Here's the news release:
Ontario Expanding GO Rail Service in Durham Region
June 20, 2016
Extension From Oshawa to Bowmanville Will Create Jobs and Drive Economic Growth
Ontario is extending GO Transit's Lakeshore East rail corridor to offer new GO train service from Oshawa to Bowmanville. Extending the GO train network by nearly 20 kilometres and building four new stations will give people in Durham more transit options and help drive economic growth and job creation.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was in Bowmanville today to make the announcement. Through Metrolinx, the province's regional transportation authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Ontario is working with CP Rail on infrastructure and service planning for the extension, a portion of which will use CP Rail's existing corridor north of Highway 401.
Expanded rail service will provide Durham Region with more direct connections to the larger GO transit network, helping to reduce congestion in the GTHA and connecting people to jobs. This will also help minimize greenhouse gas pollution by reducing car trips and improve travel times.
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history -- about $160 billion over 12 years. This is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.
Investing in priority transit infrastructure is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUICK FACTS
- Currently, GO trains on the Lakeshore East corridor go as far as Oshawa, and GO provides bus service between Oshawa and Bowmanville every 30 minutes, with increased frequency at peak hours.
- Since 2013, Metrolinx has added 171 new weekly GO train trips and 167 new weekly GO bus trips for residents in Durham Region.
- The new GO rail service is expected to begin by 2023-24.
- The four new stations will be at Thornton Road in Oshawa, Ritson Road in Oshawa, Courtice Road in Courtice and Martin Road in Bowmanville.
- Metrolinx is transforming the GO rail network to provide faster and more frequent GO train service across the region, with electrification of core segments of the network. Weekly trips across the entire GO rail network are expected to grow from about 1,500 to nearly 6,000 over 10 years.
- Ontario is investing $31.5 billion over 10 years in transit, roads, bridges and highways, including about $16 billion for rapid transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
