(The Canadian Press distributed the following article on June 5.)
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing $645 million in regional transit improvements in an effort to ease the gridlock that plagues the Toronto area, Premier Ernie Eves announced Wednesday.
“Every day, millions of Ontario residents count on our highways and public transit systems to get to work or go to school,” Eves said at a GO Transit station.
“Obviously, we want to reduce that time as much as possible.”
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion called the announcement a good start but complained the money fell far short of what’s needed.
The bulk of the money — about $450 million — will be put toward improving the GO regional rail and bus system. That includes extending train service to Barrie.
Another $67 million will go toward the building of a rapid-transit bus system across the Toronto area.
“This investment will enhance the smooth flow of traffic that spurs economic growth and helps create jobs,” said Eves.
“It will give commuters the choice to use expanded and improved public transit rather than taking the automobile and it will help build a truly interregional transit system.”
McCallion said while it was a step in the right direction, the amount of money Eves announced was woefully inadequate for the task at hand but said she couldn’t turn down a grant.
“We have gridlock, as I understand it, in a major way and … we need more money than that, and the premier knows that,” said McCallion.
“We need billions to correct the situation.”
The rapid-transit system for buses alone will cost $1 billion, said McCallion, who headed the panel that made recommendations to the government in April about managing growth in central Ontario.
McCallion was highly critical of legislation introduced last month that will allow the government to unilaterally designate stretches of the province as transport corridors.
Critics warn the legislation removes planning rights from municipalities and undermines the Environmental Assessment Act.
“We are concerned and we’re going to register that concern very strongly with the province,” she said.
Among the other improvements announced Wednesday are new commuter bus services to Peterborough, Cambridge, Niagara Falls, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo. The buses will link to the GO rail system where needed.
Also, $75 million is being set aside to add lanes on parts of Highways 403 and 404 to be used by high-occupancy vehicles. Bypass shoulders will be added to parts of Highway 403 to allow buses to get around traffic congestion.