Milton Gets Funding for New Transit Operations Facility

By: Laura Steiner

Milton is getting a new Transit Operations Facility.  The project is a result of a partnership between all three levels of government.  The announcement was made this morning at a press conference with Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna.

“The new Transit Operations facility will transform public transit in Milton by increasing service reliability and safety through improved maintenance,” McKenna said.  The federal government will contribute $3.9 million through Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Plan.

The government of Ontario will provide $3.2 million.  Milton MPP Parm Gill was representing Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott.  “I am proud our government is taking such strong action to support this growth by investing $3.2 million into a transit operations’ facility that will give Milton residents a better, more reliable transit system,” Gill said.  The whole project is expected to cost approximately $39 million, and is expected to take a few years to complete.

The proposed facility when completed will house up to 70 vehicles.  It will be built using the latest in sustainable design practices.  “On behalf of the Town of Milton I want to thank our federal and provincial partners for investing in our community, ensuring Milton has the infrastructure required to meet the transit needs of our growing community,” Mayor Gord Krantz said.

A second pressing transit need is that of increased GO service.  “There is absolutely no doubt that we need more service,” Milton MPP Parm Gill said.  The Ontario PC government has started working on a parking lot on the south side of the station.  Gill says he’s had conversations with Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney about the issues.

McKenna is originally from Hamilton and appreciates the role of GO Transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA).  “The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is an opportunity to expand service here.”  The CIB is making $5 billion in funding available for public transit projects.

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