City Prioritizes Transit to Position Mississauga for Future Growth

Today, Council provided their endorsement for Mississauga’s top priority rapid transit projects. During last week’s General Committee, staff presented a report on the Transit Initiatives and Priorities for the City of Mississauga and gave an update on transportation initiatives currently underway.

Identified as the City’s top priority rapid transit projects were the:

• Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project – the City’s top transformational project that includes $1.4 billion in funding from the Government of Ontario and will see 20 kilometres of fast, reliable, rapid transit along the Hurontario corridor.
• Downtown Transitway Connection and Terminal – focus on planning and functional design for a dedicated facility through Mississauga’s downtown section with linkages to the existing City Centre Transit Terminal and the GO Transit City Centre operations.
• Regional Express Rail Milton Corridor and Implementing the Missing Link – continue to seek funding from the federal and provincial governments for the provision of two-way, all day GO service and the relocation of heavy freight along the Milton corridor.
• Regional Express Rail Lakeshore West and Kitchener GO Corridors – continue to provide staff support to the Government of Ontario for the provision of two-way, all day GO service along the Lakeshore West and Kitchener GO corridors.

“Mississauga is a city committed to building transit and investing in our future,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “We know that in order to build a 21st century city, we need to be able to move people and goods efficiently and effectively. These transit initiatives and priorities will help ensure residents, visitors and commuters have access to improved regionally-integrated public transit.”

In addition to highlighting Mississauga’s transportation projects and priorities, the report also provided an overview of provincial, regional and Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) transit initiatives.

“Mississauga is experiencing a turning point in the development of its transportation system from reliance on a road network that is largely built out, to establishing more sustainable ways to move people in the form of transit, cycling and walking,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works. “The transit priorities endorsed by Council focus around high-growth locations like Mississauga’s downtown, along the Hurontario corridor and around the waterfront where we’re able to make key connections with other transit operators.”

Wright further explained that in addition to current transportation and transit projects underway, the City is also undertaking its first Transportation Master Plan to shape the city’s transportation system now until 2041; laying out the City’s long-range strategy for investment in and stewardship of transportation services and infrastructure.

“From a financial planning perspective, it’s important to have our transit and transportation priorities identified,” said Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. “This allows us to effectively plan and allocate resources in our capital budget and throughout our budget and business planning process. It also puts the City in a better position to take advantage of transportation and transit infrastructure funding programs when they come forward from other levels of government.”

For more information on the City’s transit initiatives and priorities, visit: Building Transit in Mississauga.