For Immediate Release | Check Against Delivery
April 21st, 2015
Hurontario-Main LRT to Receive Full Provincial Funding: Crombie
The following are remarks by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie following today’s announcement that that the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan will receive full provincial funding amounting to $1.6 billion. The announcement was made by Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca.
“I want to thank our provincial partners who are with us for today’s important announcement including Minister of Finance Charles Sousa; Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca; Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig; along with Associate Minister Dipika Damerla; Amrit Mangat MPP for Mississauga-Brampton South; and Bob Delaney MPP for Mississauga-Streetsville.
“I applaud Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government’s brave, bold decisions to enable us to build modern transit and infrastructure; and the Premier’s steadfast commitment to create jobs and grow the economy.
“Finally, I would like to recognize Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey, my colleague on Peel Council; Members of Mississauga Council, including Jim Tovey; Karen Ras; Nando Iannicca; Matt Mahoney; and our City’s Corporate Leadership Team, who are in attendance.
“Today’s announcement that the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit plan is getting the green light and receiving full provincial funding amounting to $1.6 billion – is a game changer for Mississauga’s promising future.
“The LRT will transform how our world-class city moves, grows, and thrives. It is truly transformational for our City.
“This new integrated transit plan will create jobs; generate new economic development opportunities; and better position our local economy.
“As we look to the future, some of the most pressing priorities facing Mississauga have to do with how we move people; goods; services; and ideas; and how we further grow and develop to meet the needs of new business, residential, and commercial investments.
“To give you a better idea of where Mississauga is headed, we have a $40 billion GDP and are home to 60,000 businesses.
“In 2014, the City issued over one billion dollars in building permits. That’s a 15 percent increase from the year before.
“Put simply, Mississauga is in demand. And we’ve only just begun.
“Over the next two decades, the Region of Peel will need to accommodate over 300,000 people and approximately 150,000 jobs, much of which will be in Mississauga and Brampton.
“Nearly a quarter of that growth is expected to live in the area immediately surrounding the Hurontario-Main corridor.
“We are planning new and important intensified developments, consistent with the planning and growth requirements for Mississauga, in the Province’s Places to Grow Act.
“But these development plans would not be possible without today’s full funding announcement for the LRT.
“The 23 kilometer LRT – with 26 different stops – will connect residents from the Port Credit GO Train Station in Minister Sousa’s Mississauga South constituency into the Cooksville GO Train Station, located in Associate Minister Damerla’s riding.
“It will have three stops within Mississauga’s City Centre and unleash the potential of our downtown core, allowing us to press ahead with our Downtown21 Master Plan.
“The LRT will be linked to our MiWay Bus Rapid Transit System here at the Square One Transit Terminal; it will result in a more seamless travel experience for students to get to class at Sheridan College’s Pilon School of Business; enjoy a community festival at our Celebration Square; take in a memorable performance at the Living Arts Centre and shop for premium brands at the Square One Shopping Centre.
“The LRT will then head north connecting neighbourhoods throughout Mississauga and into Brampton. It will become the north-south spine of a regionally integrated transit system.
“Years of commitment led to today’s tremendous announcement. I would like to single out my predecessor, Hazel McCallion, for being one of the strongest and most persistent voices to move the LRT forward.
“Mississauga has already funded $15.4 million toward planning studies; an environmental assessment; and preliminary design work.
“Our 10 year capital plan includes a total of $25 million to help get shovels in the ground and work underway.
“From the moment I was sworn in, I worked with Council and our CAO Janice Baker, to meet with Premier Wynne, Minister Del Duca, and Minister Sousa, among others.
“At every turn we pressed the case about the importance of funding Mississauga’s leading transit priority.
“Metrolinx identified the Mississauga LRT as a leading rapid transit priority for investment and we have always maintained one of the strongest business cases of any of The Big Move projects.
“Council ensured the LRT was at the heart of our 2015 pre-budget submission to the provincial government.
“I applaud all Members of Council and the team of professionals from the City of Mississauga, who have worked for years to secure funding for what is the largest infrastructure project in Mississauga history.
“The Hurontario-Main LRT is an important example of governments partnering to achieve real, positive, and lasting results.
“Thank you, everyone, for your unwavering dedication to help build Ontario’s third largest city into a more dynamic place to raise a family; earn an education and develop new skills; find a good-paying job; start a business; and achieve unrivalled success.
“Working together, we will build a stronger, more promising future for the people of Mississauga. Today we write the next chapter of our shared history. Thank you.”
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