Having compared the most recent British transportation
budget (here) to the awful U.S. budget document (here), I thought it would be
useful to take a peek at the new Canadian budget (synopsis here).
In truth, it’s not as aggressive as I would have hoped, but
there are definitely some steps in the right direction.
While the U.S. budget calls for eliminating the transit New
Starts program – and foreshadows cuts in the formula programs – the Canadian
budget calls for a greatly expanded
program of federal aid for transit capital. The budget earmarks $20 Billion Canadian over 5 years for
Phase II of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. (By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, this would
translate to a program of about $30 Billion US a year in this country.)
The transit initiative is an element of a “Transportation
2030” strategic plan (here) which, although not as focused as I would like, includes
an emphasis on “clean and innovative” transportation.
We look for more to come, Canadians, especially in these
difficult times down south!
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