Metrolinx Town Hall, November 28, 2018

The Hamilton LRT project continues to move forward ahead of construction beginning late 2019. Procurement is currently underway. The Request for Proposals to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hamilton LRT project for a 30-year term was issued on April 13, 2018 to three shortlisted teams.

Thank you for your question. Local streets are under the purview of municipalities, and provincial highways are taken care of by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

We actively enforce no smoking bylaws.  If there is a specific concern, please contact Customer Service to report this. You can find the contact info here: https://www.gotransit.com/en/contact-us

The 5:35 was experiencing a variety of unrelated issues which caused it to run behind. We are making some minor adjustments to the schedules for the next board period and we expect this will reduce the delays. We will continue to monitor the performance of this train. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience.

The current Oriole temporary location will not have an indoor area, but the shelters on the platform are heated, so this should provide the respite from the cold. However, there will be an indoor waiting area at the new relocated Oriole GO Station, which will be integrated with the Leslie TTC station.

We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by introducing new GO train service to commuters in Niagara, several years ahead of schedule! A morning train that currently starts from West Harbour will now start in Niagara Falls, stopping at St. Catharines before continuing on. An existing evening train from Union Station to West Harbour will now go on to serve St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

Metrolinx is guided by the GO Rail Station Access Plan (2016) to develop alternatives and improve options for customers to access stations. Metrolinx provides a number of programs that support off-peak travellers including reserved parking, and a number of other parking programs (for example, carpool parking) that release to general use after 9:30.

We are planning to bring service to Confederation station in Stoney Creek by the end of 2019.

Please email us at [email protected] to join our email distribution list and stay up to date as we expand GO service to Stoney Creek.

We understand that wi-fi is a much desired amenity for our customers. This past summer we evaluated several suppliers and ran a pilot on select trains and buses. Implementing quality wi-fi on a bus and rail system as large as ours is a complex process. We are currently working towards providing the solution that provides the best value for Metrolinx and, ultimately, our customers.

We add and modify service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on Stouffville line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier. Service on the Stouffville line will include even more frequent service during middays, evenings and weekends, and more service to and from Stouffville. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

Your question was answered during our Town Hall. Please see the video https://www.metrolinxengage.com/en/content/ask-metrolinx-november-28-2018 at the 00:24:44 mark.

Bus connections are available between Guelph and Hamilton/Burlington and Kitchener-Waterloo. Metrolinx is in the middle of the largest transit expansion in GO’s history, every option for improved service is being considered.

We are planning to operate two-way all-day train service between Hamilton and downtown Toronto by 2025. Of course, this is dependent on discussions with CN and CP, which own segments of the rail corridor west of Burlington. Hamilton has two GO stations, and planning is underway to extend GO train service 60 kilometres to Niagara Falls by 2023. This includes rail service to Stoney Creek in 2019, at a new Confederation GO Station with train and bus services integrated. There are no plans to add the necessary infrastructure to serve Hamilton Mountain.

The five-year EV charging pilot revealed low demand for the charging stations overall (average of less than one charging session per day per station) and the program was operating at a loss, with its costs exceeding its revenue. We strive to balance our commitment to sustainability while providing the best value to customers. As we expand and connect transit service across the region, we must spend public dollars wisely.

It should also be noted that the charging equipment was not ours, and needed to be returned to our third-party vendor.

Lastly, you may be interested to know that we are now exploring opportunities for third-party funding of EV charging options at our GO stations. We'll share more information as it becomes available.

GO Transit monitors all bus routes and rail corridors within the service area for travel patterns and ridership to determine potential service additions and adjustments. All service changes take into account broader service planning initiatives. Decisions on specific service changes take into consideration a number of factors including expected ridership, costs, fit with the overall network, and available resources (such as crewing, equipment, and track/platform availability). These decisions are based on a variety of sources, which include travel demand surveys, experience on existing services serving similar markets, feedback from customers, and input from municipal/regional staff.

Over the next few years, major improvements are coming to Rutherford GO including more parking. We’re working with our design team to ensure the new station meets your needs and those of the community. Please visit https://www.gotransit.com/en/the-future-go/improvements/rutherford for more information.

We know that parking at Mount Pleasant can be a challenge and we’re working to improve that. Customers are encouraged to explore other options to get to the station while we assess, including taking advantage of the reduced fare on Brampton Zum when connecting to GO services.

We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January. We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

The initial business case is very promising and we recommended that it proceed to the next stage, preliminary design, with a focus on a mix of center-running and curbside dedicated bus lanes. The Preliminary design is getting underway now and will include public engagement in the New Year. Our “projects by region” section will certainly be updated and we thank you for pointing that out.

The beta PRESTO app is here! We are making the app available to a limited group of PRESTO customers to get feedback on their experience before launching the official version. For information on how to try it out, visit: https://www.prestocard.ca/en/about/presto-app.

The PRESTO app gives customers a simple, easy way to manage and load their cards on the go. Customers can load funds and passes onto their PRESTO card through the app with their debit, Interac, and credit accounts, or through Apple Pay. Additionally, and for most Android phones with NFC capabilities, the app lets them load funds and passes instantly to their PRESTO card simply by holding it on the back of their phone. The app also allows customers to check their balance, review their trip history, or set up Autoload or Autorenew.

The Province and Metrolinx are working on a number of initiatives that will provide more options to allow for an integrated transportation network that means faster travels times, seamless connections and integrated fares between systems. In 2017, Metrolinx published a draft GTHA Fare Structure Preliminary Business Case that demonstrates strong benefits of a more integrated regional fare structure. We continue to develop detailed proposals, engage with stakeholders and further our technical analysis.
 

Bombardier has a nearly 40-year history of producing high-quality train cars for GO Transit, and we are confidently working together to ensure quality standards and delivery schedules will be met. Both Metrolinx and Bombardier have set strong performance benchmarks to ensure that projects remain on track.

GO Expansion will transform service on the Kitchener corridor, bringing faster, better service to every stop along the line. Work on necessary infrastructure upgrades on the corridor has started, and we are working with CN to allow more service along sections of the rail corridor they own. We are moving forward with plans for two-way, all-day GO train service to Kitchener as quickly as possible.

We know that parking at Mount Pleasant can be a challenge and we’re working to improve that. Customers are encouraged to explore other options to get to the station while we assess, including taking advantage of the reduced fare on Brampton Zum when connecting to GO services.

In December 2017, York University welcomed the arrival of two new subway stations on their Keele campus. Since the opening, various transit agencies servicing the Keele campus have been making adjustments to better coordinate access for community members and visitors.

During the York University labour dispute, GO Transit buses were removed from campus and relocated. Following the end of the labour dispute, the University requested that buses not return to the Common, as it had plans to redevelop the Common into a pedestrianized area. Metrolinx negotiated a temporary return to the Common until January 2019 and also reviewed alternate options for continued service until June 2019. Despite best efforts, no safe and accessible option could be found for our GO buses and customers. A decision was made to relocate buses to the Highway 407 Bus Terminal starting January 5, 2019. We acknowledge that York University has now indicated that GO Transit buses are welcome to continue to serve the Common. Metrolinx has already advanced the process of shifting bus routes and resources to comply with York University’s original request. Continuing to serve the campus beyond January 5, 2019 is no longer an option. Unfortunately, the timelines for making changes to service have already passed.

This realignment of service has always been part of our plan to eventually move service from York University campus to the Hwy 407 Bus Terminal after it opened. Metrolinx extended its GO Transit bus service to campus for an additional year following the Highway 407 Bus Terminal opening to minimize financial impact to York University students. Students and staff who use PRESTO and transfer between GO buses and the TTC receive a discount of $1.50 on their fare.

By focusing direct access on Highway 407 and TTC Line 1 Subway, customers can expect improved service reliability in the Keele Street and York University area, which can incur additional 20 minutes of travel time in peak hours due to traffic congestion. Metrolinx, including its operating divisions, remains committed to proceeding with plans to ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by or before 2025. We are continuing to make improvements and remove barriers in our services, to improve the experience for all customers, including those with disabilities. The new Highway 407 station is fully accessible to customers with disabilities. We will have timetables up in the near future.

Metrolinx has been asked by the Government of Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Jeff Yurek, to adopt a transit oriented development market-driven approach to delivering new stations. This means new stations will advance as part of new property development plans in partnership with third party funders.  Metrolinx has consistently planned for the integration of transit and land-use, and this new approach is an exciting opportunity to move this plan forward with each new GO station. Not only can this approach save tax dollars it supports the creation of the new and seamlessly connected communities we have long envisioned. For more information please see the presentation at the December 6, 2018 board meeting.

We are continuously adding service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, demand, rail traffic, and available equipment. Through our GO Expansion program, there will be 15-minute service or better all throughout the day to and from Clarkson. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

Metrolinx regularly monitors travel behaviour and markets to identify rising and high potential markets for future GO services. The commuter catchment area of Hamilton-Niagara is always one area that is reviewed.  We currently have GO bus and train service to Hamilton and GO bus service to Brantford. 

Futhermore, great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by introducing new GO train service to commuters in Niagara, several years ahead of schedule! A morning train that currently starts from West Harbour will now start in Niagara Falls, stopping at St. Catharines before continuing on. An existing evening train from Union Station to West Harbour will now go on to serve St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

Variable train lengths and configurations are planned for the future as we move forward with GO Expansion. The expansion plan will provide the additional rail infrastructure and layover sites to enable train coach joining and decoupling.

In December 2017, York University welcomed the arrival of two new subway stations on their Keele campus. Since the opening, various transit agencies servicing the Keele campus have been making adjustments to better coordinate access for community members and visitors.

During the York University labour dispute, GO Transit buses were removed from campus and relocated. Following the end of the labour dispute, the University requested that buses not return to the Common, as it had plans to redevelop the Common into a pedestrianized area. Metrolinx negotiated a temporary return to the Common until January 2019 and also reviewed alternate options for continued service until June 2019. Despite best efforts, no safe and accessible option could be found for our GO buses and customers. A decision was made to relocate buses to the Highway 407 Bus Terminal starting January 5, 2019. We acknowledge that York University has now indicated that GO Transit buses are welcome to continue to serve the Common. Metrolinx has already advanced the process of shifting bus routes and resources to comply with York University’s original request. Continuing to serve the campus beyond January 5, 2019 is no longer an option. Unfortunately, the timelines for making changes to service have already passed.

This realignment of service has always been part of our plan to eventually move service from York University campus to the Hwy 407 Bus Terminal after it opened. Metrolinx extended its GO Transit bus service to campus for an additional year following the Highway 407 Bus Terminal opening to minimize financial impact to York University students. Students and staff who use PRESTO and transfer between GO buses and the TTC receive a discount of $1.50 on their fare.

By focusing direct access on Highway 407 and TTC Line 1 Subway, customers can expect improved service reliability in the Keele Street and York University area, which can incur additional 20 minutes of travel time in peak hours due to traffic congestion. Metrolinx, including its operating divisions, remains committed to proceeding with plans to ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by or before 2025. We are continuing to make improvements and remove barriers in our services, to improve the experience for all customers, including those with disabilities. The new Highway 407 station is fully accessible to customers with disabilities. We will have timetables up in the near future.

Metrolinx is committed to ensuring that its services and operations are accessible to all customers in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and to working with partners in the GTHA to plan, build and operate an integrated accessible transportation system. For the remaining five stations that are not yet accessible, planning and infrastructure upgrades are on track to be complete in 2023 or sooner.

Since 2009 we’ve increased service on the Milton line from 60 trips per week to 100, but we know the demand is there for more. The transformative potential of two-way, all-day service on the Milton corridor is well understood, but the corridor is owned and used for freight by CP. We will continue to work towards an agreement with our rail partners to improve service when and wherever possible.

We understand that wi-fi is a very desired amenity for our customers. That's why we ran a wi-fi pilot on select trains and buses this summer. Implementing quality wi-fi on a bus and rail system as large as ours is a complex process. We are currently working towards offering a solution that provides the best value for Metrolinx and, ultimately, our customers. We hope to have an update for you in the new year.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

Our Customer Service Ambassadors will communicate the Quiet Zone is in effect prior to departure. If this is not being done for your particular train, please let us know by contacting Customer Relations. https://www.gotransit.com/en/contact-us.

To support better transit connectivity, Metrolinx is currently undertaking a series of wayfinding pilot projects at stations throughout the GTHA. One of the goals of the pilot is to more clearly articulate what transit services are available, and maps showing connecting TTC services will be coming to both Weston and Bloor UP Express stations in the new year.

We fully understand that gaps in connectivity need to be addressed through service integration and we are working on that with our municipal transit partners. Through GO Expansion, the Aurora GO station will have two-way all-day service (every 15 minutes or better). The GO Expansion Full Business Case has more information. Please contact YRT for questions specific to those services.
 

This program is administered by our fellow transit agencies, the TTC, YRT, Mississauga Transit and Brampton Transit Services. Please contact one of these agencies for more information.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on the Lakeshore East line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier.

Lakeshore East customers can expect 15-minute service or better all day, seven days a week. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20181206/20181206_BoardMtg_GO_Expansion_Full_Business_Case.PDF and stay tuned for more information about this program.

Currently, most of the Lakeshore East line has trains every 15 minutes during the midday, Monday to Friday, which is what the signs are meant to convey.

The decision on whether to build a subway from Etobicoke to the Beaches would be made by elected officials.

There are currently no plans to explore an “over-the-highway” rail system. In order to help reduce congestion on the road network, Metrolinx is working closely with our Regional and Municipal partners across the GTHA to identify ways for providing improved transit connections, transit priority measures, a shift in travel behaviour, and more efficient travel across the Region. We monitor all corridors within the service area for travel patterns and ridership to determine potential service additions, adjustments, and infrastructure improvements.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on the Lakeshore East line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier. Lakeshore East customers can expect 15-minute service or better all day, seven days a week.

Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

Metrolinx is working with the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) to explore options to connect to their proposed Pearson Hub. Timelines are still to be determined. The study is being led by the GTAA; for more information please see https://www.torontopearson.com/gtaa.aspx#

Thank you for such wonderful, encouraging feedback!  We will continue to work hard to get you where you need to go better, faster, easier.

We are continuously evaluating the needs and opportunities for parking and station access at all of our stations. There are some challenges, but there are also solutions which we are working toward at each site.

Weston station provides improved access to a regional transit network for the local community. As a higher density urban neighbourhood, we encourage walking, transit, drop-off, and cycling solutions to connect to the station.

Metrolinx has been asked by the Government of Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Jeff Yurek, to adopt a transit oriented development market-driven approach to delivering new stations. This means new stations will advance in partnership with third party funders.  Metrolinx has consistently planned for the integration of transit and land-use, and this new approach is an exciting opportunity to move this plan forward with each new GO station. Not only can this approach save tax dollars it supports the creation of the new and seamlessly connected communities we have long envisioned. For more information please see the presentation at the December 6, 2018 board meeting.

Your question was answered during our Town Hall. Please see the video https://www.metrolinxengage.com/en/content/ask-metrolinx-november-28-2018 at the 01:21:48 mark.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment.  We are in the midst of a 10-year rail expansion program that includes electrifying a large swath of our rail network, making it better, faster and easier to take GO Transit.  There will be more two-way, all-day train service and more rush hour train trips throughout the network. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

We add and modify service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on Stouffville line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier. Service on the Stouffville line will include even more frequent service during middays, evenings and weekends, and more service to and from Stouffville.

Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program. In the meantime, many of our buses provide quick, convenient and affordable access to Toronto on the weekends, when highways are less congested and quicker to travel on.

Your question was answered during our Town Hall. Please see the video https://www.metrolinxengage.com/en/content/ask-metrolinx-november-28-2018 at the 00:09:18 mark.

The GO loyalty program through PRESTO ensures no one ever overpays. When using PRESTO on GO, any trip after your 40th within a month is free. So if you travel more, you save money with PRESTO!  If you happen to travel less, you only pay for what you travel, which also saves you money.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on the Lakeshore East line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier.  Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this. In the meantime, thank you for the feedback. We do take comments like this into account when planning future service increases.

Your comfort is important to us, and we do try to balance passenger loads by adding service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. Through our GO Expansion program, there will be 15-minute service or better all throughout the day along most of Lakeshore West line. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program. 

Your question was answered during our Town Hall. Please see the video https://www.metrolinxengage.com/en/content/ask-metrolinx-november-28-2018 at the 01:21:48 mark.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic, available equipment and ridership patterns. On the Richmond Hill corridor, there are a number of unique considerations that make expanding service decidedly more complex. These include:

• Flooding in the lower Don River, which affects most of the corridor from Richmond Street to the Millwood Bridge;

• Slow journey times due to indirect alignment and low track speeds;

• CN Rail ownership of the corridor north of Old Cummer, and conflicts with freight services; and

• Proposed parallel transit improvements such as the Line 1 Subway extension to Richmond Hill, and the Downtown Relief Line to York Mills Road.

We will continue to seize opportunities to add more service on the Richmond Hill corridor in the years to come.

Eglinton LRT Station will be provided with the main entrance building at southwest of the intersection and will have direct underground access from four corner buildings at Yonge/Eglinton intersection, as well as direct connection to TTC subway and bus terminal.

We are unaware of any other access points or discussions for additional access points, particularly as it relates to the development at 2131 Yonge Street.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

We offer a student discount for GO travel when using PRESTO, making transit more affordable. The process for applying the discount to a PRESTO card varies from school to school, but once you have it set up, the discount will be applied every time you use PRESTO. Just be sure to have your student ID on you to show for fare inspection. You can read more about it at gotransit.com/school.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by introducing new GO train service to commuters in Niagara, several years ahead of schedule! A morning train that currently starts from West Harbour will now start in Niagara Falls, stopping at St. Catharines before continuing on. An existing evening train from Union Station to West Harbour will now go on to serve St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

Metrolinx has a broader “support person” ticket option, which benefits all customers with disabilities or who require assistance during their trip. It’s available from our drivers or at our stations and allows the support person to travel at no charge. Please visit our GO Accessibility web page for more information: https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/accessibility/accessibility.

We agree that having access to real-time vehicle locations would be very helpful. Over the past year, we’ve introduced real-time bus trip information on digital signs at 14 GO bus terminals and stations. We know our customers would like the convenience of getting real-time bus information on their mobile devices and are working on ways to do that.  As always, we’ll be sure to share news about any new programs or services with our customers.

PRESTO tickets will not have fare types – their price will be equivalent to the adult cash fare only. A PRESTO card, with concession, gets you the lowest possible fare.

Having a PRESTO card is the ultimate way to travel – it charges the lowest fares by default ($2.05 with senior fare type), offers discounts when connecting with other transit services such as GO and UP, and offers balance protection if cards are lost, stolen or damaged. You can save up to $1.50 per trip when you transfer between TTC and GO Transit or UP Express when you pay your fare with PRESTO, and you can even set it to automatically top up funds when they fall below a certain amount or renew passes before they expire. And the card itself never expires.

With a PRESTO card, you can visit any customer service outlet or any Shoppers Drug Mart location in Toronto to set specific fare types to your PRESTO card or load funds and passes. You can also do it all online at prestocard.ca.

We know this is a well-used station, and we know we need to make improvements to accommodate growth. We are reviewing how customers currently use the reserved parking program, as well as investigating options that are outlined in our GO Rail Station Access Plan.

http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/projectevaluation/studies/G...

Cooksville GO Station redevelopment is well underway. When complete it will provide a better customer experience with a new station building and large public plaza, improved access to local transit, secure bike shelters, better cycling and walking access and a separated new multi-use pathway to the Hurontario LRT. The LRT will have raised, segregated cycle tracks on boths sides of Hurontario Street north of the Queensway, and a multi-use trial on the south.

For more information please visit https://www.gotransit.com/en/the-future-go/improvements/cooksville. The GO Rail Station Access Plan can provide even more information about our work towards ensuring direct walking and cycling paths leading from the local, municipal roads, into the station and to the bike facilities onsite.

The 5:35 was experiencing a variety of unrelated issues which caused it to run behind. We are making some minor adjustments to the schedules for the next board period and we expect this will reduce the delays. We will continue to monitor the performance of this train. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience.

Thank you for your feedback. High speed rail is under the purview of the Ministry of Transportation.

GO Transit's purpose is mainly to move people regionally, like from Mississauga to Burlington. However, getting people from GO Stations to local attractions like the Botanical Gardens is usually handled by local transit agencies, which in this case would be Burlington Transit.

One of PRESTO’s key priorities is extending our footprint and that means making PRESTO available to new agencies throughout the region who are interested. We welcome any conversations with other transit services.  

Also, please note that PRESTO can be used on any GO Transit service that extends through these municipalities.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic, available equipment and ridership patterns. On the Richmond Hill corridor, there are a number of unique considerations that make expanding service decidedly more complex. These include:

• Flooding in the lower Don River, which affects most of the corridor from Richmond Street to the Millwood Bridge;

• Slow journey times due to indirect alignment and low track speeds;

• CN Rail ownership of the corridor north of Old Cummer, and conflicts with freight services; and

• Proposed parallel transit improvements such as the Line 1 Subway extension to Richmond Hill, and the Downtown Relief Line to York Mills Road.

We will continue to seize opportunities to add more service on the Richmond Hill corridor in the years to come.

The Province and Metrolinx are working on a number of initiatives that will provide more options to allow for an integrated transportation network that means faster travels times, seamless connections and integrated fares between systems. In 2017, Metrolinx published a draft GTHA Fare Structure Preliminary Business Case that demonstrates strong benefits of a more integrated regional fare structure. We continue to develop detailed proposals, engage with stakeholders and further our technical analysis.

Earlier this summer we invited customers to test out a variety of new seat designs at Union Station, giving us input on the next generation of GO train seating. We’re now reviewing the results and hope to have an update in the new year. We won't be reverting back to the old designs, but we are taking passenger feedback into consideration.

Thank you for your question. The TTC operates the subway. Please contact them at: https://ttc.ca/Contact_Us/index.jsp.

Since 2009 we’ve increased service on the Milton line from 60 trips per week to 100, but we know the demand is there for more. The transformative potential of two-way, all-day service on the Milton corridor is well understood, but the corridor is owned and used for freight by CP. We will continue to work towards an agreement with our rail partners to improve service when and wherever possible.

You can learn more here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/milton-go-expansion.aspx.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

As part of the improvements at Union Station, we’re making improvements at the platform level to give you more efficient, frequent and comfortable GO service. This includes constructing a roof structure over the new platform to protect you and GO equipment from the weather.

Nous travaillons sur de nombreux projets! Pour plus d’informations sur les projets en cours, visitez http://www.metrolinx.com/fr/projectsandprograms/projects_by_region.aspx

The Milton GO corridor is our 3rd busiest line and we recognize the demand for more service on this vital part of the network. As you know, it's owned by CP and any increases in service require their agreement. We continue to work towards expanding service on the Milton line, please see our GO Expansion webpage for more information: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/milton-go-expansion.aspx.

We understand that travel to and from work can be costly, but we believe GO still provides a competitive advantage to the high costs of downtown parking and regular car maintenance costs associated with longer-distance commutes.

We are doing our very best to keep our fares at an appropriate level, keeping in mind that there are increased costs associated with putting more buses on the roads and more trains on the tracks. We are also spending more on operating and maintenance costs for the new infrastructure that's built to support more service. In addition to all the service improvements we have recently introduced, we will be adding even more services in 2019 to respond to growing customer demand in both rail and bus services. At the same time, changing market conditions affect the costs of the equipment and resources we rely on to provide our services.

We are still pursuing options for customers to tap onto transit using their phones and we will share more details when they’re available.

However, we are pleased to announce that the beta PRESTO app is here! We are making the app available to a limited group of PRESTO customers to get feedback on their experience before launching the official version. For information on how to try it out, visit: https://www.prestocard.ca/en/about/presto-app.

The PRESTO app gives customers a simple, easy way to manage and load their cards on the go. Customers can load funds and passes onto their PRESTO card through the app with their debit, Interac, and credit accounts, or through Apple Pay. Additionally, and for most Android phones with NFC capabilities, the app lets them load funds and passes instantly to their PRESTO card simply by holding it on the back of their phone. The app also allows customers to check their balance, review their trip history, or set up Autoload or Autorenew.

Metrolinx follows the Federal Canadian Railway Operating Rules to sound the whistles in the interest of public safety. Sounding whistles, their volume and frequency are federally regulated by Transport Canada. Municipalities have the option to eliminate routine whistling at specific crossings if they feel that would better reflect their community’s priorities by following a procedure overseen by Transport Canada.

Whistle cessation is a municipal led process. In the past, Metrolinx has successfully worked with municipalities to implement whistling cessation where requested.

If you feel that discontinuing routine whistling at a level crossing would be right for your community, we recommend you discuss the matter with your municipal elected representatives.

Metrolinx has been working with the City of Toronto and the TCDSB . The tunnel roof has been completed and we are looking forward to seeing it used.

As we move ahead with our GO Expansion program, we’ve been making upgrades to our aging signals, switches and rail infrastructure, which will all contribute to better reliability for customers.

In addition, we recently made arrangements with CN Railway, allowing us to run our trains parallel to their freight, helping reduce the number of congestion delays. We will also continue to monitor stop durations and other factors, reducing overall trip times where possible.

In the meantime, we have great news! We are bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

It's great to hear from someone who is as excited about transit as we are! We are in the midst of a 10-year rail expansion program that includes electrifying a large swath of our rail network, making it better, faster and easier to take GO Transit.  There will be more two-way, all-day train service and more rush hour train trips all throughout the network.

Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic, available equipment and ridership patterns. On the Richmond Hill corridor, there are a number of unique considerations that make expanding service decidedly more complex. These include:

• Flooding in the lower Don River, which affects most of the corridor from Richmond Street to the Millwood Bridge;

• Slow journey times due to indirect alignment and low track speeds;

• CN Rail ownership of the corridor north of Old Cummer, and conflicts with freight services; and

• Proposed parallel transit improvements such as the Line 1 Subway extension to Richmond Hill, and the Downtown Relief Line to York Mills Road.

We will continue to seize opportunities to add more service on the Richmond Hill corridor in the years to come.

Weston is a busy station serving GO Transit and UP Express connecting Toronto, Pearson Airport and Waterloo Region. We are always looking for opportunities to work with our rail partners to offer more service to our customers. VIA is already a partner at our stations in both Oshawa and Kitchener.  

Thank you for your suggestion. There are currently no plans to build a station at Highway 7 in the Concord area.

Yes, we are aware of capacity constraints on UP Express. We're delighted people love it-it's a reliable, fast option between Toronto and Pearson Airport. We are currently looking at ways to improve the customer experience and optimize usage. We appreciate your suggestion-user feedback is critical in delivering a customer-first service.

You may also be interested to know that we are working with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority to explore potential rapid transit connections to Pearson Airport’s proposed Regional Transit and Passenger Centre. These plans are in the early stages, so stay tuned for updates.

Enhancing the prosperity, sustainability, and quality of life of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area through a sustainable public transportation system is a critical priority for Metrolinx. The Metrolinx Sustainability Strategy 2015-2020 and the 2018 Metrolinx Climate Adaptation Strategy outline our goals and priorities and inform all aspects of how we plan, build and operate a safe and reliable regional transportation system in the face of a changing climate.

Metrolinx is committed to ensuring its stations and facilities operate efficiently. We’re looking at a variety of tools and techniques and considering opportunities to utilize renewable energy technologies, including electric buses. After monitoring industry development of electric buses that would be suitable for the long-distance nature of GO Bus travel, we’ll be running our first two fully electric coaches within the next 12-18 months.

We are continuously increasing rail service when and where we can, including off-peak services that we run on the evenings and weekends. We know that many people want to take GO trains into and out of downtown Toronto not only for work, but for events and other recreational activities, which is why we have big plans for expanded GO services. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20181206/20181206_BoardMtg_GO_Expansion_Full_Business_Case.PDF and stay tuned for more information about this program.

In the meantime, many of our buses provide quick, convenient and affordable access to Toronto on the weekends, when highways are less congested and quicker to travel on. Visit gotransit.com for full schedule details, or use Triplinx to plan your next trip.

We are always looking at ways to improve, so we have shared your input forward to see if anything can be done to address this. As you can imagine, we introduce services when and where we can based on a number of factors, including ridership and availability of resources. When we do finalize plans for new services, we are sure to give customers plenty of advance notice.

Park Lawn station is in the early planning and design stage. We recently completed an updated Initial Business Case (IBC) and have begun the next stage, Preliminary Design Business Case (PDBC). You can review the IBC here and note that we are currently tracking for the PDBC to be complete in 2019. At this time, it is too early to confirm the station design and layout.

We are working through the business case process for the Bowmanville service extension.

Metrolinx uses a benefits management process for evaluating capital projects in a comprehensive manner. This approach ensures that the initial benefits and value identified as the rationale for investing in a project are achieved throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Please email us at [email protected] to join our email distribution list to stay up to date as we expand GO service to Bowmanville.

In the meantime, our GO bus route 90A will begin serving the Ritson Rd. park and ride lot at Front St. and First Ave. on January 7. Check gotransit.com for service details.

Thank you for your comments. Highways are under the purview of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

We are always monitoring our services and modify where it makes sense for the regional network. In the meantime, local transit options are operated by the York Regional Transit agency. When combining your trip with GO, your YRT fare is only $1.00. Students and seniors are eligible for a reduced GO fare. Learn more at gotransit.com/fares.

Metrolinx has a broader “support person” ticket option, which benefits all customers with disabilities or who require assistance during their trip. It’s available from our drivers or at our stations and allows the support person to travel at no charge. Please visit our GO Accessibility web page for more information: https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/accessibility/accessibility.

Absolutely, the PRESTO card can already be used with any of those services – in fact, most transit agencies within the GTHA accept PRESTO. Metrolinx is working with all GTHA transit agencies towards better signs and maps to make it easier for customers to get around. A pilot is getting underway way now to test new designs. You can find more information here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/wayfinding.aspx.

Great news! We are continuing to move forward with our GO expansion program by bringing more GO train service to commuters in Kitchener this January.  We’re giving customers more flexibility in their busy work days with extended morning and evening service between Kitchener and Georgetown en route to Union Station, as well as extended morning service out of Mount Pleasant and Brampton and another afternoon option for those travelling from Union Station to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations. These improvements bring us a step closer to delivering on our commitment of two-way all day service on the Kitchener GO line.

We’re able to deliver these improvements now thanks to an even stronger working relationship with CN Railways. By finding smarter and better ways to work together, we’re significantly accelerating service improvements to these areas. Check out the new schedules on our website and use our trip planning tools for easier travel. Please use the new trip planner on our desktop and mobile websites to plan your trip. Sign up for On the GO alerts to receive timely, customized information about service changes and other GO news and follow us on Twitter.

We are continuously improving the PRESTO system and we value your feedback as we do so.

As you know, our Service Guarantee provides credits for train arrivals delayed 15 minutes or more due to reasons within our control.  PRESTO card holders must submit a claim at gotransit.com/guarantee within seven days of their delayed trip and they will be notified within five days whether their trip was eligible. If your claim is eligible, your credit will be then be applied to your PRESTO card. Simply tap your PRESTO card on a PRESTO device, and your balance will be updated with your credit immediately.

Since 2009 we’ve increased service on the Milton line from 60 trips per week to 100, but we know the demand is there for more. The transformative potential of two-way, all-day service on the Milton corridor is well understood, but the corridor is owned and used for freight by CP. We will continue to work towards an agreement with our rail partners to improve service when and wherever possible.

You can learn more here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/milton-go-expansion.aspx.

We are working through the business case process for the Bowmanville Extension. Durham Region Transit is an important partner in the delivery of this service and we look forward to providing our partners in the Durham Region with a technical briefing to review the findings of the Business Case once it has gone through government approval.

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We're always looking at ways to improve, so we will share your input with our colleagues in rail operations to see if anything can be done to address this.

We are looking at a full range of measures to increase ridership during off-peak periods. We know there's market potential for these services, and we're taking steps to attract new ridership. That being said, we know that it takes time to grow ridership on any new service that's introduced.

We just opened 250 parking spaces at East Gwillimbury GO Station, which is great news for customers. Due to local site constraints and property ownership surrounding the station, we cannot not build a parking structure at the station.

In December 2017, York University welcomed the arrival of two new subway stations on their Keele campus. Since the opening, various transit agencies servicing the Keele campus have been making adjustments to better coordinate access for community members and visitors.

During the York University labour dispute, GO Transit buses were removed from campus and relocated. Following the end of the labour dispute, the University requested that buses not return to the Common, as it had plans to redevelop the Common into a pedestrianized area. Metrolinx negotiated a temporary return to the Common until January 2019 and also reviewed alternate options for continued service until June 2019. Despite best efforts, no safe and accessible option could be found for our GO buses and customers. A decision was made to relocate buses to the Highway 407 Bus Terminal starting January 5, 2019. We acknowledge that York University has now indicated that GO Transit buses are welcome to continue to serve the Common. Metrolinx has already advanced the process of shifting bus routes and resources to comply with York University’s original request. Continuing to serve the campus beyond January 5, 2019 is no longer an option. Unfortunately, the timelines for making changes to service have already passed.

This realignment of service has always been part of our plan to eventually move service from York University campus to the Hwy 407 Bus Terminal after it opened. Metrolinx extended its GO Transit bus service to campus for an additional year following the Highway 407 Bus Terminal opening to minimize financial impact to York University students. Students and staff who use PRESTO and transfer between GO buses and the TTC receive a discount of $1.50 on their fare.

We recognize that the minimum load requirement may be a barrier for some transit users and are looking into how we can improve this. The minimum load does not expire.

PRESTO is fully deployed on 11 transit agencies in the GTHA and Ottawa region. The initial capital investment for PRESTO from project inception in 2002 to March 31st 2018 has been $1.0B. An additional $0.2B is expected to be spent in the coming three years, which will cover a variety of transit agency-specific and cross-network items that include but are not limited to the August 2018 launch of time-based transfers in the TTC, the PRESTO Mobile app, deployment of disposable PRESTO Tickets in the TTC, replacement of the 905 and GO end-of-life fare payment and inspection equipment and rollout of Managed Services and Certification Program for the 905. This would take the total expected investment to build and grow PRESTO from its start in 2002 until 2021 to $1.2B. For more info, you read our 2017-18 Annual Report.

The TTC owns and maintains fare gates, so any questions regarding them should be directed to the TTC.

We add and modify service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. We are continuing to expand service on Stouffville line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier. Service on the Stouffville line will include even more frequent service during middays, evenings and weekends, and more service to and from Stouffville.

Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program. In the meantime, many of our buses provide quick, convenient and affordable access to Toronto on the weekends, when highways are less congested and quicker to travel on.