A proposal to beef up passenger rail service between Cambridge and Milton is back on the books.
On May 21, Puslinch councillors reviewed information on the Cambridge to Milton Passenger Rail Business Case and Implementation Strategy prepared by Dillon Consulting and Hatch Mott MacDonald.
The study included new service options and the potential for new stations and development in the surrounding area. It also included an initial change of bumping up the four peak period trains to seven (possibly eight) in 2031.
In addition, plans are recommended to construct four new stations in Cambridge East and Central, Puslinch and Campbellville.
The move would require $110 million for infrastructure improvements (based on 2009 figures and subject to Canadian Pacific Railway negotiations).
Councillor Susan Fielding said most of the information presented to council appeared the same as a previous proposal.
CAO Karen Landry explained the information was sent to council as background, and a continuation of the previous proposal.
Fielding commented it was interesting to note where new stations are being proposed.
Councillor Wayne Stokley commented that the information received suggested a current report would be completed this June. The information before council that night remained preliminary.
Stokley asked if the passenger train discussion was still on track, or in limbo.
Landry suspected the timing will shift to the latter part of this summer for the report’s completion.
“I’ve requested that Cambridge let us know when they intend to host a meeting. At this time they haven’t provided me with a date,” said Landry.
Mayor Dennis Lever said the current Minister of Transportation Glen Murray “has made a number of comments on the importance of GO Trains … with the (upcoming) election, we’ll see how this goes.”
