GO TRANSIT: It’s time to get GO-ing

If you travel to world-class cities such as New York, Tokyo or London, something you’ll see beyond a vast network of subways is also an extensive commuter rail system. Connecting suburbs and exurbs to the urban core – and existing municipal rapid transit lines – is a no-brainer, and is something Metrolinx and GO Transit have been in the process of upgrading for some time.

With residential density set to continue increasing along major transit corridors, let’s take a look at a couple of future GO expansion proposals around the Greater Golden Horseshoe that could remake neighbourhoods and/or spur growth:

Proposed Caledonia GO station - interchange with Line 5 (Eglinton)

There are currently seven TTC stations that provide direct transfer to GO train service. Once the Line 5 Caledonia TTC station opens in 2021, plans could make it another direct transfer, with construction of an intersecting GO train station on the Barrie line.

The benefit to this is substantial. Suppose one lives in Aurora, but works at Yonge and Eglinton. Instead of taking the train all the way to Union Station and then the subway north, the person will transfer at Caledonia and head eastward on the subterranean LRT.

But the transit hub could also create a new “Junction” of sorts. There is already apartment and condominium development alongside traditional housing in the area, but expect that to increase.

“The Transit-Oriented Development Program will leverage valuable real estate assets to attract third party investment to build transit infrastructure, such as stations,” says Amanda Ferguson, Metrolinx Senior Advisor of Media Relations Issues, Communications & Public Affairs. “In exchange for the opportunity to develop in and around Metrolinx properties, Metrolinx will look to offset capital and gain long- or short-term revenue.”

At the present time, the GO corridor is still one track, and twinning is required. But while the area west of Caledonia and Eglinton is a major construction zone next to a vast plaza parking lot now, it could look much different in 20 years.

Pearson Airport transit hub

Nicknamed “Union Station West”, the idea for a major rail hub next to Pearson Airport is to relieve pressure on the downtown hub where it’s needed. Metrolinx research indicates there are almost 450,000 people travelling from the western GTA each day to the east. Many travel downtown, but more than double the number of commuters travel across the “northern and midtown arcs” of the region. The airport, as its own national and international hub, makes perfect sense as a location.

“We are beginning our work with the (Greater Toronto Airports Authority) to look at potential rail connections to Pearson International Airport from the Kitchener corridor, as well as improving ground transportation to and from the airport and the airport employment area,” Ferguson says.

That’s another important tie-in: The Kitchener line is in the process of moving to increased all-day service, and will connect with Line 5 Eglinton once that LRT line is ready in 2021. In that case, another commuter rail corridor will have seamless integration with the TTC.