Getting through Pelham and Niagara may soon be easier, thanks to millions of dollars in provincial government funding.

Premier Doug Ford visited Beamer's Hardware and TV in Pelham Thursday where he promised funding for 24 transit projects planned for St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Fort Erie and Niagara Region, worth about $23.9 million, as well as nearly $1.7 million to help pay for the reconstruction of a 2.5-kilometre stretch of Pelham Street in that town.

"Our government promised to make life easier for families and businesses, to get people moving," Ford told a gathering of media at the hardware store.

Meanwhile, he hinted that Niagara's funding for the Canada 2021 Summer Games may soon be coming, too.

He also stood firm on potential governance changes within the region.

Responding to questions from reporters about the Games funding, he said: "I'm going to hold off, but it's going to be exciting news.

"We'll be making that announcement in the next little while, but it's all positive news," Ford added.

The hint was enough to offer some relief to 2021 Canada Games chief executive officer Barry Wright, who waited outside while the funding announcement was made.

And regarding the governance review, Ford called it "almost comical" that Niagara has 126 municipal politicians for 400,000 people.

"Something's wrong. That's just wasting taxpayers' money," he said, adding he's confident Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark will "straighten out any of those issues and make sure we respect the taxpayers and run a leaner, more efficient government."

The transit projects Ford announced include construction of a $5-million operations facility in Welland large enough to store 40 buses, construction of a $1.5-million transit hub in Niagara Falls with connections to a future GO train terminal, a $3.3-million expansion of bus maintenance and storage facilities in St. Catharines, and the purchase of buses for transit services throughout the region.

Other projects include new fare boxes, bus repairs and bus stop reconstruction.

"This will make life easier for transit riders in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Fort Erie and Welland and open up more opportunities for business and workers throughout the region," he said.

In an interview, Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin said the town is counting on an addition $2.9 million in federal funding for its road project, adding he hopes work can begin by next spring.

"It's a significant amount for a town this size, that's for sure," Junkin said. "This was great to see. Great support from the province, and now we will wait for the federal announcement."

Ford said he looks forward to working with the federal government "to move these projects forward."

"Working with all three levels of government, we will invest historic — these are historic numbers — $144 billion over the next 10 years in infrastructure projects right across this province," he said.

Ford also announced more than $850,000 in funding for local festivals and attractions, supporting tourism initiatives within Niagara.

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"It's another way that we're making Niagara open for business and open for jobs," he said.

Allan.Benner@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1629 | @abenner1