News Release: Eves government moves forward with transit improvements to ease gridlock

For Immediate Release
August 15, 2002

Eves government moves forward with transit improvements to ease gridlock

TORONTO — Transportation Minister Norm Sterling and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Chris Hodgson today announced the Ontario government's next steps to expand and improve transit services in the Golden Horseshoe.

The ministers were on hand at the TTC's Finch Station to announce a number of immediate transit improvement projects. The Ontario government, through SuperBuild, will fund up to one-third of the eligible costs for the projects through the Golden Horseshoe Transit Investment Partnerships (GTIP) initiative, part of Ontario's 10-year, $9 billion transit investment plan.

"We are working with municipalities to build strong communities with clean and healthy environments," Sterling said. "Our government has selected these projects for early implementation based on the GTIP eligibility criteria. They also are consistent with the initial advice we have received from the Central Ontario Smart Growth Panel."

"The projects announced today are the result of a coordinated approach across the government to promote smarter growth," said Hodgson. "Tackling gridlock is vital to the growth of healthy communities and to our continued economic prosperity."

"I am very pleased with how quickly the province has moved in response to the advice of the Central Ontario Smart Growth Panel," said McCallion. "I look forward to further actions from all levels of government that support our work."

Short-term transit improvement projects for the City of Toronto that will receive SuperBuild funding include:

Expansion of "park-and-ride" facilities and operational improvements at the Finch, Downsview, Kennedy and Kipling TTC stations;
Improvements to transit-vehicle tracking systems;
A study to evaluate roadway improvements and service for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from the Spadina subway to York University/Steeles Avenue;
Roadway improvements and a study for BRT service on Yonge Street from Finch Avenue to Steeles Avenue;
Station improvements to encourage inter-regional transit use at Kennedy, Finch and Dundas West stations; and
Improvements to give transit vehicles priority on key inter-regional routes.

The Ontario government, through SuperBuild, will provide $13.3 million in support of these projects.

Ministers Sterling and Hodgson also announced that the government would provide up to one-third funding of eligible costs for the following short-term transit improvement projects:

In York Region, projects include expanded inter-regional bus service, station and operational improvements, with provincial support of up to $6.6 million.
In Waterloo Region, projects include expanded bus service and improvements to facilities and technologies, with provincial support of up to $5.3 million.
Expanded "park-and-ride" lots and other improvements to the Highway 403 and Highway 407 corridors to support a BRT network currently under study.

In addition, the province is launching a study of governance/business models to guide the introduction of transit fare cards across the Golden Horseshoe to provide for more seamless travel and greater customer convenience. The province will work with GO Transit and municipalities to develop a single, integrated, transit-fare card system.

The Ontario government has taken a lead role in promoting a balanced and integrated transportation network in line with Ontario's Smart Growth objectives of sustaining a strong economy, building strong communities and ensuring a clean, healthy environment.