Vaughan welcomes Province's commitment to advance the Caledon-Vaughan GO Rail Line
The City of Vaughan is pleased to welcome the Province of Ontario's announcement that the Caledon-Vaughan GO Rail Line is officially included in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan, which was released today. The announcement builds upon the Ministry of Transportation's decision in January to direct Metrolinx to advance the business case for the new GO rail service.
As municipalities prepare for significant growth expected over the next three decades, the City of Vaughan, in partnership with its municipal neighbours at the Town of Caledon and City of Brampton, has been actively engaged in advocacy efforts to pursue this critical regional transportation link. The need for commuter rail service between Vaughan, Caledon and Toronto's Union Station has been identified and established through many studies, including the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (RTP-2008), MoveOntario 2020 and GO 2020 Strategic Plan as a desired service in the near-to-medium (15 years) timeline.
By 2031, Vaughan's population is projected to increase by 36 per cent, while jobs are expected to grow by 18 per cent in the same period. With a new downtown core, thousands of businesses and more than 335,000 residents, Vaughan is one of Ontario's fastest-growing municipalities. The City is experiencing first-hand the positive benefits of having a subway in the heart of the new downtown, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). The VMC Subway, VivaNext Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transitway and SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal, continue to be catalysts for job creation, attracting investments and stimulating city-building opportunities. As the City continues to advance its COVID-19 response, these projects remain an integral part of Vaughan’s journey to economic recovery.
In response to the increase in travel demand throughout Vaughan, the City developed the MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy in March 2021 to guide its efforts to improve and build a more integrated transportation system in Vaughan and beyond. The strategy will further support the city's development, population boom and job creation, which have already exceeded expected growth targets exponentially. It will also enhance the exceptional quality of life in Vaughan and benefit everyone who lives, works and visits the community. In addition, Vaughan continues to champion the Yonge North Subway Extension as a vital transportation infrastructure project that will have far-reaching benefits to all Greater Toronto Area communities. Commuters in Vaughan, York Region and the GTA can look forward to increased access to transit and reduced travel times as this link will better connect the community to an expanding regional transportation network while also driving economic opportunities along the Yonge Street corridor.
Vaughan's interconnected transportation network is an example of what can be achieved when strong intergovernmental partnerships and flexible planning for the future are implemented to meet the needs of a rapidly growing municipality. Creating economically sound, safe, accessible and seamless connections to surrounding communities, and making it easier for people to get where they need to go will contribute to Vaughan’s ongoing success.
QUOTES
"I am pleased to welcome today’s announcement that the Province of Ontario has committed to advancing the Caledon-Vaughan GO rail line as part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan. The Caledon-Vaughan GO rail line expands the regional transportation network and enhances economic growth and job creation in the Vaughan Enterprise Zone.Encompassing more than 3,800 acres, or approximately 1,566 hectares of employment land, the Vaughan Enterprise Zone is one of the largest employment areas in the GTA, projected to accommodate more than 60,000 jobs over the next 20 years. Today's announcement adds to an already impressive list of transit initiatives to help our citizens and commuters move more efficiently throughout the GTA and beyond. The Highway 427 expansion north to Major Mackenzie Drive is complete; the VMC Mobility Hub seamlessly integrates walking, biking and transit into a sustainable multi-modal hub in the heart of our city; improvements are being made to the Maple and Rutherford GO stations, and work on York Region's VIVA Bus Rapid Transit network continues in Vaughan. The VMC Subway continues to be a catalyst for job creation, attracting investments and stimulating city-building opportunities. As we continue to plan for the future of transportation in the GTA and beyond, the Caledon-Vaughan GO Rail Line remains a key element for maximizing the benefits of future growth. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx to realize the economic and social benefits of the Caledon-Vaughan GO line. Thank you to Mayor Allan Thompson of Caledon for his ongoing partnership on advancing this project."
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
“The Caledon-Vaughan Go Rail Line is key to supporting future growth and the long term viability of our local economies. A big thank you to Mayor Bevilacqua and the City of Vaughan for working with us to successfully advocate for the advancement of this vital transit infrastructure.”
- Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson
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