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Yesterday, Canadian officials announced the federal government will provide up to $600 million for the city of Ottawa’s light-rail project. The government already provides the city about $50 million per year from a federal gas tax fund, which Ottawa allocates for public transit improvements.

The funding will help the city reach its goal of increasing public transit usage 30 percent by 2031, as well as create jobs, reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment, federal officials said in a prepared statement.

Ottawa plans to construct a tunnel through downtown and create a double-tracked, electrified light-rail corridor. The first phase, estimated to cost $2.1 billion, calls for building a 7.5-mile line from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Road.

The province of Ontario and city will provide about $600 million and $900 million, respectively, for the project’s first phase.