Congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) is becoming a
more serious problem as the region grows. The existing infrastructure is not
serving all of the people currently traveling in and out of the GTHA and
will not be able to support the projected future growth in the region. One
part of moving toward improving this situation is a greater coordination and
integration of all modes of transportation in the region.
Metrolinx supports a mission to champion and deliver mobility solutions for
the GTHA through its operating divisions and transit initiative
partnerships.
GO Transit
GO Transit is an operating division of Metrolinx. GO Transit is
Canada’s first, and the Province of Ontario’s only, interregional public
transportation service for the GTHA.
On May 14, 2009, GO Transit officially merged with Metrolinx.
The merger maximizes the two organizations’ strategy and planning
expertise and implementation and operations know-how to build rapid
transit projects faster and improve customer service.
More information on GO Transit expansion projects, including the
Georgetown South expansion, West Toronto Diamond and GO Transit
Environmental Assessments and studies.
Union Pearson Express
The Union Pearson Express will provide a high-quality, express rail service
connecting Union Station in downtown Toronto with Terminal 1 at Toronto
Pearson International Airport.
The Government of Ontario asked Metrolinx to build, own and operate
the Union Pearson Express in July 2010, and since then, considerable progress
has been made to ensure the project is delivered on time and on budget,
while leveraging existing infrastructure improvement initiatives.
Infrastructure improvements currently underway along GO Transit’s
Kitchener line (formerly the Georgetown line), and upgrades being
undertaken at Union and Bloor stations will support both GO Transit and
the Union Pearson Express. In the spring of 2012, construction began on
a new three-kilometre rail spur which will branch off from the Kitchener
corridor near Highway 427 and connect the Union Pearson Express to a new
passenger station at Toronto Pearson Terminal 1.
The Union Pearson Express is part of an integrated transit strategy for the
Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area that will create jobs, enhance the
quality of life by easing traffic congestion and fuel economic
prosperity. The Union Pearson Express will address a significant transportation gap in
airport-to-downtown travel in Toronto, and is a critical first step in
executing other vital projects outlined in
The Big Move
– Metrolinx’s forward-looking, regional transportation expansion plan.
Each year, more than five million cars travel between downtown and the
airport and that number is expected to reach nine million by 2020. The
Union Pearson Express is expected to remove 1.2 million car trips from the road
within the first year of operation.
Learn more about
Union Pearson Express or visit upexpress.com.
PRESTO
In May 2010, GO Transit began rolling out the new PRESTO fare card.
PRESTO allows commuters to travel between multiple transit systems in
the GTHA using a single card eliminating the need for exact change,
tickets or transfers to get on a bus, GO Train or subway.
In March 2011, as part of the new Toronto Transit Plan, the City of
Toronto and TTC have agreed to work together with Metrolinx on mutually
agreeable terms to implement PRESTO across the TTC system as well.
For more information visit
PRESTO, or the GO Transit PRESTO
information page.
Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Project
In March 2011, the Government of Ontario and City of Toronto reached
a deal on a revised transit plan for the city. Through the agreement, Metrolinx will be responsible for building
the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown – a single
Light Rail Transit line running about 25 kilometres from Black Creek Drive to
Scarborough Centre. The Crosstown line will run underground from Black Creek Drive to Laird Avenue, then above ground to Kennedy Station.
Under the plan, the City of Toronto would extend the Sheppard Subway to
Downsview station in the west and Scarborough Centre in the east,
incorporating the project into the TTC subway system. Toronto would also
introduce and operate an enhanced bus service between the new Finch West
subway station and Humber College.
News Release
More information about the Eglinton-Scarborough
Crosstown Project
York Viva Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
In partnership with The Regional Municipality of York, Metrolinx is
improving rapid transit through the construction of dedicated lanes in
the centre of the road – rapidways – that will allow rapid transit buses
to move out of congested traffic. The more than 34 kilometres of planned
routes will provide more reliable and more frequent service, connections
with GO Transit, regional transit and future extensions of the subway
system.
In December 2009, construction began with the first segment along
Highway 7 from Markham Centre to Richmond Hill Centre. The first BRT
station
– Warden Station – opened at Warden Avenue and Enterprise Boulevard in
Markham in March 2011. Warden Station is the first of 11 new
vivastations to be built along Highway 7 in Markham and Richmond Hill in
the next phase of Viva service.
More information about the Metrolinx and York Viva partnership
More information and construction updates on the York Viva BRT
Project
Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
In partnership with the City of Mississauga, GO Transit is building
new, exclusive bus lanes on roads in Mississauga along Hwy. 403.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be a high-efficiency transit
corridor running east-west across Mississauga. The BRT will support
all-station stop and extensive express bus service for thousands of
riders per day, making it faster and easier for you to travel to, from
and through Mississauga and the GTHA.
In August 2010, construction began on the 18-kilometre east-west busway
across Mississauga between Winston Churchill Boulevard and Renforth
Drive. A total of 12 stations will be built along the route, with one
existing station being incorporated into the busway.
News Release
More information
about the Mississauga BRT Project