GO’s Lakeshore East expansion breaking ground in Courtice
Construction begins this spring for GO Bus Park and Ride lot on Courtice Road
NEWS 05:00 AM by Jennifer O'Meara Clarington This Week
CLARINGTON — Construction is soon to begin for a Courtice GO Bus Park and Ride lot at the site of the future Courtice Road GO Train station.
“We’re expecting that will be ready by the end of this year. The service will start either late this year or very early next year. So that will be a step along the way toward expanding the service,” said Chris Burke, Metrolinx director of service planning, planning and policy.
Planning for bus services to the Courtice park and ride site is in progress, Burke told Clarington council at the Monday, March 5 meeting. He said GO buses currently travelling past Courtice along Highway 401 could stop at the new park and ride lot. Metrolinx is still considering rider demand and the capacity before deciding on the new bus schedule.
“I’m happy to see that you’re going ahead and building a park and ride in Courtice, that’s fantastic,” said Coun. Steven Cooke.
Clarington Mayor Adrian Fosters asked Metrolinx to post signs in advance to let residents know the new park and ride lot is coming.
“It’s a really good band-aid and shows responsiveness, both of your office and the minister’s office, in considering that and moving ahead. That was in response to our request and we really appreciate it,” said Foster.
He added council wants to see trains in Bowmanville as soon as possible.
In June 2016, the Ontario Government and Metrolinx announced the extension of the GO Transit Lakeshore East Corridor by 20 kilometres from Oshawa to Bowmanville. The GO Train is expected to roll into Clarington for peak rush-hour service only by 2024. The plans are for four trains leaving Clarington in the morning and arriving at Toronto’s Union Station between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. and four trains leaving Union Station (between 3:30 and 7 p.m.) to head back into Clarington.
To project to expand the GO Train into Clarington includes four new GO rail stations (two in Oshawa, one in Courtice and one in Bowmanville), a bridge over Highway 401, a CP corridor expansion, three grade separations (2 road-to-rail, 1 rail-to-rail), 14 bridge expansions, nine level crossing modifications (seven of which are in Clarington) and a new layover facility.
“Significant investments are required along the Lakeshore East corridor to deliver the services that we’ve committed too,” said Burke.
