Building will meet city's needs for 'next 50 years'
Transit Federal government provides $8M in new funding for new East Side structure
SAINT JOHN - It's been a good year for the Port City with the announcement of federal funds for harbour cleanup and a centre of excellence with 100 high-paying jobs to be built here as part of the Point Lepreau nuclear station refurbishment.
On Monday, the gifts kept on coming as the federal government announced $8.1 million in funding for the new Saint John Transit building.
Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, the MP for Southwest New Brunswick, said the facility is being built with the city's future in mind.
"With this investment, we are building a facility to meet Saint John Transit's needs for the next 50 years," Thompson said. "This city is on the cusp of greatness."
The money comes from the federal Public Transit Capital Fund.
"If we're all around in 50 years, we will all be experiencing the benefits of that building."
The 115,000-square-foot facility can house 64 buses - Saint John Transit currently has 55 buses - and will be located on the East Side. The Saint John Transit Commission announced in November that its new $19.5-million transit facility will be located on the corner of Loch Lomond Road and McDonald Street, near Loch Lomond Mall. Construction is expected to begin in late spring and will replace the 25-year-old Fairville Boulevard site.
Coun. Glen Tait, a member of the city's transit commission, said Ottawa was critical to making the project happen.
"The new transit facility would not be a reality without the support of the federal government," Tait said.
Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre, who is also the provincial minister of Supply and Services and minister responsible for the province's Regional Development Corporation, said Saint John has had a great year. The federal fund, which totals $900 million, is divvied up based on ridership numbers. According to the transit authority, 2.5 million people board its buses each year making it the most used municipal bus service in the province.
"Saint John has by far the largest ridership," he said about the provincial numbers.
Called the Public Transit Capital Trust, the $900-million fund is divided among the provinces and territories. The money is to be used for transit infrastructure and $20.7 million of that fund has been directed toward this province with Saint John getting almost half.
"It's an amazing change that's going to happen in East Saint John," MacIntyre said.
Mayor Norm McFarlane was beaming and called the announcement a "great Christmas gift" for the city.
"I'm very excited that things are moving forward," said the mayor.
McFarlane was also quick to point out that the old West Side facility can now become home to new retail space and begin the rejuvenation of that area of the city.
"There's two or three retailers ready to go in there," McFarlane said.
While the mayor wouldn't give any details, Wal-Mart was looking at the site, but walked away recently because it no longer fit with its corporate strategy. Retail giants Sobeys and Canadian Tire location are now said to be interested in the property.
Plazacorp is buying the land for $2.5 million, as is, where is - the same deal offered to Wal-Mart. Plazacorp is also handling the negotiations with potential tenants.
In January, the federal government gave Saint John Transit $4.8 million in funding to buy 10 new buses for its Comex service to outlying areas and to purchase three state-of-the-art buses to accomodate the handicapped.
The transit building will meet LEED standards - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The international designation is the benchmark for high-performance environmental, or green, buildings.
With the Canaport LNG plant under construction, another refinery proposed and a second nuclear reactor a possibility, provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir said protecting the environment has to be at the forefront as the city moves toward becoming an energy hub.
"There's a balance between building new (power) generation "¦ and energy conservation and efficiency," Keir said. "We believe it's important."
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