New Streetcars On Track For Toronto

Ontario will create jobs in Thunder Bay and improve public transit in Toronto with a $416-million investment in a new fleet of 204 streetcars.

According to Bombardier, manufacturing the streetcars would create more than 5,000 direct jobs and 10,300 indirect jobs in Ontario.

Prototype streetcars will be delivered in 2011 and new cars will be in service by 2012. The cars replace Toronto's aging fleet and will be more energy efficient, larger and more comfortable.

Funding will be provided through funds set aside for infrastructure stimulus investments over the next two years and through Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan.

Since 2003, the McGuinty government has invested more than $7.4 billion in public transit, including more than $2.5 billion to GO Transit. Toronto has received close to $3 billion in transit funding in the last six years.