TransLink will purchase a fleet of new buses and almost 40 new SkyTrain cars to replace and expand its existing fleet, thanks to funding from the federal gas tax, the local transit authority announced on Thursday.
The funding, amounting to $186.4 million over two years, will go toward the purchase of 146 conventional buses, 34 articulated trolleys, 38 SkyTrain cars, 23 community shuttles, 55 HandyDART vehicles and one SeaBus.
The gas-tax fund will also provide $10 million toward the $54-million expansion of the SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance Centre.
$50 million will go toward the creation of a $165-million transportation training centre in Maple Ridge.
Fuelling transit
The Gas Tax Revenue Fund was established in 2005 and in its first three years provided TransLink with $122.7 million.
