GO Transit commuters in Aurora will benefit from the $213 million in additional service improvements announced April 3 by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Part of a $500 million investment into GO services announced six weeks earlier, the Aurora project will improve service for commuters and help to get more cars off the road.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the GO-owned Yonge Street Bridge, located at the south end of Aurora and part of the Barrie rail corridor, will undergo extensive repair and rehabilitation. A total of $2.8 million in federal and provincial funds has been allocated for the project.

“The rehabilitation of the Yonge Street Bridge will not only improve a local landmark, but will improve GO service while preparing for any future increase in train travel down the road,” said Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown. “The end result is that we help the environment by getting more cars off our roads, and boost our economy with a much needed investment in our public transit infrastructure.” 

“Public transportation is an essential service for our region”, said Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges - Markham. “This announcement is great news for local commuters. Increasing reliability, and punctuality, are key factors in getting people on to GO thereby reducing congestion and helping the environment.”
“The Town of Aurora is pleased to see the federal and provincial governments help fund the rehabilitation of the railway bridge at the southern gateway to Aurora,” said Mayor Phyllis Morris. “This is good use of infrastructure dollars,” she added.

Today’s announcement builds upon the $249 million in federal and provincial funding previously announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty for expansion of GO Transit parking facilities across the Greater Toronto Area and the Hamilton area, bringing the total commitment to date to $462 million. The remainder of the joint Canada-Ontario commitment will be confirmed in the near future.