History
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What is the history behind this project?
The GO Train Lakeshore East extension through central Oshawa to Bowmanville is ready to GO!
2020
- February 20 - The Regional Chair, Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham and the Mayors of the City of Oshawa and Municipality of Clarington provide a joint statement after Metrolinx confirms GO Lakeshore East Extension decision.
- February 13, 2020 - The Regional Chair issued a statement with the Mayors of Oshawa, Clarington and Whitby.
- February 13, 2020 - Durham MPP Lindsey Park provided an update in Clarington on the Lakeshore East extension initial
business case and recommended route option that will be on the Metrolinx Board agenda for February 20, recommending option 2. This option proposes two new GO Stations in Oshawa along the Canadian Pacific rail line north of Highway 401 and the use of the existing rail bridge crossing over Highway 401 serving the General Motors spur line. If approved, option 2 will be advanced through the business case development process.
2019
- June 2019 - Metrolinx staff met twice with local and regional staff to discuss assumptions and data inputs to the development of a new initial business case assessing the four options.
- June 2019 – Regional Council approves a study to examine the potential land value uplift and transit-oriented development opportunities around the proposed station sites.
- May 21 and May 22, 2019 - Metrolinx Public Meetings held in two information centres in Clarington and Oshawa respectively to reveal the four options under consideration of the Lakeshore East GO rail extension.
- May 17, 2019 - the Regional Chair and CAO, Mayors and CAO’s of Oshawa, Clarington and Whitby met with Metrolinx officials and expressed that the original route, on the CP corridor north of Highway 401, remains the best route for our communities.
- May 2, 2019 - Metrolinx Open House, Abilities Centre, Whitby. Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster states that four options are now being considered for the Lakeshore East extension at a Town Hall meeting in Whitby. Metrolinx indicated it is reconsidering the routing options for the Lakeshore East GO rail extension, including south of Hwy 401. No date was given on the release of the options.
- April 8, 2019 - Metrolinx Board members tour the proposed GO Rail Lakeshore East route and station sites with the Regional Chair and Clarington, Oshawa and Whitby Mayors and hear a Regional presentation on the importance of the project. View the presentation
- April 5, 2019 - At a Transportation Summit held in Pickering by the joint Durham Boards of Trade, Minister Yurek responds to a question about the status of the Lakeshore East extension by saying that they are reviewing various proposals by Metrolinx and “that all options are on the table”.
- March 25, 2019 - Regional Chair Henry met with Minister of Transportation Jeff Yurek to discuss the Lakeshore East extension to Bowmanville
- February 2019 - a Metrolinx quarterly report to the Metrolinx Board on major capital project status included the Bowmanville extension as a project in the EA and design phase with an approved budget for capital construction of $550M (2014) and an in-service date of 2024. This report attributed the same “EA and Design phase” to the Kitchener line (budgeted at $2.25B in 2016) and the Niagara line ($160M in 2014).
- February 2019 - Regional representatives brief the Minister of Transportation on the Lakeshore East project in a delegation at the Ontario Good Roads Association conference
- February 16, 2019 - official opening of the Courtice Park N Ride by Lindsay Parks, MPP, Clarington.
- February 16, 2019 - date Metrolinx began operation of the Park N Ride in central Oshawa located on First Avenue, between Ritson Road South and Simcoe Street South.
- Metrolinx continues negotiations with CP Rail to advance infrastructure and service planning necessary to advance the 20km extension of the Lakeshore East GO line.
2018
- November 2018 – Metrolinx CEO, Phil Verster met with Durham Region, indicating that negotiations towards system-wide agreements with both C.N. and C.P. were underway in support of the various projects Metrolinx was undertaking across the G.T.H.A.
- Durham Region and local municipal Council pass and send resolutions in support of the extension to the Province and Metrolinx.
- June 7, 2018 Progressive Conservatives win provincial election. Party election platform includes the extension of the Lakeshore East GO Train through central Oshawa to Bowmanville.
Rebuilding Ontario
Ontario families deserve major infrastructure investments in both our biggest cities and our smallest towns. We can also do more to help other parts of Ontario get moving. Whether it is by investing in expanded broadband, increasing local infrastructure funding, or exploring highway expansion across the province. Ontario businesses, families and workers can all count on an Ontario that will move faster than ever before.
We will:
Deliver two-way, all-day GO service, including expansions to Bowmanville, Kitchener and completing the Niagara GO Expansion, and support regional transit projects in places such as Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga/Brampton, Kitchener-Waterloo and London.
- April 24, 2018 Metrolinx Public Meeting
- April 2018 – Metrolinx held public meetings in Oshawa and Bowmanville as part of the E.A. Addendum process for this rail corridor. The findings compiled by Stantec were published in August 2018.
- March 8, 2018 Metrolinx Board approved the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan. Expanding GO Train service in Durham Region builds upon planning work, and service and infrastructure improvements already underway through this Plan.
- During 2018 – Metrolinx project staff and Regional/local municipal staff met to discuss technical details of the project, such as co-ordination of road capital programs to support the LSE project.
2017
- October 2017 Technical Advisory, design, and construction support services contract awarded
- Notice of Commencement and Public Meetings GO Rail Network Electrification Transit Project Assessment Process
- Addendum to the 2011 Environmental Assessment commenced
2016
- February 11, 2016 meetings with Metrolinx staff
- April, 2016 Economic Impact Analysis released
- June 20, 2016 Premier announces the GO East extension through central Oshawa to Bowmanville by 2023/24.
2015
- April 30, August 17 and December 17, 2015 meetings with MTO Minister
- June 15, 2015, Oshawa City Council approves an Integrated Transportation Master Plan.
- October 26, 2015 meetings with Ontario Ministry of Transportation staff
- December 10, 2015 tour of GO east extension route and four station sites with Metrolinx and Ontario Ministry of Transportation staff
2014
- Metrolinx acquires the former Knob Hill Farms property for the proposed new central Oshawa GO Station.
2013
- Updated Big Move includes GO Train Lakeshore East extension and reflects Environmental Assessment route north of Hwy 401, the route best able to achieve the objectives of the Provincial Growth Plan.
2012
- Metrolinx unveils Next Wave of Big Move projects, including GO Train Lakeshore East extension to Bowmanville.
2011
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The Environmental Assessment for the extension was approved by the Province.
- Approved Environmental Assessment (E.A.) chooses CP line route north of Hwy 401 where key employment and housing is located. For a synopsis of the advantages and disadvantages which led to the approval of the CP line as the preferred route rather than along the CN line route south of Hwy 401, please view the attached table extracted from original E.A. now.
- Metrolinx acquires 10 acre parcel near proposed Thornton's Corners GO station site.
2010
- Regional Official Plan Amendment 128 (approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2013) confirms the alignment of the GO rail service on the north side of Hwy 401 as a key driver of Oshawa intensification and growth.
- Durham Learning and Business District (dLAB - a partnership of Durham College, the Ontario Technology University, Trent University Durham, River Oaks Group and Halloway Developments) is created based on an Environmental Assessment for the GO Train Lakeshore East extension and the positioning of the planned Thornton's Corners GO train station.
2008
- November 28, 2008, Metrolinx approves the Big Move, including GO train Lakeshore East extension to Bowmanville.