News Release: Province announces new GO Train stop for York University

For Immediate Release
July 19, 2002

Province announces new GO Train stop for York University

TORONTO — Transportation Minister Norm Sterling today announced the province is adding a new GO Transit rail stop to serve the growing York University community and reduce the number of cars on campus.

"This new GO Train stop at York University will make transit an even more accessible and convenient option for commuters who currently drive to work and school," Sterling said. "This initiative is part of our government's commitment to making transit a key component of a balanced and efficient transportation system that generates economic growth and prosperity in Ontario."

The new York University GO stop will be located on the Bradford GO Train line, providing a new transportation link for York University faculty, staff and students who commute daily from the central part of York Region. GO's Bradford line includes stops at Bradford, Newmarket, Aurora, King City, Maple and the Rutherford stop in Vaughan. The York University stop will be the last one before Union Station. York has about 53,000 full and part-time students.

The York University stop, which will be fully accessible, is scheduled to be operational in time for the start of the school year in September 2002. The stop will be located three blocks east of Keele Street, between Steeles and Finch Avenues. York University will provide a shuttle bus service between the GO stop and the campus.

Sterling said the province is investing $850,000 in the new stop, which will include:

• a train platform;
• automatic ticket vending machines;
• pedestrian access from the street;
• lighting and a security camera system.

"This initiative will make transit a more convenient option for the University community and reduce traffic in the area," MPP for York North, Julia Munro said. "Transit continues to be a key part of the government's plan to unlock gridlock across the Golden Horseshoe."

"A key mandate of our government is to create a transit system that is efficient and accessible for all Ontarians," said Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford MPP Joe Tascona. "With this new GO stop, more individuals who reside in the South Simcoe area will have greater access to York University and the surrounding area."

The new stop is being built by B. Gottardo Construction Ltd. of Woodbridge.

GO Transit is Ontario's only inter-regional public transit system and carries over 43 million passengers a year, linking Toronto with the surrounding regions of the Golden Horseshoe area. The Ontario Government resumed control of GO Transit on January 1, 2002 as part of a 10-year, $3.25 billion transit plan announced in September 2001.