Need to ask Wynne why her 2014 election platform plan for 4 tracking the Milton corridor by 2021/22 die after the election.
This statement above provides me a good chance to talk about some media searches a few months ago on this topic. I was interested in the chronology and media coverage of "all-day, two-way" GO service and when and how the qualifier of "on lines we own" was used.
In some media reports, this was said: "Liberal: Regional Express Rail (electrification and two-way, all-day service on all GO lines within 10 years);" (
source) or "One aspect of the plan would see two-way, all-day GO train service every 15 minutes as opposed to the more recently instituted 30-minute intervals." (
source). Unfortunately, as best I can tell, the actual platform in PDF form is no longer available on OLP's website, or any of the other parties (correct me if I'm wrong). The Daily Bread Food Bank still has a reference
here but the link is dead. In the Strategy Corp
summary of the 2014 platforms, it only talks about $15B being spent.
The 2014 budget, which was released right before the campaign and OLP effectively ran on, said this on
page 47:
The government recognizes continued expansion towards two‐way, all‐day GO Transit rail service as a priority. GO Transit improvements on all corridors would include additional track, grade separations, improved signalling, station improvements and additional fleet, which are all building blocks towards two‐way, all‐day service. In addition, analysis is underway on a proposal to electrify the GO rail system to deliver service at intervals as frequent as 15 minutes.
The Big Move identifies additional GO service as critical to developing the regional rapid transit network, and all-day, two-way express rail service as part of the solution. The Province has asked Metrolinx to begin work immediately to examine opportunities to move GO service towards a regional express rail, providing fast and frequent electrified service on all corridors at intervals as frequent as 15 minutes. This would represent a game-changer in how people move about the region, and enhance ridership and efficiency on GO Transit and other projects that connect to the network as well.
The Province will work with Metrolinx and municipalities on how best to prioritize transit investments through the use of rigorous business‐case analyses. These analyses will help prioritize Next Wave projects that could be accommodated within the Province’s dedicated fund for the GTHA and provide the best value for Ontarians.
(I haven't checked to see or figure out if the version I've linked to above was changed after the election when the government had a majority to pass it. The document just says "2014").
It was only later in 2014, and after the election campaign, that the re-elected government, as best I can tell, added the qualifier "on lines we own" to the all-day, two-way, 15-min peak service level promise. So, I'm not sure if it was the case of the media being brief or the government/party not clarifying at the time. Without seeing the actual platform document it's hard to confirm how the media reported the promise. In a sense, we're both right. It does appear that there was talk of all-day, two way without specifying the restricts for Milton, Brampton, and Richmond Hill, but there's also no indication they specifically used the words in the platform of "Milton getting 4 tracks by 2021/2022". Unless someone can find an article/link/quote/primary source. Always happy to be corrected.
Here's a collection of media articles I could find from 2014. These are mostly in chronological order:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...plans-reveal-politics-and-paralysis-1.2656386
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...iberal-platform-officially-unveiled-1.2653612
https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...ut_no_new_taxes_vows_pc_leader_tim_hudak.html
http://www.cp24.com/news/2014-ontar...itches-plan-for-jobs-public-transit-1.1810039
https://www.thestar.com/news/ontari...grade_for_transit_from_pembina_institute.html
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tr...e_tight_says_metrolinx_ceo_bruce_mccuaig.html
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tr...sible_in_10_years_confirms_metrolinx_ceo.html
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20..._which_transit_choices_will_you_vote_for.html
www.pressreader.com/canada/waterloo-region-record/20140607/283068412375296
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tr...sible_in_10_years_confirms_metrolinx_ceo.html
https://www.pembina.org/reports/whos-ready-traffic-transit.pdf