Commitment by new mayors remains strong for two-way all-day GO trains

“I am excited to add Brampton’s voice and support to this critical infrastructure project and look forward to working with the consortium,”

• There are 30,000 local tech workers in Waterloo Region, 34 per cent commute from Toronto/GTA.
• There will be an additional 37,000 tech and creative workers in Waterloo Region by 2031.
• 32,000 trips are made daily each way between Waterloo Region and Guelph.
• There are 11 million square feet of potential residential growth in transit station areas.
• There is $4 billion construction potential in urban growth centres/station areas.
• Initial prediction of ridership fares total $5.25 million with net operating costs of $750,000.
• Intensifying development activity at all three of Brampton’s GO rail mobility hubs (Mount Pleasant, Downtown
• Brampton and Bramalea) is expected to attract 37,900 new jobs and 105,400 new residents by 2041.
• Staff is currently working on an update to the business case to include figures for Brampton and the impact their
• involvement has on the innovation supercluster. The partnership looks forward to sharing that update in the coming
• weeks.

The faces may be new but the commitment to two-way all-day GO train service remains the same. The new mayors of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and the re-elected Chair of Waterloo Region re-confirmed their commitment to two-way all-day GO train service and are thrilled that the City of Brampton, under the leadership of newMayor Linda Jeffrey, has joined the consortium advocating for improved and expanded GO train service.

“We are pleased to welcome Brampton and Mayor Jeffrey to our team,” said Kitchener’s Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “The strength of our business case is the collaboration and commitment among our local governments and the private and

not-for-project sectors. Including Brampton more clearly emphasizes the importance and value of connecting regional economies.”

“I am excited to add Brampton’s voice and support to this critical infrastructure project and look forward to working with the consortium,” stated Brampton’s Mayor Linda Jeffrey, “Our 21st century economy needs 21st century transit and transportation solutions. The City of Brampton looks forward to working with the provincial government and our partners as we develop real and tangible transit and transportation solutions for the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) region and beyond.”

“Fast, efficient rail transit is critical for continuing to develop the economic potential of our communities,” said Waterloo’s Mayor Dave Jaworsky, “Investment in GO traiain services is key to helping local companies attract and retain talent to help them compete globally,”Mayor Dave added.

Partnering communities have come together in the pursuit of enhanced GO train service to increase the connectivity of their regional economies and to drive the attraction of talent, investment, and innovative companies, which the Innovation Supercluster Consortium details in their 2014 business case. The business case demonstrates that the majority of costs to build the system will be met from the potential $542 million in annual personal income taxes generated from increased economic activity. This business case will now be expanded to include information and data from Brampton.

“I’m encouraged that we will continue to work together to make it happen and want to send a strong message that despite changes in leadership, these communities continue to fully support this project,” said Guelph’s Mayor Cam Guthrie. “We’re pleased to see the positive steps taken towards this goal by Metrolinx and the Province,” he added.