Ontario building more GO Train stations in West Toronto
By On-Site Magazine
Construction Infrastructure GO Train rail Toronto transitToday, Ontario announced four new GO Train stations along the Barrie and Kitchener GO Transit lines as part of Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail (RER) program – one each in the areas of Bloor and Lansdowne, Spadina and Front, Liberty Village, and St. Clair West and Keele in the City of Toronto. The proposed new GO Train stations support the City of Toronto’s SmartTrack plan.
RER is one way Ontario is providing faster, more frequent and more convenient transit service across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including introducing electrification of core segments of the network by 2024. The program will also help reduce congestion, connect people to jobs and minimize greenhouse gas pollution by reducing car trips and improve travel times.
SmartTrack adds to the province’s RER program, providing subway-like urban rail service on existing GO tracks. It will connect the Toronto region’s three main job centres — Markham centre, the downtown financial district and the airport precinct.
“Transit investments are strengthening our communities. Building the proposed new GO Train stations would support our efforts to build a modern and integrated transit network in the region and seamlessly connect communities and businesses. These proposed new stations would support increases in GO service, enhance regional transit connections and integrate with Toronto’s SmartTrack plan,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.
Expanding and improving GO Transit is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.
Quick Facts
- The proposed new GO Train stations will be considered at the June 28 Metrolinx Board of Directors meeting and are subject to funding availability, environmental assessment processes, and further planning, engineering and design work.
- Through the Moving Ontario Forward plan, Ontario is investing $31.5 billion over 10 years for transit, transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across the province.
- RER will provide faster and more frequent GO train service across the region, with electrification of core segments of the network. Weekly trips across the entire GO rail network are expected to grow from about 1,500 to nearly 6,000 over 10 years.
- Since 2003, Ontario has extended GO’s rail network by nearly 90 kilometres, opened 14 new GO stations, rebuilt four existing stations, and added more than 31,000 new parking spots across the system.
- Research shows that every $100 million of public infrastructure investment in Ontario boosts GDP by $114 million, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors.
