The Government of Ontario in Canada is set to invest C$170m ($137m) in the new London Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the southwestern part of the province.

The BRT will help to increase transit ridership and reduce congestion in the city.

Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca said: “We want to ensure that neighbourhoods in London can thrive and prosper through better and more efficient transit infrastructure that will help get people where they need to go faster and easier.

“Our government’s investments in public transit will help us manage congestion, curb emissions, create more jobs and build better communities.”

The total estimated cost of building London’s BRT system is C$498m ($400m), of which the City of London has committed to provide C$130m ($104m).

“Our government’s investments in public transit will help us manage congestion, curb emissions, create more jobs and build better communities.”

After completion, the system is set to offer 23.7km of rapid transit along London’s busiest corridors connecting important destinations within the city.

The project builds on other major transportation projects in the city, including the new high-speed rail line that aims to connect London and Toronto in 73 minutes.

The BRT will be developed in multiple phases.

Construction works are expected to begin on the east corridor in 2020 and on the north corridor in 2022. These corridors will be opened in 2023 and 2026 respectively.

Construction on the south corridor will start in 2023 and on the west corridor in 2025, with the opening slated by 2026 and 2028 respectively.

The City of London will bear all operating and maintenance costs of the project.