Premiere Doug Ford is promising a significant expansion of GO train service if re-elected this summer, pledging to extend the Lakeshore East GO line into Bowmanville.
The latest campaign promise, announced on Friday, comes with a price tag of $730M. This investment would allow the government to establish two-way, all-day 15-minute GO train service and build four new GO train stations east of Oshawa.
“The fact is that the people of Bowmanville are frustrated," Ford said while speaking from a construction site in Bowmanville. "Like too many people in Oshawa and Whitby and Ajax, they feel cut off. They’re tired of waiting. Well, folks, the wait is over.”
The four new stations would be built at Thornton's Corners East, Ritson Road, Courtice, and Bowmanville, providing ramped up service to the Durham Region.
“This marks a significant milestone -- one that will help to transform the way we connect with each other for decades to come," said Durham Regional Chair John Henry. "Durham Region has worked closely with our local municipalities, Metrolinx and the Ministry of Transportation to bring this convenient transit option for travel within Durham. We look forward to continuing this work with our partners. Together, we are helping to keep Durham on the right track, for generations to come.”
As part of the announcement, Ford took aim at other party leaders, saying that unlike a Conservative government, they would not be able to get this transit upgrade done.
“The Del Duca-Wynne Liberals failed to extend GO train service to Bowmanville," Ford said. "Worse, the Liberals and NDP will delay this important transit project with endless studies, reports and committees when the people of Bowmanville and Durham Region need action.”
Transportation has been a hot topic in the Ontario election, with all party leaders making sizable promises. The Ford government's recently released transportation plan outlined more than $80B in spending, including expanded passenger rail service, new subway lines, expansions of several existing highways, and new two controversial highway projects -- Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.
“Only the Ontario PCs have a plan to build highways and expand transit so that Ontarians can get across their neighbourhood and the province faster,” Ford said.
Ford also added another $4B in highway spending to the provincial budget, bringing the total up to $25.1B. His focus on highways, however, has received criticism from other leaders, with Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner dubbing the fiscal plan a “1950s-era Sprawl Budget.”
Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca recently made headlines with a promised "buck-a-ride" initiative that would make all GO, TTC, and Ontario Northland fares just $1. It would additionally cap monthly passes at $40 until January 2024. The plan, estimated to remove 400,000 cars from the road daily, is expected to cost $710M in 2022-2023, and $1B in 2023-2024. The Liberals have committed to fully replacing the lost revenue to ensure municipalities are not impacted, but have not yet provided details on how this would be done.
The Ontario NDP platform has also promised expanded GO service, including "daily-or-better service to Bowmanville, Grimsby, and Niagara." Leader Andrea Horwath has also committed to implementing a two-hour, flat rate fare across municipal transit in the GTHA, extending the Hurontario LRT to downtown Brampton, and fully restoring the Ontario Northlander.
