Ontario Government Makes Investments to Increase GO Transit Fleet

The McGuinty government is committed to improving public transit across the province and increasing ridership.

The 2005-06 Provincial Budget included more than $800 million in transit funding across Ontario. This included more than $300 million for GO Transit's operating and capital costs.

In the past year, through funding provided by Ontario, GO met needs of commuters by:

• Purchasing 27 new, more powerful, fuel-efficient locomotives that can pull two more cars, adding 300 more passengers per train
• Providing a customer e-mail alert service (E-news) to advise of delays or schedule changes
• Lengthening train platforms to accommodate longer GO trains and more passengers
• Increasing the number of bi-level rail coaches to carry more passengers
• Opening 3 new GO stations: Mount Pleasant, Kennedy and Milliken

Today, the government announced an investment of $73 million in new bi-level trains and highway buses that will not only mean better and more frequent service for GO Transit passengers, it will also help boost the economy. The 20 new bi-level rail cars purchased will be manufactured at Bombardier's Thunder Bay plant. The $55 million investment guarantees 200 jobs between June 2006 and February 2007. The 31 highway coach buses are being manufactured by Motor Coach Industries of Winnipeg.

The provincial gas tax program, which is now into its second year, has helped transit systems across the province purchase new buses, add new routes and improve service: 83 transit systems serving 110 communities shared $156 million dollars in the first year of the program.

The McGuinty government is also developing a GTA fare card to make travel across and through the region more seamless and convenient. The fare card will be launched next year (2007) on selected city buses in Mississauga, at the TTC's Union Station and on the GO Milton line. System wide implementation is to be completed by 2010.