Wynne names new Metrolinx review panel

Premier Wynne announced today that the Ontario government has put together an advisory panel to review Metrolinx’s Investment Strategy. The Premier stated that “the panel will help identify the best way forward, … help people in their everyday lives and build a strong foundation for future growth”. Glen Murray, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure “looks forward to the work and expertise of the panel and welcome[s] their advise”

Chair of The Toronto Transit Alliance Sarah Thomson has made the following statement regarding the Transit Investment Strategy Advisory Panel announced today by Premier Wynne.

“The Transit Alliance congratulates the Government on selecting a very diverse group of advisors for Ontario’s Transit Investment Strategy Advisory Panel. We believe the panel must keep to a short-term timeline with strong mandates for the Province that include long-term dedicated funding to secure financing for the Big Move transit plan. We believe that creating of long-term dedicated funding for transit expansion secured in such a way that it can not be diverted without public referendum will ensure that transit funding does not get diverted to other causes.”

When asked of the importance of this project Thomson replied “It is important that the municipal, provincial and federal governments work together to come up with a long-term strategy for dedicated transit funding and we hope that relations between the Mayor of Toronto and the provincial government can be repaired. Residents are frustrated by the continued political posturing and want to see consensus when it comes to dedicated transit funding. The Transit Alliance will continue to campaign and canvass for long-term dedicated transit funding across the Toronto region.”

With congestion costing our region $6 billion annually, the Big Move project proposed by Metrolinx has been the leading plan to resolve this issue. The 13 member panel consists of transit experts, elected officials, leaders in the automotive and more and will “build” on the study done by Metrolinx earlier this year on how to pay for its transit plan “The Big Move”.