Justin Trudeau pledges $595M for GO Train line through York Region

For every $1 invested in GO, there is $2.60 in economic benefit: Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 7, 2019
Tim Kelly

"There has to be good service," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the Maple GO Train station the morning of Feb. 7, where pledged $595 million in federal funding for Barrie GO line corridor improvements.

"People need to get where they need to go on time," he said.

"It’s frustrating to be crammed into an already-full train or miss your ride because you can’t find a spot to park."

The Barrie GO Train corridor, which includes stations at York University and in Vaughan, King Township, Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Bradford and Barrie, will see a several improvements.

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They include construction of approximately 51.2 km of new track between the line’s end point at Toronto’s Union Station and Barrie, some train layover facilities and station upgrades. Some of the funds will help complete parking upgrades in Maple.

"For the residents living in Vaughan and King, one of the top issues is traffic congestion," King-Vaughan MP Deb Schulte said. "The transportation network has not kept pace with our rapid development.

"To help our communities, our government is making historic investments in infrastructure."

"We’re entering a new chapter of transit in Ontario," Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx, which is in charge of GO Transit, said. 'For every dollar invested in GO, there is 2.6 dollars in economic benefit."

Trudeau pointed out his government has pledged more than $1.8 billion for GO Transit cross the Greater Golden Horseshoe over the past three years.

"That means less time waiting for the train and more flexibility for people’s schedules," he said. "Smart, targeted investments are the key to making people’s lives better and setting our communities up for tomorrow."

Verster said he was pleased to accept the federal government’s largesse and had just one parting request for Trudeau.

"All I’m asking for, Mr. Prime Minister, is to keep the dollars rolling. Keep on supporting us; it’s a good investment."