GO transit gains government grants worth C$1 billion - Transit Update

Railway Age, May, 2003 by Alex Binkley

GO Transit will be receiving about C$1 billion from Canada's federal, provincial, and municipal governments to expand its service west and north of Toronto. Meanwhile C$150 million will be available for a rapid transit project in the northern part of Greater Toronto.

The federal government is putting up C$435 million for the projects. The Ontario and municipal funds will be announced later. They will permit GO Transit to expand its track capacity so it can add extra train runs at peak hours, eliminate grade crossings, and introduce all-day service to many municipalities.

While the project has been delayed by political infighting between the federal and Ontario governments, Transport Minister David Collenette said it will aid public transport in the Toronto region and "help to improve the quality of life for the residents of this region."

The projects that GO Transit is expected to undertake include the addition of a third track, a new storage yard, and improvements to signaling systems along the Lakeshore and Union Station corridors. Passenger service will be launched to Barrie, a booming city about 60 miles north of Toronto. Bus/rail service will be inaugurated to Peterborough, Cambridge, Niagara Falls, Guelph, and Kitchener-Waterloo.

About C$50 million of the federal contribution will go toward the development of rapid transit service in the northern areas of the Toronto region, including the purchase of new rapid transit vehicles, construction of stations and terminals, and improvement of selected rights-of-way.

Go Transit carries more than 43 million passengers a year by train and bus. It operates 178 commuter rail trips per weekday carrying a total of 140,000 passengers per day.