Legislative mandate

Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario under the Metrolinx Act, 2006, was created to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The organization’s mission is to champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system for our region that enhances prosperity, sustainability and quality of life. Metrolinx launched The Big Move, a Regional Transportation Plan, in September 2008.

Vision & Mission

The Metrolinx Vision:

Working together to transform the way the region moves.

The Metrolinx Mission:

To champion and deliver mobility solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

History

As part of its plan to deliver long-term sustainable transportation and better transit, the Province of Ontario created the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority on April 24, 2006. Now known as Metrolinx, it was created to play a critical role in planning and delivering a seamless, integrated transit network allowing people to use public transit to travel easily from Hamilton to Newmarket to Oshawa. It’s the final piece in a three-part approach by the Province to prepare the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for growth and sustained prosperity.

Metrolinx is developing a world-class transportation system alongside the work of the Greenbelt, which protects more than 1.8 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the heart of the region, and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, a plan that coordinates population and job growth.

Crucial to Metrolinx’s success was the development of a Regional Transportation Plan for a seamless, integrated transportation network throughout this region, which is Canada’s largest and among North America's most rapidly growing. The plan – named The Big Move – identified that the province’s transit and transportation problems are regional in nature and cross municipal boundaries. The solution requires the coordination and integration of transit and transportation systems in order to allow growth to happen and help people and businesses move more easily throughout the region.

In 2009, Metrolinx merged with GO Transit, the regional public transit service. The organization grew further with the addition of two more operating divisions – the Air Rail Link in 2010 and PRESTO in 2011. When complete, the Air Rail Link will be a premium express rail shuttle service between Union Station in downtown Toronto and Pearson Airport. PRESTO is a new electronic fare card that allows riders to transfer seamlessly across multiple transit systems.

Contributing to our community

Being a responsible corporate citizen is an essential part of the business of Metrolinx.
Read more about how Metrolinx is making a difference.

Executive Team

Review the Executive Group organization chart and their respective biographies.

Operating companies & programs

GO Transit

GO Transit is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, with routes extending to communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. GO’s distinctive green and white trains and buses serve a population of more than seven million across more than 11,000 square kilometres, stretching from Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo in the west to Newcastle and Peterborough in the east, and from Orangeville, Barrie and Beaverton in the north to Niagara Falls in the south.

In 2009, Metrolinx grew to include GO Transit as an operating division, benefiting from its four decades of prior success. In operation since 1967, GO has evolved from a single train line along Lake Ontario’s shoreline into an extensive network of train lines and bus routes that now delivers over 57 million bus and rail trips every year. In October 2010, GO Transit made a public pledge to customer service excellence with the release of its first  Passenger Charter.

Visit GO Transit

Air Rail Link

A division of Metrolinx, the Air Rail Link will be a high-quality express rail service connecting Canada’s busiest transportation hubs, Union Station in downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Once operational in 2015, each day an estimated 5,000 travellers will enjoy convenient, reliable and rapid service in a relaxing and stress-free atmosphere.

Metrolinx was asked to build, own and operate the Air Rail link in July 2010, and since then, considerable progress has been made and the project will be delivered on budget and on time for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. This unique project has leveraged existing Metrolinx infrastructure improvements projects including those underway along GO’s Kitchener (Georgetown) corridor.

The Air Rail Link will depart Union Station and Toronto Pearson every 15 minutes. Travelling along GO’s Kitchener line it will have stops at Bloor and Weston GO Stations. Travellers will choose the Air Rail Link as the best way to travel to and from the airport because it is fast, reliable, convenient and comfortable.

Learn more about the Air Rail Link Project.

PRESTO

The Government of Ontario, GO Transit, and nine transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and Ottawa have partnered to introduce PRESTO – a new electronic fare card that allows riders to transfer seamlessly across multiple transit systems. Electronic fare cards are used around the world with great success.

PRESTO uses the latest technology to make it easier to pay your fare while traveling within and between transit systems by the simple tap of a card. The PRESTO card is the size of a debit card and has a computer chip that communicates with card readers at transit stations or on transit vehicles. The system calculates the fare for your trip and deducts it from the balance stored on your card – all in less than a second.

PRESTO is in use on Oakville and Burlington Transit. The GO Transit network is expected to be fully outfitted with PRESTO by spring/summer 2011.

Visit PRESTO

Smart Commute

Smart Commute is a program of Metrolinx, with the support of local municipalities, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and take action on climate change through transportation efficiency. Area employers and commuters are provided with services and assistance to explore different commuting options, such as carpooling, transit, cycling, walking, telework and flexible work hours.

The program is delivered through a network of local transportation management associations throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. New employers are signing on to Smart Commute every week, representing hundreds of thousands of commuters in the region.

Visit Smart Commute

Transit Procurement Initiative

The Transit Procurement Initiative (TPI) is a program of Metrolinx, which supports local municipal transit operators with procurement of vehicles, equipment, technologies, facilities and related supplies. The TPI program provides full support through the procurement process along with project management to local municipalities. The program has grown to over 21 municipalities and transit agencies. TPI aims to reduce per unit costs, increase quality of vehicles procured, and provide an open and transparent procurement process. The program currently has delivered five projects on various vehicle types and ordered over 400 buses to date.

Visit the Transit Procurement Initiative Office