Mississauga identifies six priority transit projects

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Mississauga council has endorsed six priority transit projects that they say will break gridlock and ease congestion. All levels of government will play a role to play in making these projects a reality.

“Our goal is to get Mississauga moving and to give people an option other than the car,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

“The priority transit projects we have identified will connect our communities from the Airport Corporate Centre to our downtown core to the city’s waterfront, and to our neighbours to the east and west. These rapid transit lines will spur growth and development in our city, create jobs and service essential businesses, and allow us to achieve our goal of building complete, healthy communities.”

Mississauga is calling on the federal and provincial levels of government to work together to build these critical projects:

Lakeshore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

• The Lakeshore BRT project will be designed to connect the communities of Lakeview, Port Credit and Clarkson over the next 25 years, as meet mobility needs of those living and working on the Lakeshore Corridor.
• Environmental assessment studies are needed for a two-kilometre stretch of centre-running bus rapid transit lanes on Lakeshore Road between Etobicoke Creek and East Avenue and a new active transportation bridge crossing the Credit River north of Lakeshore Road.
• The federal and provincial governments have announced funding for construction of the first section of the Lakeshore BRT through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan (ICIP) – Public Transit stream.

Dundas Bus Rapid Transit

• The Dundas BRT will connect the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (HuLRT) and the Milton GO line.
• The city and Metrolinx are working together to obtain environmental assessment approvals through the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the Dundas Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, a 48 kilometre stretch along Dundas Street from Highway 6 in Hamilton to the Kipling Transit Hub in Toronto, approximately 17 kilometres in Mississauga.
• Metrolinx is in the process of securing funding to move to the next phase of study which is the preparation of a Preliminary Design Business Case.

Downtown Mississauga Terminal and Transitway Connection

• The Downtown Mississauga Terminal and Transitway Connection (DMTTC) connects the existing Mississauga Transitway along Rathburn Road/Centre View Drive through the City’s downtown core, with a terminal that serves both MiWay and GO Transit. When complete, the terminal will serve four modes of transit.
• It’s a critical element for the HuLRT and supports future growth in the downtown. The c city and Metrolinx have been working together to come to an understanding on a vision for the terminal that would integrate with the HuLRT, and commercial development directly above and/or adjacent to the proposed terminal site.
• Metrolinx is in the process of securing funding to move to the next phase of study, preparation of a Preliminary Design Business Case.

Extension of the Eglinton Crosstown West (ECWE) Light Rail Transit (LRT)

• The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is a key priority to serve the Airport Corporate Centre – the second largest cluster of employment in the Greater Toronto Area, and connect to Toronto Pearson Airport.
• Metrolinx is undertaking the ECWE project to extend the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit corridor from Mount Dennis Station in Toronto to the Renforth Transitway Station in Mississauga, with a planned connection to Toronto Pearson Airport and proposed station in the Airport Corporate Centre.
• This project is being delivered through Infrastructure Ontario’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) model.

Milton GO Rail Corridor

• The Milton Corridor is the third busiest in the GO network, serving over 7 million passengers each year. Council and staff will continue to advocate for increased service along the Milton GO line and provide Council with updates. The revised business case is available. Investing in the Milton GO Line Bringing All-Day, Two-Way GO Service.
• In August 2021, the federal government committed to funding for expanding the Milton GO service to all day, two way. There has been no commitment from the provincial government to date.

Hurontario LRT Downtown LRT Loop

• In March 2019, the Ontario government announced scope changes to the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (HuLRT) project that removed a key component – the Downtown loop. The Downtown LRT loop was proposed to circle around the downtown core, to support projected residential and employment growth over the next 30 years.
• Council says the “higher order transit” in downtown Mississauga is critical to providing multi-modal transportation options to, from and around the area, in supporting growth and addressing traffic congestion.
• The city is advocating to the federal and provincial governments for funding for the Downtown LRT loop.

“Transit is an important component of our Transportation Master Plan that helps shape Mississauga’s transportation system. We are being strategic, moving forward with the right projects for growing a multi-modal transportation system that offers safe and efficient ways to move around the City and connect with other destinations,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works.

“With our transit priorities identified, we can focus on our financial planning and readiness should programs, resources or funding become available from other levels of government,” said Shari Lichterman, commissioner of corporate services and CFO.

“Understanding, identifying and confirming our transit-related priorities allows us the insight we need when reviewing our capital budget where there are many competing priorities and limited municipal resources to fund them.”

For more information: 2021 Update Transit Initiatives and Priorities