Niagara Region GO Train Expansion Project

Project By: Alice Lin, Jasmine Joy

*Project Value: $31,873

*For educational purposes only

The Niagara Region GO Train Expansion Project is a project that Geospatial Niagara facilitated between Richard Quodomine of Local Point Technologies & Consulting Ltd. and the Niagara College GIS/Geospatial Management Program.

The  primary  issue  that  is  the  fundamental  basis  for  carrying  out  this project is  that  there  are currently inadequate direct  public transit services between Hamilton and Niagara regions. However, there is a lot of potential for GO Transit to meet the needs of many frequent travellers/users/commuters to the region (i.e. working professionals and students) that finds it difficult to travel to and from the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) to Niagara region without a vehicle. Furthermore, there is also a great economic opportunity for GO Transit to capitalize on the tourism industry in the Niagara region (a key economic sector) and can even provide a more cost effective alternative to VIA rail for frequent riders (especially through reduced rates with the Presto Card).

The goal of this project is to determine the ridership potential between the GTHA and Niagara region, and to further identify the return-on-investment for increasing no-build route alternatives (i.e. utilizing existing rail tracks and determining new bus routes) servicing between those regions. The possibilities of implementing this project will improve the business environment by inviting and attracting more prospects for economic growth and development into this region. On achieving this goal, the government (and Metrolinx) can provide the appropriate services to link communities between the GTHA and the Niagara regions (for those without a vehicle). It will also alleviate traffic congestions on the QEW thereby reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable environment.