Let's get Guelph back on the GO
Yesterday, on learning just where Guelph stands in its growth relative to other cities in the province, I submitted a letter to the Guelph Mercury on the sad state of our commuter network. Here it is, as it appears in today's paper:
Dear Editor:
The first round of Canadian census data is out, and Guelph is fifth on the list of fastest growing census metropolitan areas in Ontario. We are geographically located between Kitchener, No. 4, and Toronto, No. 3. Thousands of people every day travel between Kitchener, Guelph and points east, so why do we live on a desolate desert island of unconnected public transit?
Guelph and Kitchener reside on a quiet, well-maintained main line that connects to tracks with existing GO service at Georgetown. It needs no significant work to allow it to host GO trains; in fact, from 1990 to 1993, one GO train originated right here in Guelph. The tracks between Kitchener and Georgetown through Guelph host just two freight trains and three passenger trains each way per day, leaving plenty of capacity for GO service.
We have a perfect location for a major GO station in this city in the form of the LaFarge property on Silvercreek Parkway. GO trains could stop there and again at the site of the proposed transit hub at the existing Via station, connecting to both cars and busses. GO is even in the midst of buying new equipment and expanding the capacity of its tracks as far as Georgetown to accommodate increased service. We can remove cars from our roads, shelve plans for another 400-series highway and an expanded Highway 7, and provide real commuter service between Kitchener, Guelph and Toronto both ways with just a little political will. We would even save money by doing it.
So what are we waiting for? Let's get Guelph back on the GO.
David Graham, Guelph
Posted at 13:40 on March 14, 2007