Proposed GO line for Caledon moved forward by Province

By Rob Paul

The Town of Caledon and City of Vaughan have received a commitment from Caroline Muloney, Ontario's Minister of Transportation that the proposed Caledon-Vaughan GO rail line is moving forward.

Metrolinx is now being directed to advance the business case for the project as the Region awaits the release of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan update. 

Both municipalities have long been working towards getting this project kick-started and are now one step closer to GO train service.

Caledon and Vaughan, with support from the City of Brampton, have been actively pursuing this vital regional link for years as they prepare for significant expected growth over the next three decades. 

“As a municipality projected to grow by 300,000 people and 125,000 jobs by 2051, advancing GO train service to Caledon now is smart, forward-looking planning,” said Mayor Allan Thompson. “It is a critical option for reducing traffic congestion on our roads, preserving Caledon's quality of life, and protecting our environment and greenspaces. We thank the Province and Metrolinx for taking this important next step.” 

A Caledon-Vaughan GO line would serve an area of approximately 1.3 million people, and the line would reach the region from Toronto to Caledon, Vaughan and Brampton. 

“The City of Vaughan strongly supports the business case for expanding GO service in Vaughan and Caledon through a Caledon-Vaughan GO rail line,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua of the City of Vaughan. “In Vaughan, this proposed transit option is located in the Vaughan Enterprise Zone, one of the largest employment areas in the GTA that encompasses more than 3,800 acres, or approximately 1,566 hectares of employment land. 

“The Vaughan Enterprise Zone is projected to accommodate 60,000 jobs over the next 20 years, making it a strategic location to expand the regional transportation network for the future. I am encouraged by the Province's and Metrolinx's commitment to working with our municipalities to continue exploring the economic and social benefits of the Caledon-Vaughan GO line.”

The need for commuter rail service between Caledon, Vaughan, and Toronto's Union Station has been identified and established through many studies, including the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (RTP-2008), MoveOntario 2020 and GO 2020 Strategic Plan as a desired service in the near-to-medium (15 years) timeline. 

“This is great news for our region, which is seeing tremendous growth,” City of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said. “Improved transit service is important for long-term growth and for healthy and livable communities. I was pleased to support the efforts of Mayor Thompson and Mayor Bevilacqua.”

In 2010, Metrolinx investigated and completed the Bolton (Caledon) Commuter Rail Service Feasibility Study, which reconfirmed the need for commuter GO rail service based on the growth in population and employment and high potential demand for rail ridership.