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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

There are no immediate plans to provide GO bus service from the parking lot but we have shared your suggestion with the team for future consideration. The Ritson Park and Ride and some buses will be in service early in the new year, with same the fare as Oshawa GO, and will also offer 70 parking spaces, bicycle storage, plus an on-street bus stop and shelter to connect with Durham Region Transit.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schedule, real-time and other service-related information is available to the public via the Metrolinx Open API. We currently have numerous developers registered and using this data for their apps. The Transit app is one of them.

Metrolinx is guided by the GO Rail Station Access Plan (2016) which evaluated station access alternatives and parking investments. Parking structures and parking needs are evaluated based on a number of factors that include future utilization, land constraints and the surrounding cost of land. Station Access Plan: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/projectevaluation/studies/G...

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 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 and stay tuned for more information about this program.

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...

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 TTC would be able to speak to Metropass discounts for City of Toronto employees. Please reach out to them at https://ttc.ca/Contact_Us/index.jsp.

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.

Elevator repair is a very specialized process. Our procured contactor has now repaired the damage to the door structure, and the glass was installed in December. Following the installation both the contractor and Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) were required to sign-off on the completed repairs, which is standard and mandatory for all elevator operations. The elevator is now in service.

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

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

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

We 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.

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

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

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

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

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

We add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic and available equipment. By increasing midday service, we’re enhancing transit scheduling to make life easier for those travelling within the GTHA. Increasing sustainable trip options is an important part of an integrated regional transit network. Similar transit services throughout the world have been shown to slow the growth of road congestion. The data shows us approximately 109,000 daily car trips could be served instead by this new service.  With the availability of frequent, predictable and convenient midday service, we expect ridership to increase.

We are also continuing to expand service on the Lakeshore East line to make taking GO even better, faster and easier at all times of day. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

We 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.

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.

We regret any delays our customer experience, whether within or outside of our control. Extreme weather is something all transportation systems have to deal with, whether by air, road or rail, and as you know, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly more common. We are adapting to meet these challenges, and we appreciate your patience as we all work on solutions. As you may know, we have a winter preparedness plan we put into effect every year that involves running special services when extreme winter weather hits. While it does mean temporary service adjustments for our customers, it allows us to focus our efforts on the most vital services to ensure we get customers where they need to be.

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

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.

Metrolinx provides a variety of amenities to help our customers access the GO station. Metrolinx is guided by the GO Rail Station Access Plan (2016) which evaluated station access alternatives and parking investments, and envisions a future shift in the way that customers access stations. Currently, Metrolinx offers a number of parking programs to help manage parking at our stations including Reserved Parking and the Carpool Parking program. See our GO Access Plan http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/projectevaluation/studies/G...

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.

Safety is critical to everything we do. We agree such incidents are unacceptable. The parking lot will be expanded to include 180 new spaces and a redesigned kiss and ride that should enhance safe traffic flow. Thank you for flagging this--we have passed along your feedback to our safety team.

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.

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

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

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.

As part of our GO Expansion plan, we’re building a parking garage with integrated station building at Maple GO Station, which will provide 1200 net-new parking spaces at the station. Construction is expected to begin approximately in 2019 and be completed by approximately 2023.

While we understand the inconvenience construction activities can sometime cause, our constructor, Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) continue to work within the permitted hours as per the City of Toronto approvals. This includes both daytime and overnight work.

Please note there will be instances that require overnight work and early morning starts as the project advances at Eglinton LRT Station. However, CTS may not always work during these extended hours.

We suggest contacting our East Crosstown Community Office, to speak with one of our Community Relations personnel by phone or email at 416-482-7411 and [email protected], respectively.

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

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.

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.

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.

Tripling the size of Canada’s busiest transportation hub is an enormous undertaking. We’re putting you first by trying to minimize service disruptions during the renovation by tackling the construction in phases.

We’re making improvements at the platform level to give you more efficient, frequent and comfortable GO service. These include:

• Building a new platform to reduce overcrowding during peak hours and add more train capacity to the station;

• Widening existing platforms to make your commute safer and more comfortable;

• Constructing an additional concourse area below the new platform to improve circulation through the station;

• Constructing a roof structure over the new platform to protect you and GO equipment from the weather.

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.

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

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

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

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 add service when and where we can. There are many factors that influence this, including available infrastructure, rail traffic, available equipment and ridership patterns.

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.

On the Richmond Hill corridor, there are a number of unique considerations that make expanding service decidedly more complex. These include:

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 do not have any plans at this time to add more service but we understand that the area is expanding. We do review the current service network and customer travel patterns on a regular basis to see where more service is warranted, or where we can leverage improved infrastructure such as HOV lanes, and our long term service strategy is focused on priority and express bus corridors.

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.

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#

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

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

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

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

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

The City of Toronto is renovating the Bay Concourse for us. Once they hand it over to us, we'll then take several months to customize the area to add to your easy and convenient travel experience with us – including access to and from platforms.

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

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

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.

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.

Firstly, thank you for letting us know about the three individuals who crossed the tracks; that is completely unacceptable. If you see something like that in the future, please immediately call Transit Safety at 1-877-297-0642 or speak to any staff member who may be nearby.

Transit Safety Officers are on the platforms during all peak-period operating hours to provide increased enforcement and to monitor customer flow. Officers create Incident Action Plans for all special events and Transit Safety Sergeants are embedded in the GO Transit Control Centre during evening peak periods and special events when there is high chance of overcrowding on platforms.

We also have extra trains on standby during major sporting and entertainment events downtown, and strive to schedule the arrival and departure of all train trips to provide passengers with as much time as possible to get on and off trains.

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.

Thank you for this valuable insight. Safety is critical to everything we do. We will pass this suggestion along to our colleagues who make these kinds of improvements.

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.

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.

There are currently no plans to close Weston station.

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

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

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.