We are advocates for more frequent, reliable & integrated transit networks for riders across Southern Ontario. 🚍🚊🚆🚇 🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/mtso
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line 6 finch west begins revenue service demonstration this saturday, the final stretch to opening. this process takes 30 days, meaning you can expect to ride the LRT in the 4th-5th week of october (barring any issues). so, line 6 is now officially ahead of line 5 to open. made that bet in 2022 🙃
Why is it so hard to get our regional transit agency to actually explain what is in the way of them providing desperately needed service like weekend trains to Kitchener or — in this case — express trains on Lakeshore East
Metrolinx claims that they can't reintroduce express trains on the Lakeshore East line since the 3rd track is out of service. That's a lie: most of the 3rd track is still in service and there's room for express trains ontariotrafficman.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/go-transit-lies-about-express-trains/
Can't wait for 15 min all day service on Lakeshore West. Counterpeak train is crammed to the gills and I had to stand from Burlington to Toronto.
Did you know that ION Stage One only had a 1.2% contingency ($10 million)? On ION Stage 2, contingency and cost escalation make up nearly 40% of the $4.3 billion price tag. Research has shown that high contingency and cost escalation are leading drivers of our insanely high construction costs
According to a 2023 document, this is the cost breakdown of the $4.3billion planned construction cost of the ION Stage 2 LRT. 56.4% Professional Services/Hard Costs 22.4% Cost Escalation 16.7% Contingency 4.5% Property Acquisition
Stage 2 ION LRT Initial Business Case results are out: The full LRT alignment has the highest ridership and economics benefits, but also the highest capital and operations costs. Presentation: pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
Thrilled to see the TTC recommend fare capping as part of the Ridership Growth Strategy, something that we have long called for as a common-sense solution to making transit more affordable! This would replace an expensive monthly pass, that you need to pay for upfront on the same day as your rent.
📣 We’re advocating for the extension of ION to Cambridge. Extending ION will spark economic opportunities, promote transit-oriented growth and provide a seamless trip from Kitchener and Waterloo. Share your thoughts in a survey or join a public engagement session at: www.engagewr.ca/stage2ION
The last major contract for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension was signed today. This contract is a progressive design build P3 and covers the stations, rails, and systems
Excellent article today in UrbanToronto regarding the King Street priority corridor. After 7 years of transit priority, the street remains unchanged, with no timeline for when improvements are coming. This is low hanging fruit and the city is failing big time. urbantoronto.ca/news/2025/08...
Technically it's the new hospital, the existing one should be staying put. Putting it so far from the ION station when there's land to put it closer makes no sense
Santiago de Chile has an ongoing expansion program for its metro that will add 75 (seventy-five!!) km to its network by 2033 for 7.3 billion USD. It's like adding more than a second métro of Montréal-worth for 50% more of the projected cost of adding 6km to the blue line.
Are you passionate about improving transit in your community? More Transit Southern Ontario (MTSO) is looking for City Leads to join our team! What you’ll do: 🏡 Engage with transit riders 📢 Advocate for better transit policies 💬 Lead impactful campaigns Learn more at moretransit.ca!
With some minor changes to how we design road networks, new North American suburbs can have very good bus networks. We wrote about Almere and the design decisions that make their busways possible here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/city-2...
Did you know that the Waterfront East LRT has predesignated land for its transit right of way at Ookwemin Minising? This proactive measure not only helps reduce costs for future construction of the LRT & can serve as a valuable lesson for projects throughout the province.
finch west LRT is currently being tested ahead of opening. like its counterpart, the eglinton crosstown, it's stuck behind left-turning traffic. note the transit signal showing red while lines of left turning cars advance. 40,000 people are projected to use this line daily when it opens.
Here are the full proposed changes, 10 and 11 year olds will continue to get discounted fares at $2 per ride. Senior monthly passes will also be significantly increasing, more than doubling from $49 to $108
senior monthly passes are doubling, and the senior single fare is increasing from $2.90 to $3.20
Horrible decision. Will result in less ridership, lower revenues, more driving and worse vehicle congestion (with all the corresponding costs and consequences). Either they don’t understand that, or they’re ok with all that.
It's vital that teens can get around efficiently, independently and affordably. This all stems from the underfunding of transit service. Many municipalities are strapped for cash, the province and feds need to give funding for operations and not just capital projects. 2/2
Ottawa is planning to scrap youth monthly passes as a result of funding issues. 11-19 year olds will now have to pay $4 per trip without any path to discount with monthly passes. Not only is this one of the most expensive adult fares in Ontario, it's the most expensive youth fare. 1/2
Metrolinx is ordering another 97 coach buses on top of the 80 it ordered earlier this year. www.mcicoach.com/mci-awarded-...
We believe it's best for Metrolinx to retain it's customer service in house, as it ensures that a quality of service can be maintained, and staff responding to customer complaints are familiar with our region and the GO network. 2/2
Earlier this month, Metrolinx laid off all their staff at the GO contact centre and outsourced it to a company with a contract valued at $28 million for an unspecified amount of time. The contractor was caught using AI to respond to customer concerns last week. 1/2 www.thestar.com/news/gta/met...
The year is 2025 and Metrolinx is still deciding whether it should run more frequent trains instead of longer trains like they run today.......
Coldplay isn't playing in Toronto anymore, but we've got some major inspiration to outline a few issues with transit in the region right now. #kisscam
📢 Arushi Nath, a high school student & MTSO member, delivered a moving deputation at Toronto’s Executive Committee. She spoke from experience about delays on the 511 Bathurst streetcar and called on the City to build RapidTO lanes on Dufferin & Bathurst: youtu.be/MChUy9uSYNc?...
As fans flood in stations after a late night concert, transit schedules are falling short of demand, in particular for northbound riders who needed to leave the concert early to catch their train. Article by Nick Westoll, CityNews: toronto.citynews.ca/2025/07/10/g...
Jonathan Lee, Co-Executive Director of More Transit Southern Ontario, joined CityNews to spotlight a growing concern: GO train service near Downsview Park Station isn’t keeping pace with the crowds heading to concerts at Rogers Stadium.
We explored this a bit more on CityNews today with insights from @femwriter.bsky.social, @moretransitso.bsky.social and Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec. All say there are lessons to be learned here. #Toronto #Ontario #GOTransit #TOpoli #ONpoli toronto.citynews.ca/2025/07/10/g...
Do you have footage at Rogers Stadium while taking transit (GO or TTC)? DM us or email moretransitso@gmail.com! Tell us your experience below. What do you think could be improved?👇 #rogersstadium #gotransit
tell the executive committee that you want transit lanes implemented immediately (and not watered down), and if you can sign up to speak on Wednesday July 16th! 2/2
Support for Dufferin and Bathurst transit lanes is overwhelming, so why is the city watering down proposals for these projects? 1/2
The Town of Halton Hills is undertaking a study to develop a Transit Implementation Plan for on-demand transit, conventional transit, and specialized transit services, over the next 10 years. Fill in the survey by Friday, July 18th, 2025: letstalkhaltonhills.ca/transit-impl...
In conclusion, we are happy with the updated proposal of this project. We want to see it approved and built along with the rest of the transit hub. You can view the full presentation slides from June 24th here: engageio.ca/sites/defaul... 8/8
In Vancouver, the development at 2488 granville, a 39 storey tower with office, retail, 226 residential units and an integrated transit entrance. It was approved in 2022 and is already nearing completion. Ahead of the opening of the broadway subway in 2027. 7/8
The benefit of building now is that transit riders won't need to deal with additional construction at the station after opening, we add housing units sooner (housing crisis), and the development has less chance of being compromised by future external conditions. 6/8
This approach may make some sense at sites such as Thorncliffe Park, where adequate rapid transit won't exist until the Ontario Line is complete. But this makes little sense for most TOC sites and especially Exhibition GO, which already has all day GO service. 5/8
However, we do have a major problem with this (as well as the rest of @InfraOntario's TOC proposals), and that is construction is only set to start after the Ontario Line is complete (post 2030). 4/8
The new proposal does this while maintaining the excellent integrated retail and dual entrances to the under construction Exhibition transit hub. Office space has been removed from the proposal due to less demand and more demand for housing. 3/8
We were critical of the original plans for this project, as we felt it was not dense enough given the site. Located at a major junction between Lakeshore GO trains, Ontario Line and streetcars. Other TOC sites from Infrastructure Ontario were denser with far less transit. 2/8
The Exhibition TOC has gotten denser, an updated proposal revealed in June changes the proposal to a max of 54 storeys and adds nearly 900 additional units from the original proposal next to one of the cities biggest transit hubs.🧵1/8
GO Transit extends far outside the GTA, covering an area with the population of Switzerland! And it could extend further! On top of improving frequency within the GTA we also need to improve speed on longer-distance services. Yet Metrolinx cancelled the track speed increases proposed by ONxpress.
Woodbine Racetrack is providing up to $170 million of private money to build the station. The total station cost (unfortunately as usual) remains unknown. 3/3
The station will also enable the closure of Etobicoke North GO station, which is currently in the way of adding additional tracks under highway 401/409 for more Kitchener/UP service. 2/3
A station at Woodbine GO is finally under construction. This station located at Woodbine racetrack will likely be a major transfer point between express, local, and trains to the airport once GO expansion is complete. 1/3
of the suburban underground Toronto Scarborough Subway Extension has ballooned to 765 million INT$/km this making the project one of the most expensive metro expansion projects on earth...
Toronto's Scarborough Subway Extension a 7.8 km long suburban metro project had its cost balloon from 5.5 billion to 10.2 billion CAD. This is incorrect as the former is only the cost of construction while the latter includes operating and maintaining the extension for 30 years....
According to Metrolinx's documents for their June 26th board meeting. It seems that the cost to deliver the Scarborough Subway Extension may have increased to $10.2 billion. A large increase from the $5.5 billion initial projected cost. This puts the project at $1.3 billion/km
Good news! The Eglinton Crosstown is one step closer to opening with operations being handed over to the TTC, who will operate the service. The line is expected to open in September
Doug Ford has recently stated that the Eglinton Crosstown is still on track to open in September and that he expects it will be handed off to the TTC in a few weeks. The LRT, which is now $1 billion overbudget, has suffered from countless delays with little communication from Metrolinx.
Point 2 is the mother of all problems in many Canadian transit projects: the scope is unclear and keeps moving And that's because there is a misunderstanding about what "planning" is for. It should be the process where you recognize the needs, devise scenarios that can meet these needs and pick one
Hopefully it's apart of the Spadina development which isn't getting built anytime soon and not something like CIBC Square.....
"Minimum Viable Product" might be the best unvoluntary embodiment of that side of Canadian culture which can be summarized in being "content with absolute mediocrity"
Where on the network is this an issue?
It's a depressing time in Toronto - a city that once had the continent's most ambitious city-building initiative. This transformation had 3 KEY PILLARS: 1. RapidTO 2. GO Expansion 3. Ontario Line Two pillars have been watered down beyond recognition - DEVASTATING for the region. Here's why: 1/🧵
We'll be producing and making a detailed Youtube video to hopefully release in the near future. Going into what was covered in this article as well as additional items (such as the trainshed fiasco). To raise as much awareness as possible to hopefully steer this project back in the right direction
It's unbelievable that over a decade after GO Expansion (then GO RER) was announced this attitude this exists among some Metrolinx staff. And it seems that people with this attitude are the ones driving the core decisions
A depressing but unsurprising story of the DB-Metrolinx divorce I don't know who needs to hear this, but if Canadian politicians want to improve in the fields where we aren't a frontrunner (e.g. transit ), they need to get rid of the current class of managers and their backward-looking culture
This is a must read article detailing what has been going on behind the scenes at the GO expansion project. Over the past few years, GO expansion plans have been significantly downscaled due to conflict between DB and Metrolinx and rising construction costs.
In our latest video, we're explaining what's remaining in order to open the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto, a long-delayed project that was originally supposed to open in 2021 (if you didn't know, we're 2025 right now): youtu.be/_uQ8BVxr7XY?...
Interesting! Is there a publicly available construction timeline for the station yet?
it’s always amazing to be shown alongside some of the top urbanist YouTube creators in Canada! 🇨🇦
Construction is starting for GO Transit’s Caledonia Station on the Barrie Line, which will connect to the soon-to-open Eglinton Crosstown/TTC Line 5.
York Region is looking for your input on the planned 6.3-kilometre Jane Street BRT corridor between Highway 7 and Major Mackenzie Drive. This corridor services 12,000 daily passenger trips and is projected to service over 20,500 daily passenger trips by 2035. Links in bio to give your input.
Are you looking for an advocacy group that is working on a regional scale in Ontario? Want to work with a grassroots organization? This is the perfect opportunity for you to join MTSO at its upcoming virtual meeting on June 13, 2025 at 6:00pm! Register using the link in the bio.
Good news! It appears that the Eglinton Crosstown could be opening within the next 3 months! www.cp24.com/news/2025/06...
It includes new service increases, restructured routes and the discontinuation of some routes. Link in bio. #yorkregion #yrt #mtso
LAST DAY: Share your feedback for the proposed changes to YRT facilities, services and routes in the 2026 Annual Transit Plan!
Do you travel or live along Bathurst or Dufferin St? Fill out the RapidTO surveys before May 26! Bathurst: www.toronto.ca/services-pay... Dufferin: www.toronto.ca/services-pay...
A major Astroturf effort is underway to fight the bus priority lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin Street in Toronto. The Bathurst website was registered by the CMO of grocer Summerhill Market, which has a location on Bathurst.
A lot of experienced people from this consortium is going to be leaving to find work elsewhere; likely a setback (undetermined as to the extent of it) for GO Expansion works.
As of yesterday contract with OOI (ONxpress) and CAD Rail terminated. Alstom seeking a 4-10 year extension now.
It appears the contract given to OnXpress Transportation Partners to operate and maintain GO Transit Rail service was terminated yesterday. OnXpress was originally supposed to take over operations from Alstom in January, that was then delayed to October 2025. Now the contract has been terminated.
The TTC is looking for your feedback on its bus, streetcar, and subway service to enhance service and as a part of a transit industry initiative in order to benchmark Toronto with other cities in North America and internationally. Tell the TTC what needs improving, use the QR code / link in our bio!
Also spoken about publicly for the first time yesterday: MX has been cornered into a “better” solution. EMUs running fully electric on the lakeshores using the new south platforms at Union (where there is no trainshed). Then hybrid BEMUs for discontinuous electrification on Kitchener-Stouffville.
View the new proposed route restructuring by the YRT 2026 Annual Transit Plan! Public consultation is ongoing online and in-person, link in the bio to learn more.
🚍🚈 Do you ride the bus or streetcar on Bathurst St? Give your support for priority transit lanes in order to speed up travel times & make transit reliable. On May 12th, join the virtual meeting happening at 6:30 pm today! Link in bio or scan the QR code.
So Toronto's GO regional rail should strive to be, at a minimum, as good in scale, coverage and service intensity of national railway networks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland or Austria (as in regional, suburban and urban mainline services). Metrolinx, you now have a target.
The Greater Golden Horseshoe has more people than countries like Austria and Switzerland which have excellent rail service. Metrolinx needs to keep this in mind while they execute the GO expansion project
Something to keep in mind when we talk about GO train service levels:
Share your feedback for the proposed changes to YRT facilities, services and routes in the 2026 Annual Transit Plan! Or join a public outreach event to speak with YRT staff and provide your feedback! You can do so between May 4 to June 1, 2025. Link in the bio.
Provide your feedback for York Region Transit’s Annual Transit Plan! It includes changes to schedules, routes and programs! You can do so online or join an open house this month! www.yrt.ca/en/about-us/...
ICYMI: Check out the service changes made in Durham as part of the 2025 Durham Region Budget! For more information, see all the updates at: durhamregiontransit.com/May2025
Until Stage 2 LRT comes to Cambridge (the current timeline seems very far out), transit priority measures like this are essential to providing fast & reliable transit in lieu of higher-order transit. The proposed 10 locations will benefit 13 routes, 13,166 daily passengers, and save 3 mins. (1/3)
Toronto is planning 7.1 km of priority transit lanes on Dufferin Street in order to reduce delays and improve reliability for transit riders! Give your feedback and support via the online survey or at the drop-in public meetings! Link in bio.
Toronto is planning 7.5 km of priority transit lanes on Bathurst Street in order to reduce delays and improve reliability for transit riders. Complete the online feedback survey by May 26 or attend one of the public consultation events with the link in our bio!
This project has been recognized as a top priority in Kitchener as far back as 2016. Expected to open in 2029, the Region also hopes to build affordable housing and mixed use development near the station. Community advocates are opposed to the eviction process happening on the site. #kitchener
What's happening with the Kitchener-Central Transit Hub? It will feature two platforms for GO trains and VIA Rail, an easier connection to ION, intercity buses, as well as local buses and bike share.
🧵 Let's talk about the Grand River Transit business plan! We'll be participating in next week's public input session on Wednesday, April 16, and maybe you should too! We'd like to see even more, but this is an ambitious plan with a lot to be excited about. Here's why:
Today is the public input session for GRT's ambitious business plan. @tritag.ca has a great article about all of the good, and what can be improved upon.
I've written an article on the extraordinary transit success of Brampton, how it was achieved, and the lessons it has for other suburban areas in North America. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Advocates give TTC station a makeover to spur city to fund new wayfinding system TTCriders says existing system has 'hodgepodge of signage' that needs updating www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
MTSO also urged the use of this system at all current and future TSP-equipped intersections and supported the implementation of independent transit signal phases at key intersections. #toronto #ttc #metrolinx #line5 #line6
Advocacy Update: In a letter to Toronto City Council’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee, we supported TTCriders’ campaign for full active transit signal priority on the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs.
Toronto currently doesn't allow their transit priority system to insert a transit phase for streetcars going straight, even though the system is able to. Streetcars need to wait for left turns. If the City also disallows phase insertion on LRT lines that would be an insult to ON taxpayers.
You can sign up to speak at the meeting, by emailing iec@toronto.ca to register to speak on item IE20.3. (Email info@ttcriders.ca for support with your speech). Link in the bio to send a letter or at ttcriders.ca/greenlight!
On April 9, Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee is meeting to discuss the 2025 Congestion Management Plan, including new transit signal infrastructure. Call in, speak up, and demand signal priority for transit. Riders deserve better.
