Extend GO Train service, York Region councillors urge

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 17, 2015
By Lisa Queen

From service limitations to the need for road improvements at rail crossings to fears about constant whistle-blowing, York Region councillors are echoing concerns of residents about significant improvements coming to GO train service.

Two months ago at a town hall meeting in Aurora, residents told Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, also MPP for Vaughan, they welcome the incoming upgrades.

At the same time, they voiced concerns with transforming GO train service into GO regional express rail service, featuring two-way, all-day electrified service with trains every 15 minutes in core areas.

Regional councillors shared similar worries with representatives of Metrolinx, the provincial transportation and transit agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, at a committee meeting last Thursday.

While Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti praised improved GO train service, he urged Metrolinx to extend 15-minute peak service beyond what is being proposed, especially to Stouffville.

“We remain one of the fastest growing areas and will continue to be a significant area of growth over the next 25 years,” he said.

“There is an incredible amount of traffic that comes down from Stouffville and other communities to the north. I applaud you for bringing RER (express rail) right up to Unionville, that 15-minute service, but if we could extend it to Stouffville, at least during peak hours, that would, I think, relieve a lot of pressure on the traffic and road system. Currently, it’s (already) gridlock, it’s absolute gridlock.”

Newmarket Councillor John Taylor also raised concerns, which he shared with Newmarket council Monday night.

He is pushing for an increase in peak hour service to the town because 15-minute service will end in Aurora.

“It’ll be 30 minutes or less at peak hours into Newmarket.  It was expressed strongly at that meeting that, given we’re a designated growth centre, it would only be logical that the same level of service going to Aurora goes to Newmarket,” he said.

“They’re listening to us. But we’re still seeing a significantly increased level of service. Most people see this as a very positive direction.”

There are about 170 at-grade crossings throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including 60 in York Region and four in Newmarket.

Since ridership is expected to increase from 100,000 to 225,000 daily once the all-day service is introduced, there will be a need for about 60,000 additional parking spaces, Taylor said.

“We need to start to think how it’s going to be handled,” he said.

A potential future GO station at Mulock Drive will also be explored by Metrolinx, he said.

There are many rail crossings that already need repairs even without additional trains, including on Elgin Mills Road and 19th Avenue, regional transportation committee chairperson and Richmond Hill Councillor Vito Spatafora said.

“I can tell you, the screams we hear on the other end of the phone about people’s cars being damaged (are routine),” he said.

Metrolinx is reviewing potential upgrades to at-grade railway crossings, chief planning officer Leslie Woo said.

“The preference, of course, is to eliminate as many at-grade crossings as possible, in particular where there is increased service,” she said.

“The frequency of the trains having to slow down at grade crossings, of course, is a challenge for us, so we’re trying to identify as many transportation efficiencies (as possible).”

Meanwhile, Newmarket resident Bryan Allen told councillors he’s dreading the constant train whistles that will create noise pollution and diminish residents’ quality of life.

Several communities have put a stop to train whistles, something he’d like to see in York.

But complaining the burden would be on the region and municipalities to bankroll a portion of the research needed to justify stopping the whistles, Allen urged councillors to pressure Metrolinx to pick up the tab.

Scarpitti agreed reducing the impact of train whistles is a major priority for residents.

“It sounds kind of cute, anti-whistling. It’s anything but (cute). These are loud, loud horns that would blast you, if you live beside them, out of your bed if you weren’t ready for it,” he said.

Eliminating train whistles is a safety concern, overseen by Transport Canada, James Purkis, Metrolinx’s executive vice-president of GO regional express rail, said.

With the increase in GO train service coming, Metrolinx is reviewing the whistle issue at the same time it ensures the highest standard of safety at rail crossings, he said.

Despite concerns with increased GO train service, Scarpitti praised the provincial government for investing billions of dollars in rapid transit improvements.