Ontario Investing in Aurora GO Station

Province upgrading infrastructure to deliver two-way, all-day GO rail service to York Region

The Voice of Canada News:

The Ontario government is making critical infrastructure upgrades to Aurora GO Station, providing commuters with better service, more transit connections and future two-way, all-day service between Aurora GO Station and Union Station in Toronto.

“York Region is growing rapidly and every day more families, businesses and commuters are choosing GO transit to get to their destinations,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “The improvements to Aurora GO Station are just another example of how our government is delivering on its plan to bring more GO train trips, more often to communities across the entire GO network.”

“The ongoing work on the GO Transit system is delivering meaningful improvements for public transit users by increasing service and accessibility,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “With ridership growing, better public transit makes sense – making it easier for more people to travel within and between communities safely and with fewer emissions. Work commencing on the Aurora GO Station demonstrates the progress the Government of Canada and its partners are making towards building clean, interconnected, vibrant communities.”

Infrastructure upgrades at Aurora GO Station will include a new second platform and track, a new pedestrian tunnel with elevators, additional parking spaces and rail signal upgrades. Once complete, the new station will improve accessibility for customers and support Ontario’s plans for 15-minute two-way, all-day service on the Barrie Line, better serving communities like Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket.

“Along with our partners, the Ontario government is delivering a fast, frequent and reliable transit network to keep Ontario moving for generations to come,” said Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation. “Station upgrades at Aurora GO Station will help meet the transit demands of local communities while fighting gridlock and reducing emissions.”

The Aurora GO Station modernization project is part of the broader GO Expansion program on the Barrie Line and is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada.

Quick Facts

• By 2041, the Aurora GO Station is expected to serve over 5,000 commuters per day.
• First built in 1853, the Aurora GO Station was designated a provincial heritage building in 1971 and a federal heritage railway station in 1990.
• GO rail will become one of the busiest railways in North America, with more than 200 million annual riders by 2055.

Quotes

“Upgrading and expanding the GO Transit Regional Express is an important way that the Government of Canada is growing the economy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting affordable costs of living in the Greater Toronto Area. Breaking ground at the historic Aurora GO Station is an exciting step towards improved transit services.”– Leah Taylor Roy, Member of Parliament for Aurora–Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill

“Our government is pleased to be delivering major upgrades at Aurora GO. The new and improved station will accommodate the growing number of people calling York Region home while connecting more people to jobs and housing across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. These upgrades will be a game-changer for residents and the local economy.”– Michael Parsa, Member of Provincial Parliament, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill

“This investment is great news for York Region! Once complete, upgrades to Aurora GO will better connect people to jobs, families, and nearby communities.”-Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, York Region

“Communities in Aurora and across York Region are thrilled to see the Ontario government and its partners investing in critical infrastructure upgrades at Aurora GO Station, which has been an important part of our town for over 160 years. These investments will ensure that our growing communities are well-served by their public transit system for generations to come and continue to encourage even more people to rely on public transit to get where they need to go.”– Tom Mrakas, Mayor, Town of Aurora

“The upgrades at Aurora GO Station will help bring more GO service to York Region, providing residents with more connections and better service that meets the demands of the growing population. The new second platform, second track, new pedestrian tunnel and elevators are part of GO Expansion and will enable future service every 15 minutes or better, in both directions, all day, to take customers where they need to go, seven days a week.”– Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx