$20 million GO Transit garage opens in East Gwillimbury

yorkregion.com
Sept. 10, 2014
By Laura Finney

A new $20-million GO Transit bus service and storage facility has officially opened in East Gwillimbury.

York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan helped open the new Garfield Wright Boulevard facility Monday morning.

“The new facility will streamline GO Transit operations and improve transit services for residents of East Gwillimbury and surrounding communities,” Van Loan said, adding the location of the new facility will make it easier for buses to access the 404.

Van Loan was joined by Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, MPP Julia Munro, MPP Chris Ballard and Bruce McCuaig, president and CEO of Metrolinx.

“This new GO bus facility will make it easier to provide more service to our customers in York Region,” McCuaig said.

The facility will feature storage for up to 36 buses, staff facilities and indoor service bays for fuelling, washing, inspections and repairs.

The total cost of the project was $20 million with the federal and provincial governments each contributing $9.5 million.

The province and Metrolinx contributed the remaining $1 million.

Funding was provided through the GO Transit Improvement Program, a $500-million joint investment by the Canadian and Ontario governments to support the expansion of GO services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and the Niagara and Waterloo regions.

Transit improvements help get commuters out of their cars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ease congestion, McCuaig said.

“Along with supporting public transit, this facility will be environmentally responsible,” he said, adding the facility uses energy efficient systems such as recycling water from the bus wash and LED lighting fixtures.

And the building will feature on-site fueling, which will reduce travelling for buses not in service.

The facility features a quiet zone and health and wellness area with exercise equipment for staff.