Vaughan hustling to convince Metrolinx Bolton GO rail line is needed despite ‘modest ridership’ claim

In the next 20 years, about 60K jobs are estimated to take off at Vaughan Enterprise Zone

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 22, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Backed by York Region, Vaughan is lobbying to further convince Metrolinx that the Bolton GO rail line makes sense amid what local councillors describe as increasing growth in the city and its neighbouring municipalities.

This month, Vaughan has received a notification from Metrolinx of how the provincial transit agency has pushed the proposed GO service running from the heart of Toronto’s Union Station through Vaughan and up to Bolton beyond its 2031 planning.

The idea of the service first came to the fore in 2010, when Liberal Kathleen Wynne was the minister of transportation.

In an email to the Vaughan Citizen, Metrolinx explained the projected “modest ridership” isn’t justifying costs so far.

However, Coun. Tony Carella, whose Ward 2 covers the southwest area of Vaughan, said the city is anticipating more growth and “sooner than what it was projected,” explaining why he is lobbying for the GO service.

He said the Vaughan Enterprise Zone is projected to accommodate 60,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

Located at the city’s western boundaries, the Vaughan Enterprise Zone covers more than 3,800 acres, or approximately 1,566 hectares of employment land. The land is also considered to be one of the largest employment areas in the Greater Toronto Area.

On Nov. 9, Carella passed a motion to have Vaughan continue its collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, Metrolinx, York Region and neighbouring municipalities “to support the feasibility of and business case for Caledon and Vaughan, or Bolton GO service.”

Metrolinx didn’t fully rubbish the idea and says it’s still under review.

“The feasibility study concluded that while introducing train service was possible, the modest ridership would not support the high capital cost of a new rail passenger service along this important rail freight corridor owned by CP,” Metrolinx said in an email.

Metrolinx also added that it’s “continuing to closely engage with the Town of Caledon to discuss and review the case for the extension.”

Metrolinx also said it’s continuing to back “transit components” of the Ministry of Transportation’s Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation plan for 2051.

The lobbying also comes after the Metrolinx board of directors approved the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan (2041 RTP) on March 8, 2018, which identified the Bolton Commuter Rail Service as a project for consideration beyond 2041.

Coun. Gino Rosati provided some historical context on this ongoing bid when he told the Vaughan Citizen the proposal at the time was seen as “premature.”

But like Carella, he described the wind of change is sweeping Vaughan and the surrounding area.

"People are going to come anyway, because Vaughan is growing, Caledon is growing and Brampton is growing, and the need will get stronger and stronger as time goes by," Rosati told the Vaughan Citizen.

To Vaughan’s defence, Rosati also described how Ontario has a "very aggressive growth plan for the GTA and this line, I think, is a missing link in my opinion that needs to be done."

He concluded that the GO service is in line with the government’s “philosophy.”

There are other Metrolinx projects currently happening in Vaughan.

Metrolinx is working on Rutherford Road grade separation and GO station expansion work, which is on schedule.

It also includes the construction of Maple GO station improvements, slated to start in early 2022.

Studies are also underway to establish a policy framework for participating landowners within Block 27 for a potential GO station.

Also, in July, Metrolinx confirmed Clark Station as the fourth stop on the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Rosati concluded, “Our government has promised that they will be building highways, bridges, and transit.”