DonValleyRainbow
Senior Member
I think its reasonable because the vast vast majority of GO train passengers drive to the GO station. The only time that parking fees make sense is when there is not enough parking for everyone (such as Finch Station).
The upside of "rewarding" people who get to the station by other means is not worth the penalty of charging almost everyone else a parking rate (which will probably add another $40-$80 to the monthly rate of a GO train passenger) and giving someone an excuse to simply drive downtown.
Just because a majority of GO train passengers drive, does not mean that's reasonable. The status quo is not justification for the status quo.
And there are stations where there parking is becoming overloaded. To date, GO's response has been snapping up nearby pieces of land and creating more lots and structures. This is not an efficient use of this land and it does not promote densification around rapid transit.
The reality is parking is becoming a large capital cost for GO. If fares could be adjusted (lowered) with the uncoupling of parking capital costs from other costs, and the buck for parking passed on only to those who use it, I'm all for it. These carrots and sticks are what drive better development, to a point where driving to a GO station is actually a less preferable choice.
EDIT: I'd add that it was a specific recommendation (12-4) in the Drummond Report.
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