Expansion Projects

Improvements:

• Extended service for the Lakeshore East corridor between Oshawa and Bowmanville
• Improved service with new layover and maintenance facilities
• Opportunity to add up to five potential new GO stations

Environmental Assessment: An Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study was completed accordance with Ontario’s Transit Project Assessment Process and approved on March 28, 2011.

Study Area: The study area extends from 500 metres west of Brock Street in Whitby to 500 metres east of Regional Road 42/Darlington Clarke Townline Road in Clarington.

Project Description: The study reviewed potential sites for new stations and train facilities, options for connecting the CN railway corridor with the CP railway corridor, and also identified improvements to the existing railway line. Currently, funding has been designated for the design and construction of the East Rail Maintenance Facility in Whitby. The additional construction elements have been approved to proceed pending funding approval and completion of other priority projects in GO Transit's capital investment strategy.

Supporting Documents:

• Environmental Project Report (January 2011)
• Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report
• Statement of Completion
• Notice to Proceed

Improvements:

• Extended service on the Richmond Hill corridor
• Improved service with a new layover facility
• Opportunity to add two new GO stations, one at Stouffville Road and one at Bloomington Road

Environmental Assessment: GO Transit completed an Environmental Assessment for the expansion of rail service on the Richmond Hill corridor on November 2, 2009. The recommendations of the Environmental Study Report (ESR) regarding the route expansion, potential station locations, and layover facility location have been approved.

Project Description: The project's environmental assessment focused on the Richmond Hill rail corridor - south of Major Mackenzie Drive in Richmond Hill to north of Aurora Road in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Its recommendation is for new service to be offered between Richmond Hill GO Station and Bloomington Road.

Project Stage: GO is currently in the detailed design phase of the Richmond Hill rail service expansion. Construction will take place in two phases:

Phase I – (Appropriate funding already identified and approved)

• Grading and track work
• New station – Gormley GO Station (at Stouffville Road)
• New train layover facility (at Bethesda Road)
  • Schedule (All dates are approximate. Timing will be updated at the start of construction):
    • Start of construction – summer 2012
    • In-service date – 2014

Phase II – (Pending appropriate funding approvals)

• Grading and track work
• New station – Bloomington GO Station
  • Schedule: The timing of Phase II will be determined upon the completion of Phase I and necessary approvals.

Supporting Documents:

• Environmental Study Report (September 2009)

Improvements:

• Anticipated service from Aldershot GO station in west Burlington to Niagara Falls
• Improved service with a new layover facility
• Opportunity for new GO stations

Environmental Assessment: On May 19th 2011, GO Transit completed an Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study for the expansion of GO Train service to the Niagara Peninsula in accordance with the GO Transit Class EA Document, 2003 (as amended in 2005). The ESR has been deemed approved by the Minister of the Environment.

Study Area: The study area is from Aldershot GO Station in west Burlington to Niagara Falls.

Project Description: The study focused on potential locations for new stations, a layover facility site and improvements along the rail corridor required to expand rail service to the Niagara Peninsula.

Project Stage: In January 2011, GO Transit issued a project update which illustrated the change in design and location for some stations along the proposed expansion to the Niagara Peninsula Rail corridor. In January 2011, GO Transit issued a project update which illustrated the change in design and location for some stations along the proposed expansion to the Niagara Peninsula Rail corridor.

• Project Update Notice
• Revised Station Locations
  • Confederation Station: replaces Fruitland location
  • Fifty Road: station location to be determined as per agreement with City of Hamilton to accommodate potential future light rail transit plans.
    

Current Status: ESR deemed approved by the Minister of the Environment. 

Next Steps:

This study is an essential step in the broader process of evaluating the projects' feasibility and merit. Decisions as to the project’s potential implementation, including funding, will be partially informed by its findings. Although funding has been provided for execution of the environmental assessment, funding and timelines have not yet been identified for fully constructing and implementing this project and will be based on funding allocations and GO Transit budget priorities. Please check back to this webpage for project updates.

Environmental Study Report:

• Environmental Study Report

Past public notices:

• Notice of Study Completion
• Project Update
• Notice of Study Commencement

Past Information Boards:

• Public Information Centre #2

For more information and to provide comments, please contact:

Andreas Grammenz
Environmental Assessment Project Leader
GO Transit
416-869-3600 ext. 5524
andreas.grammenz@gotransit.com

Improvements:

• The replacement of three existing timber trestle railway bridges with modern bridge structures
• Enhancements to operational efficiencies
• Improvements to service reliability

Environmental Assessment: A Federal Screening Environmental Assessment (EA) study was completed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. This project is being federally funded by Transport Canada with involvement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Project description: As we expand our system and invest in the future, a number of new projects are underway to enhance passenger experience and improve service. One such project is the replacement of three timber trestle railway bridges along the Stouffville Corridor, between Unionville and Markham GO Stations. New bridges will allow us to operate more efficiently and provide more reliable service to the thousands of commuters who depend upon us to get them where they need to go.

Location: The Stouffville Corridor, between Unionville and Markham GO Stations The first bridge crosses the Rouge River (mileage 50.3), the second bridge crosses Bruce Creek (mileage 49.6), and the third crosses Robinson Creek (mileage 47.3).

Project Stage: The Rouge River Bridge has been in service since October 2011. Work on the Bruce Creek Bridge is currently underway. Work on the Robinson Creek Bridge will commence in spring of 2012. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

Information Boards:

• Community Open House (June 23, 24, and 29)

Past public notices:

• Notice of Commencement GO Transit Rouge River Bridge Replacement (February 19, 2010)
• Notice of Commencement GO Transit Bruce Creek Bridge Replacement (February 19, 2010)
• Notice of Commencement GO Transit Robinson Creek Bridge Replacement (February 19, 2010)

Community Notices:

• Community Notice #1
• Community Notice #2

For more information and to provide comments, please contact:
Andreas Grammenz
Environmental Assessment Project Leader
GO Transit
416-869-3600 ext. 5524
andreas.grammenz@gotransit.com

Improvements

• Optimizing operational efficiency by consolidating full vehicle maintenance facilities in the east end, thereby reducing the need to rely on local transit operators for light servicing, and other GO facilities located further away for extensive maintenance
• Consolidating the maintenance of the east bus fleet in a single facility and reducing the requirement to store vehicles in a variety of locations owned by local transit agencies
• Centralizing the operations and maintenance staff at a location in the eastern GTA
• Reducing ‘deadheading’ miles for vehicles operating in the eastern GTA
• Environmental stewardship – facility to be LEED Silver certified

Environmental Study Report

• Environmental Study Report (April 2010)

Project description: GO Transit has completed an Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study to investigate building a new bus maintenance and storage facility east of Toronto. This facility will improve operational efficiencies and help meet expansion requirements.

Location: 1002 Thornton Road South, City of Oshawa, Region of Durham.

Since the completion and approval of the Environmental Assessment study, GO Transit has conducted a competitive procurement process. Through it, Buttcon Limited was selected to undertake the design and construction of this state-of-the-art bus maintenance and storage facility with the aim of it attaining a LEED Silver certification, at minimum.

Its sustainability measures will include natural gas cogeneration, a 200-kW PV array to ensure uninterruptible power supply for improved operations and cost savings, as well as the ability to feed excess electricity back into the local utility grid.

Project Stage: Construction started in March of 2011. Completion is scheduled for late 2012.

Past Public Notices

• Public Information Centre (February 17, 2010)
• Notice of Study Commencement and PIC

For more information and to provide comments, please contact:
Robert Pasiak
Communications Specialist
Railway Corridor/Multi-Modal Infrastructure Projects
GO Transit - A Division of Metrolinx
416-869-3600 ext. 5350
robert.pasiak@gotransit.com