Mississauga (Feb 8) – Premier Doug Ford today confirmed the Ontario government’s support to enhance GO train service along the Milton line with two-way, all-day service with a separated line and urged the federal government to be a full funding partner.
While speaking at the Mississauga Board of Trade today, Ford also confirmed the plan to extend the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit (LRT) by building the Mississauga loop and bringing the line into downtown Brampton.
“Our government is investing more than $70 billion over the next decade to lead the largest expansion of public transit in North America, including across Peel and Milton regions,” said Premier Doug Ford.
The province wants the federal government to agree to a cost-sharing partnership that will deliver all-day, two-way GO rail service along the Milton GO rail corridor by building a fully separated passenger rail line.
The Milton corridor is the fourth busiest line on the GO network and serves as a vital transit connection between Milton, Mississauga and the rest of the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
“That is why Ontario is also planning to reinstate train trips, improve stations with new customer amenities such as expanding the south parking lot and a pedestrian bridge at Milton GO station, and advance the planning and design work to support future two-way, all-day service,” a statement from the Premier’s office said.
Meanwhile the Ford government is moving forward with the expansion of the Hazel McCallion LRT into Brampton.
The LRT will now include a four-kilometre extension of the line into downtown Brampton via Main Street from the Brampton Gateway Terminal and a two-kilometre extension with a loop in Mississauga. The loop will connect LRT service to Square One with additional stops through to Confederation Parkway.
The province says that the LRT will provide faster, more frequent and more reliable transit than the existing bus service, travelling in an exclusive right-of-way with signal priority at intersections.
“The extension of the Hazel McCallion LRT and Milton GO rail corridor are essential next steps in our mission to get commuters where they need to go, when they need to be there. We urge the federal government to share in the cost of this critical project in Milton to meet the growing needs of this region,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.
