GO East extension will keep Durham on the right track.
The GO Lakeshore East extension is a critical component of the future of Durham Region.
The GO east expansion is moving ahead; meeting the needs of our growing communities. In February 2020, Metrolinx confirmed a route—north of Highway 401—that provides rail service from Union Station (in Toronto) to Thornton’s Corners, a central station in downtown Oshawa, and GO stations in both Courtice and Bowmanville.
It's a route that will help to deliver economic revitalization of our downtown areas; transform and connect communities; increase transit ridership; stimulate job creation and mixed-use development around the stations; and drive an increase in land value within the rail corridor.
It will contribute to our connected communities; a key component of our future land use plans. Plus, it connects with local transit spines, three post-secondary campuses, employment areas, and central areas slated for mixed-use development and intensification.
We look forward to the city-building, economic development, and transit ridership growth that will occur for decades to come.
This extension, north of Highway 401, will create up to 21,000 jobs!
This route was selected through a rigorous EA process, after several rounds of public consultation and other community involvement, because it had the greatest potential to:
- Revitalize downtowns.
- Transform and connect our communities.
- Support economic development, with an estimated 21,000 new jobs.
- Increase transit ridership.
It puts the train service and stations where people and businesses are.
Revitalize downtowns
The planned stations will spark economic development and help revitalize our downtown areas.
This route, north of Highway 401, will open new catchment areas for GO ridership; stimulate job creation and mixed-use development around the stations; and increase land value in the rail corridor.
Innovate transit station development
The Region and local area municipal partners support a transit-oriented development approach with private sector partners for these stations. Lands around the stations are being zoned accordingly and are already attracting the higher density development envisioned for major transit station areas.
The Region is advancing $150 million in related infrastructure projects to support the extension in our capital program. Metrolinx owns property at the station sites in the route north of Highway 401, so the benefits of land value uplift will be shared.
There is much more than Metrolinx and municipal investments at stake. Post-secondary institutions, developers and home buyers are also impacted if the planned station locations move elsewhere.
Transform communities
The Metrolinx Initial Business Case forecasts annual ridership of 6.3 million by 2031 and a benefit cost ratio of 1.0.
A route north of the 401 would stimulate up to 21,000 jobs; 6,000 new homes; construction of 7.8 million square feet of office space, retail and industrial buildings; and $1.1 billion in transit-oriented walkable urban development.
Increased rail use by the community will help to reach environmental goals, such as greenhouse gas reduction targets. This includes providing GO train service that meets the needs of a whole generation of people who prefer not to use an automobile. A route north of Highway 401 supports an integrated and active transportation network; accessible via foot, bicycle or bus. It could eliminate about 50 million kilometres of car travel, yearly.
Connect campuses, jobs, and urban growth centres
A route north of Highway 401 provides the best value for taxpayers and the Durham community:
- It connects with local transit spines, three post-secondary campuses, employment areas and central areas slated for mixed-use development and intensification.
- It will help ensure an accessible education system and a modern post-secondary education sector, supporting significant provincial investment in three post-secondary institutions: Durham College, Ontario Tech University, and Trent University Durham.
- It would strengthen a transit hub in downtown Oshawa (at the junction of Durham Region Transit's Rapid Transit on Highway 2 and Simcoe Street).
Building the transit infrastructure is urgent
Durham Region is home to almost 700,000 people today. In the next 12 years, our population will grow by 270,000 people.
We want new residents to be new transit riders. We must ensure frequent reliable transit is there, where and when they arrive. Building the transit infrastructure is urgent.
Investing in infrastructure that serves the community makes sense. This investment in Durham must support growth and prosperity.
Share your support: #GOEastDurham
Want to learn more about the Go East Extension? Visit GoEastDurham.ca.
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