Opening of the Pickering GO Station parking structure - Over 3,600 parking spaces now available

PICKERING, ON, March 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Corneliu Chisu, Member of Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough East; Tracy MacCharles, Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough East; and Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx president and CEO, announced the opening of the new parking structure at Pickering GO station this week. This new parking expansion will make it easier, safer and more convenient for commuters to take public transit.

The new multi-level parking structure has over 1,200 new parking spaces, meaning there are now more than 3,600 parking spots to accommodate nearly 9,000 customer trips to and from the station each day.

It will also provide easy access to the new pedestrian bridge across Highway 401, as well as a covered walkway to the station building.

The total cost of the parking expansion project is $47 million. The Governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing up to $18.25 million, through the GO Transit Improvement Program, a $500-million joint investment announced by the federal and provincial governments. The GO Transit Improvement Program is funded through the Government of Canada's Building Canada Fund. The Government of Ontario is contributing the remaining amount through Metrolinx.

Quick Facts

• There will be 33 barrier-free parking spaces on the ground level of the parking structure.
  
  
• The new parking structure will feature two future electric vehicle charging units.
  
  
• Eco-friendly features include high-efficiency LED lighting, daylight sensors, landscaping that will require minimal amounts of water and a 'white' roof, designed to reflect the sun's energy to reduce the facility's temperature.

Quotes

"Our government is proud to invest in projects that create jobs, stimulate economic growth and improve public transit options for Canadians. The parking expansion at the Pickering GO Station will help reduce local traffic congestion and provide area residents with better access to public transit which, in turn, will cut commute times."
Corneliu Chisu,
Member of Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough East

"Adding more parking spaces at the Pickering GO station will encourage more commuters to take public transit to get to work, school or appointments. The Ontario government's investments are making public transit a better choice, by reducing congestion on our roads and contributing to a better quality of life for Ontario families."
Tracy MacCharles,
Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough East

"By adding 1,200 parking spots at the Pickering GO Station, Metrolinx is making it easier for people to take the GO train and get to their destinations safely and quickly."
Bruce McCuaig
President and CEO, Metrolinx

Associated Links

Canada's Economic Action Plan focuses on creating new opportunities for jobs and growth, and ensuring long-term prosperity for Canadians. Strengthening infrastructure across the country is an important part of this plan. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership, and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery, with more than 965,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Find out more about the opportunities in the Economic Action Plan 2014 at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2014/home-accueil-eng.html.

These investments also support Building Together, the Government of Ontario's long-term plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, Ontario has invested approximately $85 billion in infrastructure, which has created and preserved an average of nearly 100,000 jobs each year. For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.

GO Transit is Metrolinx's regional public transit system linking Toronto with the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, has developed a 25-year, integrated, regional transportation plan, The Big Move, which identifies Durham Region as an area where the population will grow by over 50 per cent by 2031 and that will require infrastructure investments. GO currently carries about 65 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services that spans more than 11,000 square kilometres. For more information on Metrolinx, The Big Move or GO Transit, visit www.metrolinx.com.

SOURCE: Transport Canada

Michèle-Jamali Paquette
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs
and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Ottawa
613-943-1838

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Patrick Searle
Minister's Office
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1815

Bob Nichols
Communications
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1158

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.