of infrastructure required not only to support the existing fleet, but to also handle more buses in the future,” says Cosyn Heath. Spanning 23 acres in Hamilton’s lower city, the new centre will feature two indoor compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling lanes, which is the first of their kind in Ontario. 30 maintenance bays, advanced bus washes, administrative offices, training facilities, and a 400-space employee parking structure are also included in the plan. The building is also designed with flexibility in mind, ready to accommodate future hydrogen or battery-electric buses. “We wanted to build a facility that’s not just meeting today’s needs, but prepared for the future of transit,” she explains. “The design includes wider lanes for electric chargers, structural upgrades for overhead pantograph systems, and utilities connections scaled for 30 electric vehicles, with expansion options.” The journey to construction has taken time. Land assembly and feasibility studies began in 2016, and the design process started in earnest in late 2017. Construction began in November 2023 and is on track to wrap up in the Spring of 2026. 39 JUN 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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