Transit services across the Ottawa Valley will continue to run smoothly thanks to new funding from the province aimed at keeping local transportation accessible.
The Ontario government announced on Wednesday, April 8, that it is providing $466,355 to various municipalities within the Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke area. This funding, part of the 2025-26 Gas Tax program, will be used for a range of purposes including extending route hours, buying new vehicles, and improving accessibility.
In the central part of the Valley, Pembroke and Laurentian Valley will receive $118,783. This investment focuses not just on having buses everywhere but on making sure vulnerable residents are supported through the Pembroke and Laurentian Valley Handi-Bus service.
“This Gas Tax funding allocation enables the Friends of the Disabled (Pembroke and Laurentian Valley Handi-Bus) to continue to provide reliable service to seniors and individuals with intellectual and physical impairments,” said Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais. “These funds and this service greatly enhances the lives of so many in our two municipalities.”
MORE: Pembroke Laurentian Valley Handi-Bus receives new van thanks to grant funding
The Town of Renfrew received the largest local share at $245,313. Mayor Tom Sidney pointed out that while rural areas may not have “traditional” transit systems, this money is essential for Sunshine Coach services that help residents get to medical appointments and schools in Renfrew as well as nearby communities like Admaston/Bromley, Whitewater Region, Bonnechere Valley, Greater Madawaska, and Horton.
Further east, Arnprior Mayor Lisa Mc Gee expressed gratitude for a $27,713 allocation which supports the Arnprior-Braeside-Mc Nab Seniors at Home program. Petawawa also obtained $74,546 from this provincial investment.
Local MPP Billy Denault advocated for these funds stating that residents in the Valley “deserve access to reliable transit services that gets them where they need to go quickly and safely.”
“The funding we’re announcing today is good news for the people in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke as our government continues to protect Ontario by making historic investments in transportation and transit.”
The provincial gas tax distribution is determined based on last year’s gas sales with two cents per litre allocated specifically for public transit.
Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria mentioned that the $380 million being distributed among 107 municipalities across Ontario through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program is part of a larger $70 billion plan for expanding transit services.
“Today we’re ensuring municipalities can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit services for their communities,” Sarkaria stated in a press release.
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