Hazel McCallion line to be extended to Brampton GO station Brian, January 23, 2024January 23, 2024 The Ford government has agreed to expand the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit (LRT) into downtown Mississauga and Brampton. Previously they made cuts to the project in recent years. The province’s move follows criticism over delays in other Metrolinx projects, including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Mississauga Ward 7 councillor Dipika Damerla called it a “game changer” for the Peel Region cities. “The decision to remove the loop was short-sighted and had effectively sterilized Mississauga’s downtown. Putting the loop back will put a spring back in Mississauga’s step. This means that downtown Mississauga residents can get around our city more easily without a car,” said Damerla. A committee of Brampton City Council heard an update on Wednesday on two options to extend LRT service from Steeles Avenue to the Brampton GO station – an above-ground option, or a hybrid surface and tunnel route. While the cost of the tunnel has ballooned to more than twice the cost of the above-ground option, the city says the tunnel is the best way forward. Brampton could get a larger share of funding dollars from the province and Ottawa based on ridership. The cost of the tunnel has gone from $1.7 billion to at least $2.8 billion now. The above ground route is estimated to cost around $933 million. Transit ridership in Brampton saw a huge increase of 160 per cent between 2009 and 2019. The city says there has been a 30 per cent rider recovery since the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. Extending the LRT will allow buses to be freed up. Those can be moved to busier routes. Also, there will be several routes that will be changed to serve the LRT. The LRT once operating to downtown Brampton will connect to GO at multiple spots. The Kitchener Line at Brampton station, the Milton line at Cooksville GO and the Lakeshore line at Port Credit. As well as numerous GO Bus connections at Square One. Another important step on the construction is the extension of the downtown Mississauga loop, that would go around Square One and connect to Seneca college, and city hall. There are all sorts of residential towers around the loop as well. Hopefully this all can happen without causing delays to the existing construction. My hope is that they can open the main line then continue to build these extensions without delays. Read more here and here Related News Ontario BramptonHazel McCallion LRT