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News Release March 26, 2003 GOVERNMENT OF CANADA OFFERS $435 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO GO TRANSIT AND YORK REGION TRANSIT NETWORKS OTTAWA, Ontario - Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure, and David Collenette, Transport Minister and Minister Responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, today announced that the Government of Canada is willing to contribute $435 million for improvements to GO Transit's rail network in the extended Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as well as for the "Quick Start" phase of the York Region Rapid Transit Plan. The Government of Canada's investment will aid in increasing track capacity to accommodate additional train frequencies at peak hours and introduce all-day service to many municipalities, eliminate grade crossings, upgrade existing track and introduce new services to more communities. The Government of Canada contributions will be sourced from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and from the Government of Canada's Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative. As part of this announcement, the Government of Canada is willing to provide $50 million to the "Quick Start" project. "Quick Start" is a three-year strategy to implement rapid transit in four key corridors across York Region: Yonge-Newmarket, Highway 7, Vaughan-Downsview, and Markham-Don Mills. This investment will be directed towards the purchase of new rapid transit vehicles, the construction of stations and terminals and the improvement of selected rights-of-way. "Getting people out of cars and onto transit will provide a significant step in implementing our Kyoto commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and contribute to our urban strategy for a safer, more efficient and environmentally responsible transportation system for the extended GTA," said Minister Rock. "It will help ease gridlock and reduce the average travel times for commuters in this urban region." "This investment by the Government of Canada will deliver more frequent and more reliable service to more communities served by GO Transit's and York Region's networks," said Minister Collenette. "By attracting more commuters to transit, this federal transportation strategy for southern Ontario and the GTA will help to improve the quality of life for the residents of this region." The Government of Canada believes that improving GO Transit's network across the extended Greater Toronto Area and implementing the first phase of the York Region Rapid Transit Plan are key infrastructure priorities. The results of these investments will serve to improve the flow of goods and people, reduce congestion and harmful emissions and improve our quality of life. Following today's announcement, the Government of Canada will pursue discussions with the Government of Ontario to secure provincial and municipal funding to complete these projects. Through the $2 billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada continues to collaborate with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to invest in strategic infrastructure projects across the country. Investments made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. GO Transit is Canada's first, and Ontario's only, interregional public transit system, established to link Toronto with the surrounding regions of the GTA. It carries more than 43 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services. It currently operates 178 train trips per weekday carrying a total of 140,000 rail passengers per day, or more than 35 million passengers each year. York Region is experiencing significant growth. The "Quick Start" program will provide convenient, reliable and fast public transit service for commuters. Key stations of the York Region Rapid Transit Plan, such as the Langstaff station to be built under "Quick Start", will be designed as intermodal terminals, creating links to GO's rail network and the Toronto Transit Commission's subway network. "Quick Start" is expected to shift over 7,000 commuter trips per day from automobile transportation to public transit. For additional information on the Government of Canada's Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative, please visit www.towaterfront.ca. Contacts: Selena Beattie Anthony Polci Infrastructure Canada BACKGROUNDERBENEFITS OF TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR THE EXTENDED GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA)Modern infrastructure and smart transportation choices are key to the prosperity of our cities and the health of our communities. In the September 2002 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada committed to providing a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation system that will help reduce congestion in our cities and bottlenecks in our trade corridors. This will also help meet Canada's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. As part of the Government of Canada's Climate Change Plan, the federal government has committed to emphasizing partnerships with provinces, territories, communities, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a variety of means. The plan proposes to place a greater emphasis on public transit in existing and future infrastructure funding. The federal government has also proposed a personal goal for each Canadian to reduce emissions by an average of one tonne per year by 2008-2012, supported by incentives, improved information and product availability. In the 2003 budget, the Government of Canada again emphasized the importance of climate change initiatives, providing additional funding of $2 billion over five years for climate change investments, including sustainable transportation. York Region is the fastest-growing regional municipality in the GTA and one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada. Between 1996 and 2001 alone, York Region's population increased by 26 per cent. This rapid growth rate is projected to continue, with York Region reaching a population level of 1,280,000 by 2026. Currently, York Region Transit operates more than 140 buses and carries approximately 30,000 commuters per day. It provides service to the municipalities of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. The "Quick Start" program is designed to provide convenient, reliable and fast public transit service for commuters. The program is expected to shift more than 7,000 commuter trips per day from cars to public transit, reducing gridlock and contributing to Canada's climate change goals. GO Transit is Canada's first, and Ontario's only, interregional public transit system, established to link Toronto with the surrounding regions of the Greater Toronto Area. It already carries more than 43 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services that is one of North America's premier transportation systems. The initiatives announced for funding of GO Transit represent a significant step in achieving Canada's greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and enhancing health, quality of life and economic prosperity for Canadians. For example, one GO train with 10 cars carries as many people as 1,400 automobiles. Every person who takes the GO train rather than driving saves 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The results of this funding are expected to contribute to Canada's Climate Change Plan and enhance quality of life by:
Furthermore, the rail lines used by GO Transit also carry VIA Rail, Amtrack, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) trains. These operators will also enjoy benefits realized from this funding and contribute to economic growth and the quality of life of the residents of the extended GTA. Specifically, the funding for GO infrastructure will provide for:
DETAILS OF TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR THE EXTENDED GREATER TORONTO AREAToday's announcement means that the Government of Canada will pursue discussions with the Government of Ontario to secure matching provincial and municipal funding to complete the following projects: Union Station corridorImprovements to track and signal infrastructure East Storage Yard Improvements Lakeshore corridor from Scarborough to HamiltonAddition of a third track from Port Credit to Oakville and from Burlington to Hamilton Junction Addition of a third track from Union Station to Scarborough Georgetown and Milton corridorsRail/rail grade separation at the West Toronto diamond on the Georgetown corridor Various road/rail grade separations on the Georgetown corridor Increased track capacity on the Georgetown corridor Increased track capacity on the Milton corridor North Toronto corridorsRail/rail grade separation: GO Bradford corridor Rail/rail grade separation: GO Stouffville corridor Introduction of new GO serviceExtension of GO Bradford train service to Barrie Introduction of GO Service to Peterborough, Cambridge, Niagara Falls and Guelph/Kitchener/Waterloo York RegionQuick Start component of the York Region Rapid Transit Plan |
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