Mulock GO train station being explored

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 11, 2015
By Chris Simon

A potential GO Transit train station at Mulock Drive is being considered by Metrolinx, says a representative from the provincial transportation authority.

Metrolinx chief planning officer Leslie Woo said the site is among more than 50 being considered for new stations.

A shortlist of potential sites will be created over the next few months and a recommended slate of new stations will be determined in the spring.

“We are expanding the length and amount of rail service,” she said, during a presentation to Newmarket’s committee of the whole Monday.

“GO regional express rail is a major step for the type of mobility we’re going to see across this region. Getting to this level of service requires a significant amount of infrastructure investment.”

Over the next few years, GO will add about 150 kilometres of track throughout its network and increase service along the Barrie line - from 12 trains to about 32 on weekdays and zero to nearly 29 on weekends, Woo said.

Metrolinx is also investigating potential locations for passing track infrastructure north of Aurora, and the space requirements that would be needed for a third track up to the East Gwillimbury GO station, she said.

The presentation was made at the request of councillors, who wanted to discuss plans for future rail enhancements along six kilometres of track within the municipality. The Tannery Mall hub, level crossing upgrades, grade separated crossings, train whistling and noise reduction issues were debated.

Council members suggested the planned 15-minute two-way, all-day service between Toronto and Aurora could push north into Newmarket if a Mulock station is constructed.

“Eventually, we’ll need to get there, but I’d rather see us easing into that and responding to demand,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “A Mulock station could provide relief for Aurora and (Tannery) parking and create other options.”

But GO also needs to focus on eliminating at-grade crossings, Councillor Joe Sponga said.

“We have all at-level crossings; there’s no grade separation,” he said. “It slices through a very dense residential area. The horns are pretty much unison from Mulock to Davis Drive.”

There are more than 170 at-grade crossings throughout its corridors, including more than 60 in York Region.

However, Mulock, Davis, Water Street, East Gwillimbury’s Green Lane and Aurora’s St. John’s Sideroad and Wellington Street East have been identified as ‘major’ grade crossing locations along the Barrie line, Woo said.

“We’re reviewing existing rail crossings and potential grade separations,” she said. “Ideally, the preference is to eliminate as many at-grade crossings as possible, in order to make the system more efficient. We’re evaluating all the crossings at this time. We cannot afford to do every single rail crossing; we will have to prioritize the most critical ones.”