Ottawa is on track to get $180 million in transit infrastructure funding from the federal government from 2026 to 2036.
The money would pay for upgrading, replacing, modernizing and maintaining public transit and its infrastructure, according to a news release issued Monday.
Liberal MPs from across Ottawa attended the announcement at Corso Italia station on the north-south Trillium rail line, which opened to the public this month.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has been mounting a public campaign for federal and provincial funding since August, when he blamed both governments for shortchanging Ottawa.
He said remote work for federal employees has gutted ridership at OC Transpo, and argued that the federal government should provide operating funding to help make up the loss.
That demand was part of his “Fairness for Ottawa” campaign, along with a push for higher payments in lieu of property taxes and a fairer funding formula for transit capital.
The city desperately needs that money to fill its transit deficit. The 2025 city budget included a $36-million placeholder based on the assumption money would come through.
The new money comes from the Canada Public Transit Fund’s baseline funding stream, which includes a $500-million annual envelope and is meant to support improvements to existing transit systems.
The city is required to submit a plan for spending the money before the funding agreement can be finalized, according to the federal government.