This is the point that all the complainers seem to miss. The Milton cost is huge. It was left out of the original envelope because had it been included, it would have gobbled up the envelope, and other areas would have got nothing.
There is a only finite amount of money available, and it has to be spread across multiple corridors. There are signs that even the original envelope is proving hard to fund.
Personally, I support building all the spokes so we have a regional system that competes with all the major highway corridors.
Would I have chosen Milton over Kitchener? No. Because that would have placed all the investment close to the QEW, plus the KW connection is vital to easing 401/407 traffic and developing KW as an alternative to GTA.
Barrie? Stouffville? Again, omit those and there would be a huge gap in the spoke map, and no effective relief of 400 and 404.
Line 1 extension ? Line 2 extension? Line 3? All of these deserve to come ahead of Milton, especially given that Mississauga is getting LRT and various bits of BRT - so hasn't been forgotten in transit space.
The Crosstown extension? OK, I would have built that on the surface and that savings might have enabled Milton.
Hamilton ? Niagara? Bowmanville? Again, these are critical.
Milton over 413? In a heartbeat, but blame Ford, not the original Big Move planners.
It's all water under the bridge and time for the griping to stop. We are certain to see Milton - when the money is available.
- Paul
I think the true point is that Milton is one of, if not, the fastest growing communities in Ontario. It has been for years, and we can’t even get limited weekend service. Another point is that prior to Covid, for a time, the Milton GO line was the 2nd busiest line outside the combined lakeshore service. The reason it has fallen to fourth is because investment has been provided in the other lines. I would guess that if the investment had been made into the Milton line instead of the Kitchener line, that Milton would still be the second busiest. I also imagine that 2WAD service between Toronto & Milton would not only take cars off the 401, but also the 403 and QEW. I mean we are talking about a line that cuts right through the middle of Mississauga.
Milton over Kitchener. No. Kitchener should have been kept as VIA only service. That now puts it as the Georgetown line. Suddenly the available ridership is less than Milton/Mississauga. Also, Milton is nowhere close to the QEW. Heck, Milton is already built up all the way down to past Britania. It takes a good 30 minutes now to drive from Milton to Bronte GO (which is south of the QEW).
Barrie? Stouffville? No. Much too late now, but Barrie should have been VIA service. Stouffville, no more deserving than Milton. Heck I’ll be selfish. Less deserving.
Line 1, 2, & 3 extensions are subways and service a different commuting pattern. And let’s be practical. All-day service to Milton has a better chance of happening than a line two extension to Mississauga. How does the Mississauga LRT help anyone from the Meadowvale, Lisgar, Milton area get down to Toronto? Now if they had built the LRT along Derry instead of Hurontario, you may have been on to something.
The crosstown extension services Toronto primarily. I agree, it should have been built all above ground.
Hamilton already has all day service to West Harbor. May not be downtown Hamilton, but it is still Hamilton. Frequent Niagara service will never happen due to the canal being in the way. Bowmanville should be VIA rail service.
I agree, HWY 413 is a waste of tax dollars and should never be built.
All that said, I’m not even asking for hourly 2WAD service. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’d be happy if there was limited 2WAD service that would allow Milton residents to take the train on Saturday / Sunday to spend a day in the city or catch a sports event / concert and return home. All that would be required is hiring more crews (or pay overtime for existing crews), reactivate the third track already laid between Dixie and Erindale, and pay CP Rail for some weekend slots. Heck in the mid 90’s, not only was there all-day service to Erindale, but there was also a return 6:30pm train from Milton during weekday rush. That doesn’t seem like much to ask for the fastest growing city in Ontario!
In reality, this is all political. The government sees the Kitchener line as low hanging fruit. Easier negotiation with CN, then with CP, along with already owing some of the right of way, compared to Milton which they don’t own. I’m thinking Doug also assumes that Milton / Mississauga ridings are his by default, so no need to come through with better GO service. Promise the money, but never come through.
