Metrolinx Town Hall, November 28, 2018

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Metrolinx is committed to being transparent and as a public agency all of our finances are public available in our annual report. The 2017-2017 8etrolinx Annual Report can be found here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20180914/20180914_Boar...

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The TTC and PRESTO have been working on a technical solution to enable PRESTO card customers to use their card to pay both fares on these routes, however this is more of a complex undertaking than other past product implementations and further refinements are needed before Downtown Express bus payment can be introduced on PRESTO.

The reason this is so difficult to implement is because, while devices can be programed to deduct the double fare, buses equipped with these devices might not always serve the same route. Incorporating the need for operational flexibility has thus required additional refinement.

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.

There are currently no plans to close Weston station.

We are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience. 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.

While a gym car on a train would be a really neat idea, something like that is probably quite a ways off. In the meantime, have you tried the Quiet Zone? It's not exactly a gym, but it's pretty tranquil and might improve overall wellness! Thanks for again for reaching out.

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

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 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#

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.

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.

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 are always looking at ways to improve the customer experience and want to thank you for your feedback. At Union Station there are currently 30 vending machines, 86 tap on/off devices, and 14 card query devices. If there is an opportunity to improve this, we will seize it.

Historically Union Station`s platforms are generally considered paid areas. You must pay your fare before you go up there to your train, and Transit Safety now occasionally inspects fares at bottom of some stairs.

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.

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.

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.

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 the 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.

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 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 would be happy to answer your question but we need some clarification please. Please let us know at https://www.metrolinxengage.com/en/contact.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you for your feedback, we will take a look at what’s in place at the station. 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.

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. Thank you for your feedback. We'll be sure to share it.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Each local transit agency determines the products they want to offer via PRESTO. You may wish to direct this question to our partners at the TTC. You can contact them here.

TTC monthly and 12 month passes are currently available on PRESTO.

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.

Mobility Hubs are places of connectivity where different modes of transportation – from walking to biking to riding transit – come together seamlessly. A nearby example would be Mount Dennis, which will feature UP Express and GO rail service, as well as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.  Metrolinx is in regular discussions with local transit agencies, including the TTC, to optimize transit routes near our GO stations. With the arrival of two-way, all-day service at Weston GO, we will be reviewing local transit routes closely with the TTC to determine how they can best align and integrate with the station.

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

Noise and vibration studies have taken place for the communities adjacent to the rail corridor between Union Station and the Don River.

If 1) Noise is 5 dB or greater than today’s noise level (based on 2016 baseline levels); OR 2) There is an increase of vibration levels of 0.14mm/second or a 25%, whichever is higher, then noise and/or vibration mitigation measures must be investigated and implemented if it is feasible. However, the results of the study showed there was no need for a noise wall in this study area.

While a noise wall is not required, Metrolinx has been working with members of the communities on other noise mitigation options that go above and beyond the regulatory requirements.

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 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. Thank you for your feedback. We'll be sure to share it.

We are committed to making travel in the region better, faster and easier and always looking for new ways and technologies to help do this.

The Triplinx app or website will help you with trip planning from start to finish. It includes schedule information from most of the region's transit agencies including GO Transit, providing information on necessary transfers.

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.

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 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 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.

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).

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Passenger trains operate on the Milton corridor through an agreement between Metrolinx and CP.

However, we will continue to work towards more service when and wherever possible.

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.

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.

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 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

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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

The first eight new Tier 4 locomotives have been commissioned and are going into revenue service now. The next two have arrived for a total of ten. The remaining locomotives are complete and will be shipped and commissioned next year. Our plan is to have them all in service by March 2019.  Going forward, any new diesel locomotives we add to our fleet will be Tier 4.  The Tier 4 technology reduces diesel particulate emissions by about 85% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 75% compared to Tier 2 engines.

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 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.

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.

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.

Metrolinx is guided by the GO Rail Station Access Plan (2016) to develop alternatives and improve options for customers to access stations. The Plan has identified a future potential lot at Aldershot station. A number of parking programs are also available at Aldershot Station to support customer access including Reserved Parking and Carpool Parking.

For more information on GO Rail Station Access Plan: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/projectevaluation/studies/G...

We have shared your concerns with the smell in the stairwells and smoking on the platforms at Mount Pleasant. Transit Safety will monitor the situation and take steps to address this as needed.

Metrolinx is committed to sustainability and reducing energy consumption, GHG emissions, and criteria air contaminants by 2020, keeping with the provincial targets to reduce the emissions causing climate change and other air issues. 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.

This is in fact a question for the Toronto Transit Commission -- Metrolinx does not manage or operate Wheeltrans. You can contact them here: https://ttc.ca/Contact_Us/index.jsp.

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

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.

Those tracks are not owned by Metrolinx however through the GO Expansion program Maple GO station (and nearby King City and Rutherford stations) will have two-way all-day service (every 15minutes or better) providing many more trips to choose from. The GO Expansion Full Business Case has more information.

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.

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. 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 major improvements, including 15-minute service or better all day, every day between Union and Oshawa - and every stop in between.

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

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.

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.

Thank you for your feedback. If you have a specific question, please fill out the form here: https://www.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/

Metrolinx’s priority is to ensure as many travellers as possible are able to access high-quality transit options. York University GO Station opened in 2002 as a temporary station with the anticipation of future changes to the transit network in the area. Since then, the TTC’s Line 1 extension and Downsview Park GO Station have opened, providing riders with more transit options than ever. At this point in time, no decisions have been made on the future of the York University GO Station, however, we continue to monitor and review the station’s usage and ridership. 

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.

Aurora GO Station is in the design phase currently, and we’re working on integrating pedestrian and cycling connections into the station design.

The Reserved Parking program is regularly monitored and we will adjust if needed.

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 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.

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.

TTC monthly and 12 month passes are currently available on PRESTO.

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 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.

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.