GTTA wants new transit plan for southern Ontario

Metrolinx, working collaboratively with municipal and GO Transit partners, is moving forward with early, concrete steps to implement the provincial government's MoveOntario 2020 vision for rapid transit expansion (part two).

The Greater Toronto Transportation Authority has a new name and a new mandate to improve transit throughout the region.

Now known as Metrolinx, the provincial organization kicked off a consultation process Tuesday with a report on transportation trends and outlooks for the region.

Some new ideas about the future of transit were discussed a meeting in downtown Toronto hotel. Road tolls, high-speed trains, more light-rail transit systems are just some of the ideas that were mentioned.

"My own view is that there are so many people coming to such a limited area, we can't build enough roads to accommodate all the cars that are coming," said Metrolinx Chair Rob MacIsaac.

"It's inevitable that life in the GTA going forward will be a lot more about public transit that it has been in the past," he told CTV Toronto. "People will still have choices though."

Adam Giambrone, Toronto city councillor and chair of the TTC, said road tolls is something that should be considered as one of those options. Those tolls could affect not only the major highways but also high-occupancy lanes as well.

"I don't have a problem with region-wide road tolls," he said. "We have heard a lot of people say it's not just about downtown Toronto. Putting a toll on the Gardiner on the DVP doesn't pay for a $17 billion program. You need to consider it region-wide."

Each idea will be considered throughout the consultation process and a report will be drafted by next year with the goal of coming up with a comprehensive transit plan.

"Today we are taking the first step in improving the choices people have when they need to go from place to place around the region," MacIsaac said in a news release. "Less than a year from now, the people of this region will be presented with a comprehensive plan for a coordinated, seamless, sustainable transportation system."

Transit officials and residents from Hamilton to Durham, Toronto to York will have a chance to participate in the discussions.

Future discussions will also include service-oriented traffic, such as trucks that are delivering services or moving goods. The final Regional Transportation Plan is expected in fall, 2008.

With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss