Every year, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area attracts more than 110,000 new residents, which means more than 10 million people will call it home by 2041, from seven million today. That’s equivalent to adding more than the population of Greater Vancouver in just 25 years. Metrolinx and its local, regional and provincial partners are planning for that future by developing the next regional transportation plan.
The plan outlines how governments, transit agencies, businesses, institutions, civic organizations and the public can work together to continue building a better transportation system. An integrated transportation network would support a high quality of life, a prosperous and competitive economy and a safe environment in our region. Now Metrolinx has developed a draft plan for partners, stakeholders and the public to review.
The draft outlines strategies and priority actions to provide a blueprint for achieving the vision of a connected and more efficient region by 2041.
If Metrolinx can fully achieve its goals, the plan would:
- increase the length of frequent rapid transit routes by more than 20 times;
- increase the percentage of people living in walking distance of frequent rapid transit by 3.8 times;
- double the number of jobs in walking distance of frequent rapid transit;
- Result in 700,000 more peak-period transit trips — a 55 percent increase over 2011;
- decrease per-capita greenhouse-gas emissions from automobile trips and decrease overall emissions;
- double the length of dedicated cycling facilities in the region;
- double the dedicated cycling routes through a regional cycling network;
- double the number of walking and cycling trips; and
- ddd more than 900 lane-kilometres of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to the region’s highway network.
You can input your feedback about the draft and what moves you on-line until November 17. You can also attend in person one of the six public roundtable meetings around the region.
Metrolinx has scheduled the events:
- Thursday, October 5;
- Tuesday, October 10;
- Monday, October 16;
- Wednesday, November 1;
- Monday, November 6; and
- Wednesday, November 8.
Events take place in:
Thursday, October 5
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Living Arts Centre,
4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga.
Getting there by public transit:
- Eastbound GO Transit buses operating along the 19 Mississauga / Finch and 21 Milton / Toronto routes to Duke of York Boulevard at Princess Royal Drive. Walk westward one block along Princess Royal to the Living Arts Centre.
- Westbound GO buses operating along the 19 Mississauga / Finch and 21 Milton / Toronto routes to City Centre Drive at Duke of York Boulevard. Cross Duke of York at the signal, then walk northward one block to Princess Royal Drive and then westward one block along Princess Royal to the Living Arts Centre.
- Eastbound MiWay buses operating along the 6 Credit Woodlands route to Living Arts Drive at Princess Royal Drive. Cross Princess Royal at the signal to the Living Arts Centre on the northeast corner.
- Westbound MiWay buses operating along the 6 Credit Woodlands route to Living Arts Drive at Princess Royal Drive. Cross Living Arts and Princess Royal at the signal to the Living Arts Centre on the northeast corner.
- Southbound buses operating along the 8 Cawthra and 91 Hillcrest - Cooksville GO routes to Duke of York Boulevard at Princess Royal Drive. Walk westward one block along Princess Royal to the Living Arts Centre.
- Northbound buses operating along the 8 Cawthra and 91 Hillcrest - Cooksville GO routes to Duke of York Boulevard at Princess Royal Drive. Cross Duke of York and Princess Royal at the signal, then walk westward one block along Princess Royal to the Living Arts Centre.
Tuesday, October 10
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Ajax Community Centre,
75 Centennial Road.
Getting there by public transit:
- GO Transit Lakeshore East trains to Ajax GO Station. Connect with Durham Region Transit buses.
- DRT buses operating along the 224 Harwood / Salem route to Harwood Avenue South across from Falby Court. Walk westward along footpath to the community centre.
Monday, October 16
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Halton Regional Centre,
1151 Bronte Road, Oakville.
Getting there by public transit:
- GO Transit Lakeshore West trains to Bronte GO Station. Connect with Oakville Transit buses.
- Oakville Transit buses operating along the 6 Upper Middle, 13 Westoak Trails, 33 Palermo and 34 Pine Glen routes stop on Bronte Road in front of the regional centre.
Wednesday, November 1
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building,
255 Front Street West.
Getting there by public transit:
- GO Transit trains operating along the Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines or UP Express trains to Union Station. Walk two blocks westward along Front Street West to the convention centre.
- GO Transit buses operating along the 16 Hamilton / Toronto express, 21 Milton / Toronto, 31 Guelph / Toronto, 61 Richmond Hill / Toronto, 63 King City / Toronto, 65 Newmarket / Toronto or 71 Stouffville / Toronto route to Union Station. Walk two blocks westward along Front Street West to the convention centre.
- TTC subway trains operating along Line 1 Yonge - University to Union Station. Walk two blocks westward along Front Street West to the convention centre.
- Eastbound TTC buses operating along the 121 Fort York - Esplanade route to Front Street West and Lower Simcoe Street beside the convention centre.
- Westbound TTC buses operating along the 121 Fort York - Esplanade route to Front Street West west of Lower Simcoe Street. Cross Front West at the signal to the convention centre.
- Eastbound TTC streetcars operating along the 504 King and 514 Cherry routes to King Street West and John Street. Walk southward two blocks along John to Front Street West. Cross to the southeast corner of John and Front West then walk eastward to the convention centre.
- Westbound TTC streetcars operating along the 504 King and 514 Cherry routes to King Street West and John Street. Cross King West at the signal, then walk southward two blocks along John to Front Street West. Cross at the signal to the south side of Front West then walk eastward to the convention centre.
Monday, November 6
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Hamilton Central Library,
55 York Boulevard.
Getting there by public transit:
- GO Transit buses operating along the 16 Hamilton / Toronto express, 18 Lakeshore West, 40 Hamilton / Pearson / Richmond Hill and 47 Hamilton / York U routes to Main Street West at City Hall. Cross Main West at the signal. Walk northward along Summers Lane, then cross King Street West at the signal. Enter Lloyd D. Jackson Square [mall] then follow directional signs to the library.
- Burlington Transit buses operating along the 1 Plains and 101 Plains express routes to York Boulevard across from MacNab Street North. Walk eastward to the library.
- Hamilton Street Railway operating along the 2 Barton and 3 Cannon routes to James Street North south of York Boulevard. Walk northward to York, then eastward one block to the library.
- HSR buses operating along the 4 Bayfront route to James Street North across from Rebecca Street. Walk northward one block to York, then eastward one block to the library.
- HSR buses operating along the 7 Locke and 8 York routes to York Boulevard across from MacNab Street North. Walk westward to the library.
- HSR buses operating along these routes all stop within three blocks of the library: 1 / 1A King, 5 Delaware, 6 Aberdeen, 10 B Line express, 20 A Line express, 21 Upper Kenilworth, 22 Upper Ottawa, 23 Upper Gage, 24 Upper Sherman, 25 Upper Wentworth, 26 Upper Wellington, 27 Upper James, 33 Sanatorium, 34 Upper Paradise, 35 College, 51 University.
Wednesday, November 8
6:30 until 9 p.m.
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.)
Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall,
200 Doug Duncan Drive.
Getting there by public transit:
- SouthboundYork Region Transit buses operating along the 54 Bayview route to Main Street South at Botsford Street. Cross Main South at the signal. Walk northward to Doug Duncan then west one block to the community centre.
- Northbound YRT buses operating along the 54 Bayview route to Main Street South across from Botsford Street. Walk north to Doug Duncan then west one block to the community centre.
- Westbound YRT buses operating along the 57 / 57A Mulock route to Water Street at Doug Duncan Drive. Walk northward one block along Doug Duncan to the community centre.
- Eastbound YRT buses operating along the 57 / 57A Mulock route to Water Street at Doug Duncan Drive. Cross Water (note: no signal.) Walk northward one block along Doug Duncan to the community centre.
- YRT buses operating along the 520 / 521 Newmarket community bus route to Timothy Street east of Prospect Street. Walk eastward along Timothy to Doug Duncan, then cross to the northwest corner and the community centre.