Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Application Guide for the Capital Stream
Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Application Guide for the Capital Stream
Table of Contents
- About the Rural Transit Solutions Fund
- Who Can Apply
- Partnerships
- Eligible Activities
- Budgeting
- Evaluation of Applications
- Capital Project Deadlines
- Supporting Documents
- Additional Application Considerations
- Decisions for Capital Applications
- Agreements and Reporting
- Definitions
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This publication is available at https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/rural-trans-rural/applicant-guide-demandeur-eng.html.
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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, 2023.
Cat. No. T94-29/2021E-PDF
ISBN 978-0-660-39895-2
Aussi disponible en français sous le titre: Guide de demande pour le volet Immobilisations du Fonds pour les solutions de transport en commun en milieu rural.
About the Rural Transit Solutions Fund
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund supports the development and expansion of locally driven transit solutions. These solutions are intended to help people living in rural, remote, Indigenous and Northern communities do their day-to-day activities like going to work, school, appointments, and visiting loved ones. A minimum of 10% of the total Rural Transit Solution Fund's $250 million funding envelope will be allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.
For the Fund's capital steam, eligible applicants can apply for a contribution of up to $3 million for conventional solutions (e.g., vehicle or software) or up to $5 million for zero-emissions transit solutions.
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund is part of the Government of Canada's Permanent Public Transit Program, which allocates $14.9 billion over the next eight years for public transit projects. The Permanent Public Transit Program also provides support for major infrastructure projects, zero emissions transit, and active transportation.
Submission of Applications and Deadline
Applications to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund's capital stream will be accepted via Infrastructure Canada's online portal starting on January 20, 2023. Infrastructure Canada will provide notification on its website in advance of the closure of the application intake. Applicants are encouraged to review the information in this guide and follow the Step-by-Step Guide for Applications to the Capital Stream of the Rural Transit Solutions Fund.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about applying to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund? Contact Infrastructure Canada's Rural Transit Solutions Fund team with questions or to discuss projects by e-mail at RTSF-FSTCR@infc.gc.ca or by phone (toll-free) at 1-833-699-2280.
Who Can Apply
An applicant must be a legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements. To be considered an eligible recipient, applicants must fit within one of the following categories.
- Municipalities, local and regional governments established under provincial or territorial statute, including service districts;
- Provinces or Territories;
- Public sector bodies that are established by or under provincial or territorial statute, or by regulation, or are wholly-owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government, including but not limited to:
- Municipally-owned corporations;
- Provincial or territorial organizations that deliver municipal services; and,
- Any other form of local governance that exists outside of the municipality description.
- Indigenous governing bodies, including but not limited to:
- A band council within the meaning of section 2 of the Indian Act;
- A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between His Majesty the King in right of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation; and,
- A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government that is established by or under legislation whether federal or provincial that incorporates a governance structure.
- Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations whose mandate is to improve Indigenous outcomes, organizations serving Indigenous communities living in urban centers and First Nations living off-reserve;
- Indigenous development corporations; and
- Federally or Provincially incorporated Not-for-profit organizations (when an application is submitted on behalf of any primary eligible recipients listed as 1-4 above).
The following are not eligible to apply to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund:
- Individuals/private citizens;
- For profit/private sector organizations; and
- Federal entities, including federal Crown corporations.
Partnerships
Infrastructure Canada encourages applications for projects that connect communities and offer intercommunity transit within a region. Eligible recipients may partner together to submit an application for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund to jointly deliver projects. A lead applicant must be identified and submit one application on behalf of all partners. The application form will ask that you identify the partner organizations and outline their respective roles and responsibilities. Each partner must also provide a letter of support confirming the roles and responsibilities identified in the application, as well as any financial contributions. If the project is approved, the lead applicant will enter into a contribution agreement with Infrastructure Canada and oversee the project's implementation.
Eligible Activities
Proposed capital projects can support a range of transport modes and types of systems, including traditional solutions such as fixed-route buses, as well as non-traditional solutions such as ride-share and on-demand services requiring the purchase of minivans, small craft, non-motorized and zero-emission fleets, the construction of intermodal hubs, the installation of charging stations or the purchase of software.
A project can also include active transportation elements such as pathways or trails and keep in mind accessibility features for persons with mobility issues and to reduce barriers. To be eligible, under the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, all fixed assets or rolling stock must be part of a transit solution.
Please ensure that your capital project requests:
- Contribute to the establishment or expansion of a transit solution/transit system;
- Represent an improvement such as increased capacity (e.g., additional rides, new routes, increased capacity, or expanded coverage) or shift toward zero-emission vehicles;
- Are considered to be public transit, being accessible to the general public; and
- Are in line with meeting the fund's objective of supporting the day-to-day transit needs of residents in the local community or communities.
Budgeting
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a total estimated dollar value for your project. This should include: the requested Federal contribution, your financial contribution (Applicant Share) and any other sources of funding from your partners.
Your request for a Rural Transit Solutions Fund federal contribution will be determined by your total eligible project costs, not by your total project costs. A complete list of eligible and ineligible expenses can be found on pages 7 and 8 of the Guide.
Maximum Federal Contribution
The maximum federal contribution that can be requested in an application for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund according to eligible recipient can be found below. The federal contribution is calculated based on the capital eligible expenses. In addition, the table outlines the maximum federal contribution from all federal sources (beyond the Rural Transit Solutions Fund). Applicants should be mindful of the maximum program contribution limits associated with the Rural Transit Solutions Fund if they are applying to multiple programs. Similarly, applicants are encouraged to become familiar with the stacking limits for other funding programs of interest.
In accordance with the table below, the total stacking limit comprised of funding from all orders of Government – federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal – must not exceed 100% of total eligible expenditures for the project.
|
Eligible organization |
Maximum Rural Transit Solutions Fund contribution (% of capital eligible expenses) |
Maximum Federal Contribution from all sources (% of capital expenses) |
Total Canadian (federal provincial, territorial, and municipal) Government stacking (% of capital expenses) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicant is located in a province or is a not-for-profit organization |
80% |
80% |
100% |
|
Applicant is located in a territory and/or an Indigenous recipient |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Applicant is a provincial government |
40% |
40% |
100% |
|
Applicant is a territorial government |
75% |
75% |
100% |
Cost estimates
It is important to note that some costs, such as operational expenditures, are not eligible.
You will be asked to itemize the requested assets by number and type in the application, including how much you are expected to spend every year during the project.
Researching and documenting cost estimates is helpful for understanding the long-term financial implications of any asset acquisitions. Acquiring an asset imposes financial obligations over the entire life cycle of the asset.
Obtaining quotes can help inform you of the availability of assets and may influence the design of a capital project. Applicants should complete research, including obtaining quotes where applicable to determine project costs. This includes:
- Estimated costs of acquiring the assets;
- Estimated costs associated with ensuring the regulatory obligations are met and associated costs are accounted for (e.g., provincial and territorial transit obligations; applicable provincial or territorial building codes, and relevant municipal by-laws);
- Estimated operation expenses (e.g., licensing and permits, driver training, etc.);
- Estimated maintenance costs;
- Contingencies. Any cost increases or cost overruns will not be covered by Infrastructure Canada. It is therefore important that you include in your budget all contingency amounts according to the stage of your project (conceptual, preliminary design, detailed design, and ready to tender); and
- Costs incurred for consultation or engagement with Indigenous peoples on the project and expenditures incurred for accommodation of adverse impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty rights.
Eligible Expenses
There is no limit to the cost of a capital project; however, the maximum contribution from the Rural Transit Solutions Fund is limited to $3 million for conventional solutions (e.g., internal combustion engine or hybrids), or up to $5 million if the project incorporates zero-emission solutions. If your organization intends to present more than one project, please contact us to confirm how to apply.
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund can fund expenses that are direct and necessary for the successful implementation of a proposed public transit solution. These eligible expenses must be within the parameters of an eligible project and would be spent by an eligible recipient, once the project is approved. Eligible capital expenditures can include:
- Procurement of vehicles, including but not limited to those that are zero-emission, buses, minivans, or small craft;
- Procurement of fixed assets, such as charging stations;
- Construction of bus stops, signage or the installation of charging stations;
- Engineering and consultation fees, including those associated with maintaining, building, renovating or improving fixed capital assets (e.g., garage, bus station, etc.) during the period of the project;
- Active transportation components, such as pathways and trails, that help facilitate mobility and are integrated within a rural transit system;
- Costs incurred for consultation or engagement with Indigenous peoples on the project and expenditures incurred for accommodation of adverse impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty rights;
- Costs associated with data collection, project evaluation, the exchange of information and dissemination of project results; and
- Other costs that are considered to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of the project and are approved in advance by Infrastructure Canada.
Ineligible Expenses
Any ineligible expenses are the responsibility of the applicant and will not be eligible for federal reimbursement. Expenses that are ineligible for reimbursement for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund include:
- Expenditures incurred before a signature of a contribution agreement and all expenditures related to agreements or contracts signed prior to project funding approval, with the exemption of costs related to consultations with Indigenous peoples, which are retroactively eligible dating back to one year prior to the submission of the application for funding;
- Proposed solutions that rely on air travel as a means of serving the community;
- Proposed solutions that involve travels outside Canada;
- Expenditures related to cost overruns or incurred for cancelled projects or project components;
- Expenditures related to purchasing land, buildings and associated real estate and other fees;
- Leasing land, buildings, equipment and other facilities except for equipment related to the construction of the project;
- Furnishings and non-fixed assets which are not essential for the operation of the asset/project;
- General repairs and maintenance of a project and related structures;
- On-going operations, insurance, maintenance and/or electricity and fuel costs associated with the operations of capital assets;
- Services on works normally provided by an eligible recipient, incurred during implementation of the project, except those specified as eligible expenditures;
- Taxes for which the eligible recipient is eligible for a tax rebate and all other costs eligible for rebates;
- Financing, interests paid and legal fees;
- Expenditures related to any good and services which are received through donation or in-kind contribution; and
- Employee costs, except for incremental costs which pertain solely to the implementation of the project.
There may be other ineligible costs not listed, in that case Infrastructure Canada will inform the applicant.
Contracts
It is important to note that eligible costs can only be reimbursed if they are incurred after the federal approval of the project. Costs associated with any contract signed BEFORE federal approval will not be eligible for federal reimbursement, except for Indigenous consultations costs. As such, please make sure you do not sign contracts before federal approval. Successful applicants will receive approval by way of an approval in principle letter.
Contracts for professional services or for the procurement of asset(s), that are considered eligible expenses under the Capital Projects stream, must be awarded in a way that is fair, transparent, competitive and consistent with value-for-money principles, and in a manner which is acceptable to the Government of Canada.
For-profit/private sector organizations are not eligible to apply to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund. They may, however, be contracted for goods or services by an eligible organization/recipient (as identified on page 4) to facilitate implementation of a transit solution.
Infrastructure Canada can only fund eligible expenses as outlined below and this funding cannot flow to the project until after a contribution agreement has been signed.
Ownership of Assets
The ownership of the associated transit infrastructure or rolling stock must remain with the eligible applicant organization. You will be asked to confirm this in your application.
Assets procured under the Rural Transit Solution Fund must remain with the eligible applicant organization for a period of five years from the date a contribution agreement is signed. Infrastructure Canada approval is required should the organization wish to dispose of the asset (e.g., through sale or lease) before the five-year period has ended.
Evaluation of Applications
Projects will be evaluated according to the Rural Transit Solutions Fund merit criteria. In the Project Rationale section of the application, applicants must demonstrate how their projects will meet the merit criteria, including why the project is needed and how the community/areas self-defines as rural. You should be descriptive in responding to the questions and, where possible, provide evidence or documented support, by including any links to web pages. Sources of information could include, but are not limited to, studies, reports, municipal documents, government data/statistical sources (e.g., Statistics Canada), surveys, or the results of public consultations.
|
Merit Criteria |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Community demand for rural transit solution |
|
|
Inclusiveness benefits to local community |
|
|
Potential for economic impact |
|
|
Environmental impact |
|
|
Viability |
|
|
Locally driven |
|
Capital Project Deadlines
Capital purchases must be completed within two years of a successful applicant signing a contribution agreement under the Rural Transit Solutions Fund's Capital Projects stream.
Supporting Documents
Certain documents may be needed to support your application, depending on your organization type or whether you have project partners.
|
Eligible Recipient |
Document type |
|---|---|
|
Public sector bodies that are established by or under provincial or territorial statute, or by regulation, or are wholly-owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government |
|
|
Indigenous governing bodies |
|
|
Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations whose mandate is to improve Indigenous outcomes, organizations serving Indigenous communities living in urban centers and First Nations living off-reserve
|
|
|
Indigenous development corporations
|
|
|
Federally or Provincially incorporated Not-for-profit organizations |
|
Additional Application Considerations
Environmental Impact Assessment
Infrastructure Canada funding of projects is contingent upon Canada ensuring the respect of federal environmental statutory requirements. Projects submitted to Infrastructure Canada may be subject to the Impact Assessment Act, Northern Regulatory Regimes, and/or other federal environmental statutory requirements such as the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, and the Species at Risk Act that are administered by other federal government departments.
Funding applicants are responsible for providing detailed project information to assist Infrastructure Canada determine whether their project may be subject to federal environmental statutory requirements.
The federal Impact Assessment Act prohibits Infrastructure Canada from providing financial assistance that would enable a designated project to proceed unless the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada determines an impact assessment is not required or a positive decision statement is issued following an assessment. For projects that will take place in whole or in part on federal lands (including First Nation reserve lands), Infrastructure Canada works with other federal government departments and the project proponent to determine whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and develop appropriate mitigation measures. This requirement must be respected before funding can be provided and works can proceed for the portion of the project located on federal lands.
In Canada's North, some regions are subject to different legislation and environmental impact assessment regimes as a result of land claim agreements and devolution processes in Northwest Territories (2014) and Yukon (2003). Projects submitted to Infrastructure Canada for funding may be subject to environmental impact assessments under these regimes. Infrastructure Canada will review project submissions and provide specific guidance to project proponents regarding applicable environmental impact assessment processes.
Infrastructure Canada is currently updating its website to ensure more information is available on the department's approach to environmental impact assessments. Visit Infrastructure Canada's website when developing your funding application.
Indigenous Consultation
Infrastructure Canada funding of projects is contingent upon Canada fulfilling the constitutional duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous peoples when activities could adversely impact Aboriginal and treaty rights. Potential adverse impacts include disruption to Indigenous fishing, hunting and gathering activities as well as disturbance to cultural and archeological resources. Applicants are responsible for providing detailed project information to assist Infrastructure Canada determine whether the funding of projects may trigger Infrastructure Canada's constitutional duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous peoples. Infrastructure Canada encourages funding applicants to engage with Indigenous peoples early in project planning and design.
To the extent possible, Infrastructure Canada relies on existing government processes or prior Indigenous engagement efforts of funding applicants to assist the department in fulfilling the duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous peoples. For example, if there are existing or planned consultation processes led by funding applicants such as Provinces and Territories, or by Regulatory Agencies (e.g., Fisheries and Oceans Canada), Infrastructure Canada will rely on these processes to the extent possible.
Where there are no existing processes, ultimate funding recipients of Infrastructure Canada funding could be asked to undertake or participate in Indigenous consultation and accommodation activities or, in specific circumstances, Infrastructure Canada may coordinate and lead Canada's Crown-Indigenous consultation process. Consultation activities could include, but are not limited to, sending letters to potentially impacted Indigenous communities and organizations to inform them of the proposed project and participating in community meetings to explain the project and respond to comments and questions. The overarching objective is to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Costs associated with Indigenous consultation and accommodation activities are eligible expenditures and applicants should plan to include these costs in their project estimates.
Until Infrastructure Canada is able to confirm that adverse impacts on the rights of Indigenous peoples have been reasonably addressed, Infrastructure Canada cannot provide financial assistance to enable a project to proceed and construction to start, including preparatory work.
Infrastructure Canada is currently updating its website to ensure more information is available on the department's approach to the duty to consult with Indigenous peoples. Visit Infrastructure Canada's website when developing your funding application.
Climate Change Considerations
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Investments in public transit infrastructure help Canada to meet its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets. Greenhouse Gas emissions from the transportation sector result mainly from the combustion of petroleum-based products, like diesel or gasoline, in internal combustion engines. There are plenty of opportunities to reduce emissions through public transit investments, for example, investing in projects such as:
- Expansion of public transit fleets including the procurement of new highly efficient or zero-emissions vehicles;
- Investments in enabling technologies such as electric charging stations and high efficiency transit scheduling software; and
- Projects with active transportation components can reduce the amount of personal vehicle use and facilitate access and mobility within a rural transit solutions.
Projects can also achieve emission reductions using low-carbon construction materials, and for smaller installations (e.g., benches, bike racks, etc.) using natural fibres (hemp/wood/bamboo), recycled content (plastics), or re-furbished items. The introduction of natural infrastructure into project design can also contribute to Greenhouse Gas emission mitigation, climate resilience, and a broader set of environmental outcomes.
Projects could also seek to incorporate low-carbon innovations such as:
- Installation of solar powered signage or other equipment.
- Use of LED lighting for pathway lights.
- Energy efficient heating/lighting
- Placement of vegetation to provide targeted shade, reducing UHI (Urban Heat Island) effects and increasing ground-water filtration.
Climate Resilience
Rural and remote public transit systems are vulnerable to climate impacts, both now and in the future. Climate impacts, like flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, permafrost thaw, and erosion, can damage infrastructure, reduce service life, and cause service delivery disruptions, both short and long-term.
Applicants will be asked to identify any present or potential future climate-influenced vulnerabilities or risks to your projects. Please consult any municipal, regional or provincial climate assessments or reports to help you better understand relevant climate impacts. Applicants are also encouraged to consult future climate data, which can be found at the following links:
- Climate Atlas of Canada
- Climate Data for a Resilient Canada
- Design Value Explorer | Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
- Platform for the Analysis and Visualization of Climate Science
- Annex H of Infrastructure Canada's Climate Lens General Guidance includes additional resources- including Regional Climate Data, National climate reports and flood maps
Please note that the Canada Centre for Climate Services can provide support to Applicants in helping to understand and use climate data by providing direct access to climate experts through the Climate Services Support Desk. The Support Desk can be reached by email at info.cccs-ccsc@canada.ca, by phone at 1-833-517-0376, or through the Canadian Centre for Climate Services.
For a process and methodology for assessing the climate hazard for your project you may wish to consult Infrastructure Canada's Climate Lens General Guidance Annex G.
Applicants will also be asked about plans to implement measures that increase the resilience of your project and address the climate impacts facing the project and the location(s). If any new development takes place in a known flood zone and is damaged during a flooding event, eligibility for compensation through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement may be at risk, unless it has been designed with climate impacts in mind. Climate adaptation measures can include:
- Building Materials: This refers to the use of building materials that will enhance the overall resilience of your structure.
- Design Consideration: This refers to any action taken to the design of the infrastructure such as building using climate resilient guidelines or standards (e.g., consult the Climate Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure Initiative).
- Operations and Maintenance: This refers to any management strategies and/or policies to address climate risks, such as a wildland fire risk management strategy.
- Natural/ Green Infrastructure: Infrastructure Canada generally defines natural infrastructure as the use of naturally occurring resources or engineered use of natural resources to provide adaptation or mitigation services to the gradual and/or sudden impacts of climate change or natural hazards. This could include the use of shade trees to address heat waves and increasing temperatures.
Accessibility requirements
When applicable, capital projects must meet or exceed the highest published accessibility standard (e.g., the Canadian Standards Association Technical Standard Accessible Design for the Built Environment (CAN/CSA B651-12, or newer), in addition to applicable provincial or territorial building codes, and relevant municipal by-laws.
Decisions for Capital Applications
Once your application is received by Infrastructure Canada, it will go through a review and approval process. Applicants may be contacted by Infrastructure Canada for additional information throughout the review process.
Funding decisions will be communicated as soon as possible to all applicants. If your project is successful, applicants will receive an approval in principle letter from Infrastructure Canada confirming the federal funding for your project.
A friendly reminder that Infrastructure Canada will not cover expenses incurred before the date on the approval in principal letter and all expenditures related to agreements or contracts signed prior to the approval in principle letter, with the exemption of costs related to consultations with Indigenous peoples. After you've received the approval in principle letter, Infrastructure Canada will then initiate communication with applicants in order to finalize the contribution agreement. A contribution agreement is required for the reimbursement of expenses.
Agreements and Reporting
Funding will not be distributed until a contribution agreement is signed between the eligible recipients and the Government of Canada. It will be provided in accordance with program parameters and within the terms outlined in the contribution agreement. The contribution agreement will also indicate the conditions under which federal contribution installment payments will be made. Construction cannot start and funding will not flow to the applicant until environmental assessment requirements and Indigenous consultation requirements, where applicable, have been met.
All recipients of funding under the Rural Transit Solutions Fund will be required to provide progress reports to Infrastructure Canada for the duration of the capital project. Therefore, reporting requirements will also be outlined in the contribution agreement. Such reporting allows Infrastructure Canada to follow advancement of the project and track results for Canadians.
Definitions
- Active Transportation
- Refers to the movement of people or goods powered by human activity. Active transportation includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes and cross-country skis, and more.
- Charging stations
- An electric vehicle charging station is equipment that connects an electric vehicle to a source of electricity to recharge electric cars, neighborhood electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
- Class estimates
- Cost projections used for the project's budget planning are provided at different steps of the design process.
- Contingency
- For budgeting purposes, a reserve is set aside to cover any unexpected costs, risks and uncertainties and is not necessarily allocated to a specific area. The percentage cost value accepted depends on the class estimates.
- Fixed route service
- It is defined as a service provided on a repetitive, fixed-schedule basis along a specific route with buses stopping to pick up and deliver passengers to specific locations; each fixed-route trip services the same origins and destinations.
- Indigenous governing body
- A council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Indigenous peoples of Canada have the meaning assigned by the definition Aboriginal peoples of Canada in subsection 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982.
- Intermodal hubs/intermodal (transit) facilities
- An intermodal hub or intermodal transit facility gathers many modes of transportation together and is strategically located to increase destination alternatives. Intermodal hubs/facilities can help to improve mobility for a city and a region.
- KML File
- A digital file that presents geographic context visually. It is a shape file that shows geographic data using a point location, or a linear vector or polygon feature, to show the geographic placement of project assets. A good kml file provides an accurate and detailed representation of the project location and the physical footprint of any assets.
- Low-carbon technology
- Low and zero carbon technology (LZC) is the term given to technologies that emit low levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, or no net CO2 emissions.
- Mobility-as-a-Service
- Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is the integration of various forms of transport services into a single mobility service accessible on demand. To meet a customer's request, a MaaS operator facilitates a diverse menu of transport options, be they public transport, ride-, car- or bike-sharing, taxi or car rental/lease, or a combination thereof.
- Municipal Plan/alternate local community planning documentation
- A municipal development plan (sometimes referred to as a community sustainability plan) is a framework used by municipalities or other local government bodies to address long-term community development, land use, and growth.
- On-demand services (Demand-response)
- On-Demand services enable passengers to book their journey at a convenient time (duringserviceoperating hours), and to be picked up from an agreed location.
- Public Transit
- Public transit refers to modes of public transportation that allow for the movement of passengers. Modes of public transportation offered locally to a community or to communities within a region that enables the movement of passengers between specific destinations.
- Ride-sharing or ride-hailing
- An arrangement in which a passenger travels in a private vehicle free or for a fee, especially as arranged by means of a website or application.
- Rolling stock
- Refers to vehicle assets (e.g., car, minivan, bus, small craft, and train) except for an aircraft(s).
- Rural
- The Fund acknowledges the diversity of rural and remote communities in Canada and avoids the application of an arbitrarily established population size in the definition of rural populations. It will be up to each applicant to demonstrate the rural character of the communities served by their project.
- Transit Plan
- A Transportation Master Plan integrates existing and future land-use planning and the planning of transportation infrastructure with the principles of environmental assessment planning. Many Transportation Master Plans at the regional and local levels emphasize that increased use of transit is a key component of an integrated transportation strategy that considers all modes of travel.
- Vulnerable population
- Vulnerable populations include but are not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized peoples, youth, persons with disabilities, seniors, linguistic minorities, newcomers to Canada (immigrants, refugees), women, persons experiencing poverty, persons experiencing homelessness, and 2SLGBTQI+.
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