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Hamilton getting $5.5 million for transit from province
Cash will buy six diesel-electric buses for Upper James corridor

December 12, 2007
By Robert Benzie
Torstar news service
The Ontario government will announce at least $400 million in new transit funding Thursday, including $100 million for the fledgling regional Metrolinx system, sources told the Star.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will table his fall economic statement Thursday afternoon in the Legislature, where he will announce a cash infusion for public transit.
Hamilton stands to receive $5.5 million to pay for six new articulated diesel-electric hybrid buses for the city’s Upper James corridor. Those will help commuters on routes in and around Hamilton International Airport, Mohawk College and the downtown GO terminal.
Duncan will also disclose that $300 million will be earmarked in "state of good repair" funding for transit systems across Ontario, including the TTC.
That much-needed maintenance money will go toward fixing tracks, signals, and switches, and is the first trickle of the $17.5 billion touted for GTA transit in the Liberals' Move Ontario 2020 plan for the next decade.
In addition to that, $100 million will go toward Metrolinx -- known until last week as the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority -- for regional transit.
Metrolinx is aiming for a seamless transportation network through Toronto, Durham, York, Peel, Halton, and Hamilton.
As a boost to the new transit authority, the province will give $60 million to GO Transit to expand the rail fleet with 20 double-decker passenger coaches for the busy Lakeshore corridor, which should alleviate the morning and evening rush hours.
There will be $9 million for 10 new double-decker commuter buses to improve service on the Highways 407-403 corridor, and to York University.
Sources say that is "a precursor to future Highway 407 east-west bus rapid transit."
There will also be $20 million for new passing-track sections for the fast-growing GO lines to Bradford and Stouffville. These will provide all-day, two-way train service between Toronto and Markham and Toronto and Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.
As well, there will be $5.6 million for new platforms at Markham's Cornell transit terminal to integrate the VIVA system with GO, York Region Transit and Durham Region Transit.
"(That's) to create a new gateway to Durham region and the future Seaton urban community," a source said.
The new money comes just two days after Auditor General Jim McCarter castigated GO Transit in his annual report to the Legislature for poor planning.
On Tuesday, McCarter lamented the regional transit system's lack of financial resources and warned service is fast deteriorating.
While Duncan declined to discuss specific initiatives in today's statement, he hinted to reporters yesterday that Ontarians would welcome what he has to say.
"Of course I think it's a very good statement. I feel confident that it will be well received and I look forward to delivering the statement," the treasurer said.
Duncan acknowledged the sputtering U.S. economy, the high Canadian dollar, and soaring energy prices are taking a toll on Ontario's manufacturing sector.
But he refused to say what, if any, measures the government would have to help industry.
Progressive Conservative MPP Bob Runciman (Leeds-Grenville), his party's acting leader in the House, said he is worried the Liberals lack a plan to deal with the "crisis" in manufacturing.
"Hopefully it's not going to be more of this ‘Don't worry, be happy' stuff and talking about one specific sector," said Runciman, referring to the government's preoccupation with automotive manufacturing while ignoring other industries.
"We're looking for relief on the taxation side, we're looking for support in terms of human resources, the regulatory burdens, as well," he said.
NDP Leader Howard Hampton expressed concerns that Premier Dalton McGuinty's recently re-elected administration lacks a plan for an economy that could be on the cusp of challenging times.
"The bad news continues. We've lost almost 200,000 manufacturing jobs in the last three years. This is devastating whole regions of the province," said Hampton.
"So far there's no response from the McGuinty government other than `blame Ottawa.'"