Category Archives: GO Transit

Metrolinx Takes Over Airport Link Project

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Steve

On July 30, Metrolinx announced that it will take over the Air Rail Link project — a premium fare service between Union Station and Pearson Airport — from SNC-Lavalin. Metrolinx will build, own and operate the service through its GO … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, Beyond 416, GO Transit, Transit | 43 Comments

Smart Card Wars (Part III) (Update 1)

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Steve

Update 1:  July 28, 2010 at 4:00 pm: Comments and clarifications by Ernie Wallace at Presto have been added to this article. On July 26, I visited the folks at Presto and talked with Ernie Wallace, Executive Project Director, about … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond 416, Fares & Fare Collection, Finance, GO Transit, Ottawa, Queen Car, Transit | 24 Comments

Thoughts From Down Under

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Steve

Jarrett Walker has a few good articles on his website, humantransit.org, that should be required reading for our friends at Metrolinx, among other places. In What Does Transit Do About Traffic Congestion, he argues that the last claim that should … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond 416, GO Transit, Service Cost and Quality, Transit, Urban Affairs | 8 Comments

Smart Card Wars

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Steve

With the election upon us, some candidates have decided that transit Smart Cards are an issue they can use to say “I’m the best candidate” by hitching their star to Ontario’s Presto card program. The Star reports that the TTC … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, Beyond 416, Fares & Fare Collection, Finance, GO Transit, Transit | 41 Comments

Paying the Piper (2)

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Steve

On July 12, the Toronto City Summit Alliance (TCSA) held a round table at Wychwood Barns to discuss their recently published paper on transit funding.  Please refer to my first article on this topic for details. The round table added … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, Finance, GO Transit, Transit | 19 Comments

GO Transit Electrification Study Update

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Steve

Where Did The Study Come From? GO Transit’s Georgetown corridor, home to many existing and proposed services, has not been a happy place for the Environmental Assessment process, especially on the southern end of the line.  Officially, this project was the … Continue reading →

Posted in GO Transit, Transit | 46 Comments

Metrolinx June 2010 Meeting Preview

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Steve

The Metrolinx Board will meet on June 29.  This article is a preview of the agenda, and I will report on the meeting itself later in the week.

Posted in A Grand Plan, GO Transit, Scarborough-Malvern LRT, Sheppard East LRT, Transit | 18 Comments

Metrolinx Board Wrapup for May 2010

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Steve

The Metrolinx Board met on Wednesday, May 19 for an unusually long public session.  Rather than post separate articles, herewith a compendium report.  The major topics are: The Board Speaks! The Managing Director Reports We Have A Vision, We Just … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, Eglinton LRT, Fares & Fare Collection, Finance, Finch West LRT, GO Transit, Scarborough RT/LRT, Sheppard East LRT, Transit, Union Station, York Region | 25 Comments

GO Transit Pile Driving Ruled Unreasonable (Update 3)

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Steve

Updated April 12, 2010:  Metrolinx has dropped the appeal of the CTA’s order.  The Star quotes Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne: “This is about working with the community and repairing any damage that has been done and building a good relationship,” … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, GO Transit, Transit | 25 Comments

Time For Metrolinx To Earn Its Keep

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Steve

A few days ago, Queen’s Park dropped a bombshell on local and regional transit plans by announcing the deferral of $4-billion of previously announced support for transit construction.  Details were left for Metrolinx to work out. Pity poor Metrolinx, and … Continue reading →

Posted in A Grand Plan, Finance, GO Transit, Transit | 33 Comments