The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

8- The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 5, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com TO transit plan could strand Halton residents By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP A massive transportation plan designed to get the Toronto region on the move may leave Halton travellers stranded in five years time. The $50 billion, 25-year plan dubbed `The Big Move' by Metrolinx, the provincial agency overseeing development of a crossregion transit network in the GTA and Hamilton, was passed by the agency's board this week. Included among the more than 50 projects was the electrification of GO Transit's Lakeshore train line between Hamilton and Oshawa. "The electrification cuts down (travelling time) in half," said an enthused Halton "Rather than dwelling Regional Chair Gary Carr, on the tragedy, I think it who sits on the Metrolinx allows us to see the board. He said trains would be possibility of how to able to run about every five live life." minutes on that line. Also included as a priori- Dark Victory director ty project is the building of Mark Ellis dedicated transit-only lanes on Dundas St. stretching from Waterdown through back to the Province in 2013 Halton to the TTC's Kipling "with options to address these Station. longer-term funding chalAt this time, however, lenges." Metrolinx has only received Those options would likely funding commitments of have to consider road tolls, about $12 billion from the something the agency hasn't provincial government, mean- addressed up to now. ing it will have to find sources Though not considered of funding to complete the `priority' projects, some other transit projects it has other transit lines in Halton planned for Halton. are included in capital plans The agency, chaired by for- for the next 15 years, includmer Burlington Mayor Rob ing: MacIsaac, said it will report · The creation of a transit service, perhaps dedicated bus lanes, along Hwy. 403 from Oakville GO Stn. to Renforth near Pearson Airport · A rapid transit service, again possibly dedicated bus lanes, along Trafalgar Rd. between Hwy 407 and midtown Oakville. A second phase, to be completed within 25 years, would extend this line to downtown Milton. · All-day two-way train service between Milton and Union Station · All-day two-way train service between Georgetown and Brampton, from where an electrified express train will continue into Union Station. "It's only the start (of what's needed)," said Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville of the service increase to Georgetown. "(Metrolinx) still needs the GO service to go from Guelph through Acton," and onto the Georgetown-Union line, Somerville explained. Looking toward 2033, `The Big Move' also envisions: · a rapid transit link such as dedicated bus lanes along Brant St. from Fairview GO in Burlington to connect to the Dundas St. rapid transit line. The service improvements to the train lines to Milton and Georgetown may be included as priority projects once Metrolinx staff complete a cost-benefit analysis to various GO train lines in the GTA. Asked why a bus rapid transit project alongside what are now farmlands on the north side of Dundas took precedence over increases to existing train services in Milton and Halton Hills, Carr said Metrolinx is aiming to meet the future expected demand on Dundas once north Oakville is built out by 2018. The Region expects up to 60,000 new residents in that area over the next 10 years. Carr said $59 million has already been set aside for the expansion of Dundas St., and the Region is already planning for the inclusion of bus-only lanes. On Sat., Dec. 6th bring in your TOY and join us for FREE Pizza, Pop & Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies from Noon - 4 p.m. ONLY at the Cornwall Road location. The Dinner Party is on Tickets are now on sale for the Women of Halton Action Movement ( WHAM) The Dinner Party set for Thursday, March 5 in honour of International Women's Day. There will be a 5:30 p.m. cash bar and silent auction, and a 6:45 p.m. dinner and speaker. Keynote speaker will be Donna Kennedy-Glans who will speak on Peeling the Gender Onion. Entertainment will be by local Maria finalist Allie Hughes. Tickets cost $45 and are available through SAVIS at 905- 825-3622. TOY DRIVE With the holiday season fast approaching many of us will be thinking of the children in our community which are less fortunate than our own. In keeping with the Spirit of giving you are invited to participate with the Canadian Pet Connection in their... 10th ANNUAL TOY DRIVE Bring in a NEW UNWRAPPED toy & you will receive a Gift for your Cat or Dog. Compliments of the Canadian Pet Connection Toy Drive in effect until December 15th. For more information call. Sponsored By THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Sponsored by European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship 1500 Upper Middle Road at Third Line 361 Cornwall Road at Allan Street (Near Whole Foods Market) "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905-847-3299 905-815-0320 905.849.0266 OVER USED CARS TO CHOOSE FROM OAKVILLE HONDA CERTIFIED SALE EVENT 6 From $ TO CHOOSE FROM 9 P1672 TO CHOOSE FROM 6 P TO CHOOSE FROM 50 2004 ODYSSEYS 2005 CIVICS From $ 2004 CRVS From $ 1 ,990 4 1 0,990 1 ,990 6 *All prices are plus fees, taxes and licensing. 500 Iroquois Shore Rd., Oakville 1-800-915-0430