Metrolinx Town Hall, November 28, 2018

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

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#

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.

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...

We are working on a plan with the Cities of Mississauga and Toronto to extend the Eglinton Crosstown LRT with a stop at Renforth Station. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT spans from Kennedy Station in the east to Mt. Dennis Station (at Weston Road) in the west, and the planned Eglinton West LRT would extend the LRT service west to Renforth Station and Pearson Airport. The planned Eglinton West LRT is in the early planning and design stage, while the Eglinton Crosstown is on track to be complete in 2021. For more information about the Eglinton West LRT please visit the project website.

There are currently no plans to close Weston station.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

We add 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 to and from Port Credit. 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 ------, 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.

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 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 Barrie line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier. Through the GO Expansion program service on the Barrie line is expected to increase and will include even more frequent service during middays, evenings and weekends, more service to and from Barrie, including some express service from stations along the line. Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case and stay tuned for more information about this program.

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.

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.

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.

Half of the The Crosstown project is above ground. It will run underground for more than 10 km, from Keele Street to Laird Avenue, then above ground east to Kennedy Station. When completed it will actually be faster than a bus, streetcar or subway. http://www.metrolinx.com/.../grea.../projects/crosstown.aspx

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.

Electrifying our rail network, which includes our GO rail lines and the UP Express, is a major multi-year project with a number of required steps we need to take. It goes beyond just purchasing electric vehicles--it also includes major infrastructure upgrades to the rail corridors on which we run our trains.

Next up is the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) when pre-qualified firms will tell us how they would go about delivering the expanded electrified service we are seeking and at what cost.

Through the Electrification Study, we found that electrifying UP Express without also electrifying GO services would not have a strong business case. In the meantime, our entire UP Express fleet is powered by the Tier 4 diesel engine—the first rail service to use it in North America. Tier 4 engines are the most efficient engines available to date, meeting the most stringent environmental standards.

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.

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 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.

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

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 ------, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

GO Transit Safety monitors the accessible parking use at our stations regularly. Please let us know if there is a specific location that requires further attention. https://www.gotransit.com/en/contact-us.

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 share a similar vision for future bus service. The long term strategy for GO bus service is focused on Frequent Regional Express Bus service that integrates with the other services that make up the Frequent Rapid Transit Network (trains, LRTs).

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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, 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 ------, 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.

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 add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic, available equipment and ridership patterns. We are continuing to expand service on the Lakeshore line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier.  Learn more about our GO Expansion Business Case http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20181206/20181206_Boar... and stay tuned for more information about this. In the meantime, thank you for the feedback.

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.

Decisions regarding Bike Share station placement are made by the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA). The TPA completed a Feasibility Study in 2016 which highlighted Mimico and South Etobicoke areas as potential locations for future Bike Share expansions. These areas are currently being reviewed. We’ll continue to work with Bike Share Toronto and the Toronto Parking Authority to help people make seamless connections between public transit and their destinations.

The likelihood of the Hurontario LRT being constructed is very high. The Government of Ontario has undertaken a line by line examination of all large infrastructure projects in the province—including the Hurontario LRT. At no time has the government said the project will be cancelled, and discussions have been positive.

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.

We apologize for your unfortunate experience. Our patrols routinely enforce no smoking, but we will ask that they pay particular attention at the Centennial station.

We’d be happy to answer your question but would need some clarification. Please provide more detail at metrolinxengage.com/en/contact

The banners along the Lakeshore West line are correct. In September, we introduced one extra train each hour during the midday period, Monday to Friday. For full schedule: https://www.gotransit.com/

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.

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 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 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.

Metrolinx and our transit partners are working together to make it better and easier for customers to take transit and part of that means providing a simple, seamless way to pay fares, no matter where you travel to or from, or the number of transit systems you use. Our priority is to ensure as many travellers as possible are able to access high-quality transit options.

Under the Discounted Double Fare program, customers who use PRESTO and transfer between GO and the TTC will get a discount on their fare: a savings of $1.50 for adults. In August 2018, the TTC launched a timed-transfer system that allows PRESTO customers the freedom of unlimited travel within two-hours with a single fare. We will continue to work with our transit partners in order to better serve our customers in the future.

Metrolinx is currently planning and delivering the largest transit expansion in GO’s history, every option for improved service is being considered. Work on necessary infrastructure upgrades on the corridor has started, and we are working with CN to allow more GO 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.

There is currently late night and early morning bus service both ways between Union and Kitchener.

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.

Transit Safety monitors carpool parking regularly. If there is a specific location that requires attention, please let us know. https://www.gotransit.com/en/contact-us.

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.

We often stage construction to limit the impact to our customers. Parking and other construction projects are planned around our customers and maintaining service to the stations and surface parking lots.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, we will be providing pedestrian access to the north platform from the new Kiss & Ride which is off Dawes Road.
 

We are always looking at ways to improve the customer experience and value your feedback as we do this. We will pass along this feedback to the appropriate group.

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.

VIVA is operated by the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation. You may wish to contact them here: http://www.vivanext.com/contact

We understand that wi-fi is a much 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.

To ensure we’re meeting our commitments to you, we’re:

• Being more proactive about equipment upgrades;
• Preparing more for extreme weather;
• Spending more time on operations training; and
• Working more closely with our rail partners to remove congestion in the network.

We share your concerns about on-time performance, and we hope the changes we're making will result in noticeable improvements in your day-to-day commute

There are only wait times when you load your card online. The reason for the delay is that it takes time for PRESTO devices to be updated with transaction information.

Transaction times depend on how you choose to load your card and where you travel. If you ride on TTC buses and streetcars, GO Trains or OC Transpo, your load can be ready in as little as four hours. TTC fare gates are able to load the transaction to your card in 12 hours. The maximum time you may have to wait until your transaction is processed to all PRESTO devices is 24 hours, but it could be quicker depending on when the device you tap was last connected to the system. In many cases, devices maintain their connection with the system, meaning you will only need to wait four hours.

You can instantly load your card at any Shoppers Drug Mart location in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area or Ottawa, at a customer service outlet, or at a self-serve reload machine or fare vending machine that are located at stations.

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.

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 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 have no plans to reduce the number of station attendants, and they will continue to be present at most GO locations.

It is true that we are beginning to provide more self-serve options to our customers by introducing more Ticket Vending Machines and Add-Value machines at our stations.

These enhancements are part of a collection of initiatives we are rolling out across our network to give our customers a simple and easy way to tap onto transit with PRESTO. These technologies will allow our experienced riders to perform their routine day-to-day transactions quickly, while allowing our staff an opportunity to spend time to support customers who need a more personalized service.

We will be sure to follow up with our staff to ensure customers are getting the support they need.

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.

We know that parking at Mount Pleasant can be a challenge and we’re working to assess options 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.

Completed in 2007, Barrie South GO Station has a small footprint. Due to its size, local site constraints, and property ownership surrounding the station, we could build only one entrance to the station. We ask all customers using our facilities at Barrie South GO (and all our GO stations and facilities) to please proceed safely.

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.

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 cannot temporarily block a card. If you lose a card, you have to cover the cost of a new card, which is $6. One of the benefits of PRESTO is that, if you chose to register your card, you have balance protection which can potentially save you a significant amount of money that you otherwise would have lost.

Charging $6 for a card covers administrative costs and helps reduce operating costs.

The fan provides much-needed air circulation and ventilation in an active construction area. The fan will be removed when the work in this area is complete.

There are plans to upgrade Milton station, more parking spaces, platform upgrades and improved pedestrian/cycle connections. More information on timelines will be available once a contractor is chosen; an announcement is expected in early 2019.

Please contact the TTC to let them know about turnstile malfunctions at https://ttc.ca/Contact_Us/index.jsp.

We don't have any specific information to share about changes to this route at this time, but we commit to sharing schedule change information several weeks ahead of time to give both customers and connecting transit partners enough time to factor the changes into their schedules.

Safety is our number one priority when designing and operating our services. Once the Hurontario LRT is in service left hand turns will be available at controlled intersections. Drivers exiting a small street or parking lot along the LRT route, and wishing to turn left, will need to turn right instead and make a controlled u-turn at the next major intersection.

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.

Furthermore, we are planning to start service at Confederation station in Stoney Creek in 2019, and in Grimsby in 2021.

We would recommend that your email be added to our distribution lists so that you can receive future updates as they become available. We have separate lists for all of the new stations we are working on in the area, and we can add you to all of them or the ones that are of particular interest to you (Stoney Creek, Grimsby, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls).

Please email [email protected] to have your email added to our distribution lists.

All of the latest information about the expansion of GO service to Niagara Region is available at Metrolinx.com/niagara.

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 appreciate the area is growing and we do review the current service network and customer travel patterns on a regular basis to see where more service is warranted. At this time we do not have plans to add more service, but will continue to review the need.

Yes, parking is being assessed. We know that parking at some of our stations 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.

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.
 

We appreciate that the area is growing. At this time, we do not have plans to add service to Caledonia, but we do review the current service network and customer travel patterns on a regular basis to see where more service is warranted.