Whereas the Bolton Go Transit Station Lands are located on lands shown on the attached Schedule A, North of King Street, East & West sides of Humber Station Road;
Whereas, the need for a commuter GO rail service between Caledon and Union Station has been identified and established through many studies. This proposed rail service was among the 52 Move Ontario 2020 initiatives announced by the Government of Ontario in 2007;
Whereas, rail service was recommended in the 15 Year Plan of the Regional Transportation Plan conducted by Metrolinx in 2008;
Whereas, Metrolinx confirmed the needs of the Bolton commuter rail service in the GO 2020 Strategic Plan which identifies the requirements to provide peak period train service at 30-minute frequencies on the Bolton Corridor;
Whereas, Metrolinx further completed the Bolton Commuter Rail Service Feasibility Study in December 2010. The Feasibility Study examined the service and infrastructure requirements to provide a new commuter rail service to Caledon;
Whereas, the Feasibility Study assessed the projected ridership demands, service options, conceptual station and layover facilities, track capacity, potential property requirements, environmental issues and rail and non-rail infrastructure components;
Whereas, the Feasibility Study recommended the station site of 3.74 hectare and an additional 4.0 hectare site located north of King Street and east of Humber Station Road as a layover/ maintenance facility site. The recommended station/layover location is shown as attached Schedule A;
Whereas, as part of Caledon Transit Feasibility Study recommendation, the Town contracted private services to run a bus transit to better serve the Bolton residents and employees/employers. This Bolton route is intended to connect with Brampton and GO bus transit services and also to create latent ridership demands prior to the advent of the rail services to Bolton;
Whereas, the Bolton Transportation Master Plan conducted in 2015 jointly between the Town and the Region of Peel re-confirmed the need for Commuter Rail Service to Caledon. The study was endorsed by both the Town and Regional Councils;
Whereas, the Metrolinx 2041 Regional Transportation Plan, Town comments were provided to Metrolinx with a request to expedite rail services to Caledon;
Whereas, the community of Bolton currently represents approximately 40% of the population of Caledon with a current population of 28,000 and anticipated additional population of 10,348 and 2,635 jobs in 2031;
Whereas, in accordance with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020) it is anticipated that additional population and jobs to 2041 and 2051 will be allocated to Bolton and a settlement area expansion to accommodate the growth will be planned;
Now therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be requested to issue a ministerial zoning order under s. 47 of the Planning Act, or other power(s) as deemed appropriate, for the protection of the future Bolton GO Station Lands and the Bolton GO Major Transit Study Area to provide essential transit services and plan future transit-oriented communities for the Town of Caledon and more specifically the Bolton community; and
That a copy of this motion be provided to the Honorable Minister Clark, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Honorable Solicitor General, Sylvia Jones, Phil Vester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metrolinx and Nando Iannicca, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Peel.