City council has given the go-ahead to Saskatoon Transit to buy new buses.
Council approved the application for funding the purchase of up to 15 low-floor buses, at a cost of $7.95 million, under the federal government’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.
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The application also covers up to five new Access Transit buses at a cost of $650,000.
The purchase will initially be covered with cash-on-hand until the application is approved and the money received.
“Purchasing these buses allows Saskatoon Transit to continue our improvements in our fleet reliability and age,” said Clae Hack, the city’s director of finance.
“Leveraging federal funding programs for the purchase of new buses helps Saskatoon Transit deliver high-quality, comfortable service riders expect and deserve.”
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The current average age of the fleet is 11.9 and Hack said not only will the purchase make the fleet younger, it will reduce maintenance costs.
The new buses are expected to arrive in 2017.
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