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Clarington Council decides to purchase land for future Courtice GO train station
Thirty four-acre property is located on west side of Courtice road, north of the CP rail tracks
http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/6690031-clarington-council-decides-to-purchase-land-for-future-courtice-go-train-station/
![GoTrainProposedSite[1]___Gallery.jpg](http://media.zuza.com/6/7/67427eff-9ec5-4bda-a8ef-af854d3b58b3/GoTrainProposedSite[1]___Gallery.jpg)
Clarington This Week
By Stefanie Swinson
COURTICE - The GO train is one step closer to chugging through to Courtice.
Clarington Council has decided to buy a property that will one day serve as the site of the future Courtice GO train station.
Councillors voted in an open session of Tuesday evening’s Council meeting following an in-camera portion which allowed them to look over the confidential report.
The 34-acre property, located just north of the CP rail tracks on the west side of Courtice Road, comes with a $2.7 million price tag.
That amount is tax dollars Councillor Joe Neal said would be better spent on the Courtice waterfront or building a new recreation facility in south Bowmanville.
He voted against purchasing the land. Coun. Corinna Traill also voted against the purchase. The rest of council voted in favour.
“It’s the Province’s project,” said Councillor Neal. “It’s not something we should sink our money into. Metrolinx has all the expertise. We don’t need to be acting as their land agent on this.”
Councillor Neal said there’s nothing he’d like to see more than a GO train station in Courtice but he feels the decision has already been made by the Province.
“It’s not a municipal project,” he said.
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster said expanding GO train service to Clarington is probably the number one request by residents.
“Purchasing the property simply makes it easier for Queen’s Park to make a decision,” he said. “Municipalities that have been successful with gaining GO train service have been actively engaged and helping with the file.”
Mayor Foster went on to add that the Municipality is purchasing the land at the appraised value. That price was determined following an independent appraisal and negotiation with the property owners
“This is essentially locking in the price for Metrolinx,” he explained. “This is not a gift to the Province.”
Clarington intends to recover the cost of the property from Metrolinx as soon as it assumes ownership.
“The economic benefits to it would be gigantic,” said Councillor Steven Cooke, who also voted in favour of the purchase. “If we build a station there, that’s where all the jobs will come. It will make life easier for everyone.”
An independent economic impact study released in April showed the extension of the Lakeshore East GO line to Clarington has the potential for $1.1 billion in investment in Durham Region. The study also found that having all-day GO train service in place would unlock development of 42 sites within walking distance of the Clarington train stations. It estimated 13,000 full-time jobs would be created in Clarington alone. Mayor Foster said he expects a GO train announcement from the provincial Liberal government “in the not to distant future.”
Thirty four-acre property is located on west side of Courtice road, north of the CP rail tracks
http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/6690031-clarington-council-decides-to-purchase-land-for-future-courtice-go-train-station/
Clarington This Week
By Stefanie Swinson
COURTICE - The GO train is one step closer to chugging through to Courtice.
Clarington Council has decided to buy a property that will one day serve as the site of the future Courtice GO train station.
Councillors voted in an open session of Tuesday evening’s Council meeting following an in-camera portion which allowed them to look over the confidential report.
The 34-acre property, located just north of the CP rail tracks on the west side of Courtice Road, comes with a $2.7 million price tag.
That amount is tax dollars Councillor Joe Neal said would be better spent on the Courtice waterfront or building a new recreation facility in south Bowmanville.
He voted against purchasing the land. Coun. Corinna Traill also voted against the purchase. The rest of council voted in favour.
“It’s the Province’s project,” said Councillor Neal. “It’s not something we should sink our money into. Metrolinx has all the expertise. We don’t need to be acting as their land agent on this.”
Councillor Neal said there’s nothing he’d like to see more than a GO train station in Courtice but he feels the decision has already been made by the Province.
“It’s not a municipal project,” he said.
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster said expanding GO train service to Clarington is probably the number one request by residents.
“Purchasing the property simply makes it easier for Queen’s Park to make a decision,” he said. “Municipalities that have been successful with gaining GO train service have been actively engaged and helping with the file.”
Mayor Foster went on to add that the Municipality is purchasing the land at the appraised value. That price was determined following an independent appraisal and negotiation with the property owners
“This is essentially locking in the price for Metrolinx,” he explained. “This is not a gift to the Province.”
Clarington intends to recover the cost of the property from Metrolinx as soon as it assumes ownership.
“The economic benefits to it would be gigantic,” said Councillor Steven Cooke, who also voted in favour of the purchase. “If we build a station there, that’s where all the jobs will come. It will make life easier for everyone.”
An independent economic impact study released in April showed the extension of the Lakeshore East GO line to Clarington has the potential for $1.1 billion in investment in Durham Region. The study also found that having all-day GO train service in place would unlock development of 42 sites within walking distance of the Clarington train stations. It estimated 13,000 full-time jobs would be created in Clarington alone. Mayor Foster said he expects a GO train announcement from the provincial Liberal government “in the not to distant future.”
