Raise the Hammer

Hey, we're one step ahead of the game in Hamilton! Our GO station already has mixed use urban infill whatever all around it! Now if we could get Oakville quality service?

This sounds good but isn't the whole point of the go system to get people to drop their cars off at the stations so that they take the train instead of driving all the way into TO?

Unfortunately, that has been the primary function of the GO system - getting people in and out of Union Station most of which have to drive to the station.

Areas outside central Toronto with job growth remain inaccessible and local transit that feeds the GO stations is underused and infrequent.

Plans for the next 20 years focus on an overall transportation system beyond park and ride commuter travel.

It was the flow of workers in and out of TO that made the GO what it is today. Growth around the Toronto area proved too much for the one-person-one-car transportation system of the day and they knew they could not satisfy demand by building more lanes.

Where roads and cars fell short, trains took over. This happened first in the main corridors into Toronto in rush hour, and it will happen for regional travel in general. The Lakeshore East and West lines are already served every hour, from 4:30 am to midnight, in both directions. All GO rail lines will eventually have this level of service.

This doesn't mean no more parking at Oakville. It means space-efficient parking structures and perhaps the end to free parking, while giving people a chance to live somewhere where they can walk to catch the train. It might mean the end of FREE parking at Oakville.

I wondered the same thing when I read the article - what about all the cars!

I'm assuming a parking structure of some kind will be built, but I would expect this to provide less parking (I don't know for sure).

What is clear is that GO is using prime space for parking. Huge flat lots are an inefficient use of land. (Same applies to downtown Hamilton, although admittedly the land isn't worth as much (yet))

My friend commutes from Oakville and has an excellent bus service from his front door. It takes about 2 or 3 mins longer than driving for a 7-10 min drive. And it costs something ridiculous like 50c.

He doesn't always use it though because a. he is always in a rush, b. the parking is free and c. the car is more comfortable. As with all balanced transportation initiatives if the government wants to get us out of our cars they have to provide a viable alternative but, they also have to make it hard enough to drive to discourage us! I'm not sure what the push was for this development but it's very welcome.

Let's hope the TTC starts using it's land more efficiently too.

why not put a go station at the new centre mall with the price of fuel and the lack of parking downtown it just seems like the most sensible place to put a station

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