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| back to previous page |
March 28, 2003 |
RAC Press Release |
| RAC Lauds GO Transit Expansion | |
| Bill Rowat, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, said today’s announcement by government to improve and expand GO Transit’s commuter services in the Greater Toronto Area is the best single piece of news since the service started 36 years ago. The $1.2 billion investment is expected to be closely shared by federal, provincial and municipal governments. It is “the kind of bold, visionary decision that was needed. I commend them all for their ability to work together in the public interest,” said Mr. Rowat. The infrastructure investments will attract more than 14 million commuters from their cars, reduce road congestion, fuel consumption, and pollution and will improve the quality of life for people in the GTA, said Mr. Rowat. The work will include additional track capacity and trains, new service to more communities, eliminate selected highway/railway crossings, and upgrade existing track. GO Transit is an active member of the RAC, carrying 44 million riders annually – a 37 per cent increase since 1996, said Mr. Rowat. “People use GO by choice. The demographics of their customers are interesting in the urban Canadian context. Riders are predominantly in the 25-55 year old age group, professionals, with above average income. Their average customer rides 32 km one-way, and does it at least four days a week. The results are similar in all of Canada’s big cities where 84 per cent of people are transit users.” “Rail is moving some 30 per cent more traffic that a decade ago, while generating almost four per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than 10 years ago,” he said. “Passenger, and freight, rail can do more to help address society’s needs for climate change and more sustainable transportation in the future. Annual congestion costs are currently estimated at almost $1,000 per household, and growing. So expansion of GO’s capacity is more than timely.” The Railway Association of Canada represents 57 freight and passenger railways operating in Canada today. They carry more than six million carloads of freight and 60 million passengers annually. Further information is available at www.railcan.ca. |
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Contact Information: Roger Cameron 613-564-8097 www.rogerc@railcan.ca |
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Association of Canada 99 Bank Street, Suite 901 Ottawa, ON K1P 6B9 Telephone: (613) 567-8591 Fax: (613) 567-6726 |
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Mr. Paul Goyette Director, Communications and Public Affairs Phone: (613) 564-8097 |
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