TORONTO – Rapid transit through the heart of Mississauga is now at a crossroads.
The city’s new mayor, Bonnie Crombie, says it doesn’t have any money in the budget to pay for even a portion of the $1.6 billion Light Rapid Transit (LRT) project being planned by Metrolinx.
“We would have to determine in our capital plan whether we would want to go forward,” she said. “We would have to review the feasibility of the project.”
Crombie says she expects the province to fully fund the project with new revenue tools and dedicated funding.
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The 23-km route would start at the Port Credit GO station and make its way north along Hurontario Road, connecting Mississauga with Main Street in Brampton.
There are cases when different levels of government are expected to pick up one third of the cost for major infrastructure projects.
Major transit investments in projects such as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto are fully funded by the province.
“There’s funding models where it’s 100% provincial funding,” said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins. “Some of our projects are municipal, federal and provincial funding sources. So we’re looking at all models at this point.”
The Hurontario-Main LRT project has long been considered a priority in Metrolinx’s Big Move transit plan.
“The Province will work with Metrolinx and municipalities on how best to prioritize transit investments through the use of rigorous business-case analyses,” a spokesperson for the Minister of Transportation said. “These analyses will help prioritize Next Wave projects that could be accommodated within the Province’s dedicated fund for the GTHA and provide the best value for Ontarians.”
Crombie and Mississauga city council have started its 2015 budget process and no money has been allocated for the LRT at this point.
“I’m very confident that Metrolinx will announce the Mississauga LRT in the next wave of announcements and that we will be fully funded,” she said.
An announcement from Metrolinx is expected in the next few months.
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