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Ministry of Transportation

Partnership Means Cost Savings For Municipalities And Taxpayers


    Metrolinx To Partner With Municipalities To Reduce Transit Costs

    TORONTO, June 13 /CNW/ -

    NEWS

    Metrolinx, an agency of the government of Ontario, today agreed to assume
the Ministry of Transportation's Transit Procurement Initiative that
facilitates the joint purchase of new buses for municipalities.
    By using common specifications and buying new buses together,
municipalities save vehicle and administration costs. Municipalities can
replace aging buses with more accessible and fuel efficient models at less
cost.
    Since 2007/08, eight municipalities have partnered with MTO and purchased
145 new buses. Fourteen municipalities will participate in 2008/09 to
potentially purchase 225 buses for delivery in 2009 and 2010.

    QUOTES

    "The McGuinty government wants to get more people onto transit. This is a
great program that fits with Metrolinx's mandate to coordinate public transit
needs across regional boundaries. More municipalities will be able to buy new,
accessible buses, and save taxpayers' dollars," said Minister Jim Bradley
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.htm).
    "Metrolinx is pleased to accept a leadership role in this transit
purchasing cooperative," said Rob MacIsaac, Chair of Metrolinx
(http://www.metrolinx.com/NonTabPages/1/AutoBiographyPages/Rob%;20MacIsaac.aspx
). "It provides us with the opportunity to identify other areas, including
technologies, supplies and services that will assist transit operators across
Ontario to enhance customer service."

    QUICK FACTS

    Municipalities involved in the program saved on average $15,000 per bus.
In 2008 cost savings were in the range of four to seven per cent per
municipality.
    Fourteen municipalities are participating in the 2008 program with
approximately 225 buses to be delivered in 2009 and 2010.
    Ontario recently announced that transit vehicles bought with provincial
funding must now have at least 25 per cent Canadian content, to help keep and
support jobs in Ontario.

    LEARN MORE

    Move Ontario 2020
(http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/06/15/c5330.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.ht
ml) is the $17.5 billion transit action plan for the Greater Toronto Area and
Hamilton. Eighty-two per cent of the funding will be invested in Ontario and
create 160,000 jobs. This grows to 190,000 jobs when provincial support for
transit projects in Kitchener-Waterloo and Ottawa is included.
    See how Metrolinx (http://www.metrolinx.com/default.aspx) is linking
people to places across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas.

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For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416)
327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158; Jacquie Menezes,
Senior Associate, Public Affairs and Media, Metrolinx, (416) 874-5923 or cell
(647) 289-4523, Jacquie.Menezes@metrolinx.com

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