Metrolinx seeks partners to operate retail or restaurants in GO stations

Could Tim Hortons or a grocery chain be setting up shop soon inside your station?

Thestar.com
Aug. 4, 2015
By Lauren Pelley

Could there one day be a Tim Hortons, McDonald’s or grocery store at your local GO station?

Metrolinx is now seeking new strategic partner opportunities, the Star has learned, meaning various companies could eventually set up shop at GO stations across the region.

The regional transportation agency posted a notice of intent to find and secure strategic partners for its GO Transit and PRESTO divisions on Tuesday, with a focus on three categories - financial services/payment cards, quick service restaurants, and retail/grocery.

“The goal is to become a leader in service delivery and customer service excellence, in order to grow our transit ridership,” said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins.

Aikins couldn’t speculate on which companies could be potential GO Transit partners - since it depends on which ones express interest - but said many could be ones the agency has not done business with before.

“Who knows what kind of partnerships we can come up with?” she added. “These are prime locations, where lots of traffic that goes through them, and we really believe there are lots of companies out there that would want to have partnerships with them.”

There are 65 GO Transit stations throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, she noted, and the agency wants them to be “well-utilized mobility hubs.”

Union Station and the UP Express are not included in this new strategic partnership program as they already have programs in place, Aikins said.

As for PRESTO, Aikins said there could be opportunities to partner with companies where the electronic fare payment system could be used like a credit card, outside the Metrolinx system.

“We’re always trying to find more sources of non-fare revenue, so (we’re) less reliant on the fare box to fund transit expansion. This would help us do that as well,” she said.

Companies have until September 22 to express their interest in becoming a strategic partner.