For anyone interested in the delays occuring at West Toronto, noting that this project has the possibility of delaying any expansion on the Georgetown line including westward to KW/Guelph:

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/604802–court-stands-by-cta-decision

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/760794–relief-for-the-junction

Older articles:

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/405072–reprieve-from-construction-noise-may-be-short-lived

My only personal comment on these projects is why they weren’t done 30 years ago when GO service was instated on the Georgetown line. The fact  all these projects are being undertaken now (Grade seperations such as West Toronto, Hagerman,  and Union Station capacity improvements), while positive,  highlights the fact we are simply behind in infrastructure investments. The short term pain will have long term gain for everyone, It’s unfortunate that we will be delaying them even further..

In late Summer 2006, we launched GOKW.ORG due to

•  Public demand for GO Transit services
• A seeming lack of desire or mandate to expand westward by GO, only maintaining the status quo
• Upcoming (at the time) elections, which allowed us to get the message out to incumbants which are  at present, our elected politicians
• GO showing a desire to expand illustrated by the Barrie service restoration
• North Mainline Municipal Alliance studies and lobbying for increased train service
• Congested highways and frustrating commutes from KW and Guelph along the 401 and Highway 7

We felt that within the next 4 years, the time to decide on GO Transit would be put before all our Politicians, and I’m glad to say we managed to do our collective jobs.  GO is one of the foremost infrastructure projects planned in our regions and is regularly mentioned in local news outlets and watercooler discussions.

So, whats next, and what has changed? I hope to make GOKW.ORG the premier news outlet for Western GO transit commuters once and if service commences, but our job is not yet done, and we cannot transition to a news site until we are successful, if at all in expanding our commuter options.

What progress has occured:

It’s 2010, service is still expected  to start in 2011 according to known literature, and the following milestones have occured:

• The Ontario Government environment ministry has approved the EA allowing the approval and construction of the expansion to proceed when funding is available
• GO service to Waterloo region has recently been introduced, finally after nearly 6 year wait since it was first announced
• GO service to Guelph has more than doubled, with new Milton line service from the University of Guelph  along the 401 and more service along the Georgetown line via Highway 7
• Improvements along the core of the GO network continue to proceed which will allow further expansion
• GO is seriously considering expansion on the Milton line to Cambridge, not too disimilar to Kitchener Expansion. This project is projected into mid 2010’s..

What has changed?

• The economy has clearly changed, due to the recent recession. Funding for the project , in this posters opinion could be at risk, which if this comes to pass will likely result in a delay to the project. I hope to be proven wrong on this though.
• VIA Rail seems to be coordinating service improvements with GO, and sharing costs on the upgrades necessary on the North Mainline. This has not been announced or committed to by the Federal Government at the time of this writing, but in addition to 4 planned GO trains are 3 extra VIA trains (each train representing one round trip). This may also complicate matters as now each has to wait for the other to be ready prior to commencing.
• The Highway 7 freeway from Guelph to Waterloo has shown progress and is planned to start construction within the next few years. One has to understand our road budget and GO transit budget come out of the same Government funding and will compete with each other
• One major bottleneck on the GO system, crucial for westward Expansion, the West Toronto Grade Seperation, originally planned for 2011 completion is now delayed to 2014, according to the GO project website. This is due to the residents , who complained about the noise from pile driving, GO was forced to use a slower, quieter process. (I wonder how this is possible give the sound trains make pounding a rail/rail diamond, which residents have had to put up with for as long as they lived in their homes)

Ultimately, the conclusion of this is a lot of progress has been made, but there are a few flies in the ointment. When GO service was announced the economy was humming along at a breakneck pace, and monies seemed to flow endlessly, optimism was everywhere.  I am hoping for  a positive announcement on the GO expansion soon, and would be more than delighted if service was to begin as soon as 2011 as it is promised.

The job’s not done yet, we must see this through to the end. Anyone interested in contributing to the site, specifically a commuter-alert system where GO/VIA/Greyhound commuters are made aware of problems on the Georgetown and Milton line are welcome to come forward. I have sources of this information and can train the person(s) on what to do.

Thanks for all those who read and contribute to this site, and welcome any new readers who are keen to see a Westward GO expansion. Let’s GO to Kitchener-Waterloo (and Guelph)

- Steve Host, Guelph.

According to the KW-Record (and GO sources) The EA has been approved by the GO Environment Minister.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/660961

However, Jeff Outhit, who seems to forget that a rush-hour highway commute to Union Station is easily nearly 2 hours long and only getting worse… correctly states that funding has yet to be allocated, and the project will not proceed until this is done.

Jeff: The quickest driving commute to Union is 1 hour 13 minutes no traffic, obeying speed limits. Everyone knows traffic bunches at Milton and lasts until Pearson,  and adds about 20 minutes, sometimes more, especially in pockets around Toronto (Gardiner Expressway, anyone?). This will only continue to get worse. The 1 hour and 33 minute driving commute is now nearly equal to the proposed 1 hour 45 minute GO transit commuter time. GO will only improve from here, as more grade seperations, track and signalling improvements are put into place. I suspect a GO commute could be shaved to 1 hour 15 minutes. Imagine that..

- Steve Host

While residents of Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Acton await the decision (yes or no) regarding the westward GO Train expansion from Georgetown, GO is already calling for tenders regarding a temporary layover facility. The following was found on the GO Tender call section of their website.

http://steve.hostovsky.com/go_kitchener_quote.pdf

…. meanwhile the politicians have yet to make an official announcement. Thoughts? Thanks to Tom A/David G for the buzz.

The following Guelph Mercury article touches on the potential impact and changes that could be seen if and when Guelph moves it’s transit (bus) hub to the VIA Rail (Future GO) Station on Carden St.  There is a hotel located at this juncture and the owner has been the most vocal against plans for moving the transit hub

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/Local/article/569233

In the article, the last interesting point is City of Guelph project manager Conrad Coutts mentioning that people will use Transit to get downtown to use GO Trains. How many readers of GOKW would use transit, or would drive requiring parking? Add a comment below to have your say.

GO Transit announced today they will begin an Environmental Assessment to study a business case for expansion of train service to Niagara. While we won’t follow this too  closely as it is out of our area, the fact GO is continuing to study expansions shows their seriousness  to service the areas outside of the GTA.

Click here for the link to the CNW/GO press release.

If you are travelling to Toronto and do not know how to nagivate the TTC, look no further but to the website http://myttc.ca. This nifty site, created in part by my Cousin Kevin Branigan will assist you in routing your trip on the TTC to wherever you plan to go in the GTA. At present, this site also integrates into some surrounding GTA  transit systems and contains a wealth of additional information that is also presented to the end user, even warning you about geese problems.

I have added this to the quick links at the top of http://gokw.org.

I had a recent meeting with Kevin and did not realize this was his site until we got into our usual Technical discussion.  An alignment of Technology and transit,  is right up my alley. Great work, Kevin, and good luck!

- Steve

For those that don’t mind digging deeper, please find a link below to the following document:

“Cambridge to GTA Rail Passenger Feasibility Study”

Comment below as you see fit! The report link was sent to me by Vincent Greham of the Region of Waterloo. Thanks!

From the Guelph Mercury comes this City of Guelph debate on GO Parking (http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/551217)

What strikes me as odd about this debate is the lack of vision as to who’s responsibility parking actually is. If the City of Guelph foots the bill for parking, will GO users pay for parking? Would the City share revenue with GO ticket sales to pay for parking in City parking spaces? If GO transit was to build their own lot downtown, would they allow anyone to use their lot or only GO patrons?

These are some of the sticking points that may be debated by GO and the City (or a private parking operator). Despite Vanessa Thomas’s precedent on stations w/o parking (Union Station, Hamilton)  Guelph is very much a car oriented city and there will likely be ‘GrOwing pains’. One thing is for certain, if GO commuters are left paying for City parking downtown and demand for GO service increases rapidly, there will be a lot of unhappy GO commuters looking for a solution.

From the Government of Ontario, and with thanks to longtime reader and contributor Nick Alexandrou for the news link

“Starting on October 31, residents and commuters will be able to catch the GO Bus between Kitchener-Waterloo and Mississauga with stops in Cambridge, Milton and Aberfoyle.

Buses will run on weekdays to and from Mississauga’s Square One Mall with 11 eastbound trips and 12 westbound trips. Stops in Southwestern Ontario will include Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Waterloo and downtown Kitchener.

In addition, two trips in each direction will stop at the Milton GO Station to connect with peak-period GO Train service to and from Union Station. There will also be limited weekend service.”

More from news outlets:

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/610603

http://www.570news.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091008_155559_7088

http://southwesternontario.ctv.ca/news.php?id=5940

Great news, GO is finally coming to Waterloo region 6 years after it was first announced. Kudos to Waterloo Region council for turning around and allowing more choice to the traveller.