BarrieToday received the following statement from Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, which is in response to an earlier statement from PC Critic Michael Harris in regards to the potential Go Transit fare hike.
Del Duca's full statement follows.
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It is fascinating that MPP Michael Harris is commenting on our plan to deliver much needed transit when the Ontario Conservatives, under the leadership of Patrick Brown, have made it absolutely clear that they have no plan to keep Ontario moving. What we do know is that if a project takes longer than 4 years, Patrick Brown’s PCs wouldn’t even consider doing it.
Let me be clear: that means no transformation of our GO rail network through our GO Regional Express Rail under the leadership of Patrick Brown.
While the PCs have no plan, our Liberal Government is dramatically increasing service across our GO Transit network to get you home, to school or to work faster than ever before. By 2024/25, we will have increased the number of weekly trips from approximately 1,500 trips to nearly 6,000.
In the meantime, we are continually finding new ways to increase service for commuters. We have already taken strong action to enhance GO service, including:
- New weekend and holiday GO Train service on the Barrie Line;
- Hourly midday and evening weekday service on the Stouffville Line;
- Extended service on both the Lakeshore West and Richmond Hill Lines;
- Two new completed GO Stations – Gormley and West Harbour; and
- Hourly midday weekday service on the Kitchener Line, which is directly benefiting the Member’s own community.
In order to provide enhanced and more efficient service, Metrolinx is proceeding with a modest 3% fare increase. This will not apply to the lowest level fares, below $5.65, offered across the system for one- and two-stop trips.
We will continue to add even more services in 2018 to respond to growing customer demand for both rail and bus services.
Transit affordability remains a top priority for our government. That is why we will continue to ensure a proper balance between meeting the real and growing need for enhanced service, while also making sure transit still provides an affordable option for commuters.
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