New plan to integrate GTA and Waterloo Region transit networks met with luke warm response
Posted Nov 29, 2017 08:33:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Region Board of Trade has put forward a new idea to integrate our transit network with the rest of the GTHA.
The plan calls for all public transit networks in the GTA, Hamilton are and Waterloo Region to be run by an organization called Superlinx.
According to a release from the TRBT the integration of 11 transit operation would create a more efficient robust transit system.
“Municipalities have significant state of good repair backlogs and a long list of unfunded transit priorities.” said Jan De Silva, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade.
“The Board’s proposal will take the pressure off municipalities while ensuring the Province has the authority to maximize its investments and get transit built.” Said De Silva
Local leaders have some reservations about the idea.
Waterloo Region Chair Ken Seiling says an additional layer of oversight would not help fulfil our most pressing goals.
“Our real concerns are with our rail linkages and GO Train linkages with Toronto and that’s already covered off by Metrolinx, we already have an organization that is doing that and working on that, so I don’t see how a super large body would advance that.” said Seiling.
Seiling says he is also concerned about local issues taking a back seat to Toronto issues, “I think there is a risk that the whole plan to build more subways in Toronto and some of the problems they have in the GTA would put at risk some of the issue we have to deal with.”
At this point the Superlinx is just a proposal and is not up for a vote.
