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Toronto Friday to announce the funding, which will come from the $3.4 billion in transit money announced in March's federal budget.

Trudeau said that while the money "won't solve every funding challenge the TTC is facing," the announcement is unique in three ways:

■ Toronto will receive the money this year.

■ The federal government will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of approved projects.

■ How the money will be spent is up to the city, not Ottawa.