Transit News across Canada

Happy Friday! I thought I would share some links on transit related stories in Canada. Starting out in Winnipeg, Steve Ashton - One leadership candidates for the Manitoba NDP, has promised to build more rapid transit of this city.

Steve Ashton said on Tuesday the proposed corridor would cut through the neighbourhoods of Elmwood, Radisson, and Concordia on the way to Transcona.

The massive project, connecting the city's east side with the downtown, would cost about $250 million and be completed over four years, Ashton said.

In Toronto, The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will be spending $1.5 billion on transit improvements including:

$97 million for 120 new hybrid buses, $218 million toward 234 new subway cars, $74 million for 204 new streetcars, and $41 million for bridge and tunnel repairs.

"In addition, in includes half a billion dollars toward the expansion projects of Spadina subway; Sheppard, Eglinton and Finch LRTs,"

Finally in Montreal, the provincial government has announced a plan to expand their Metro system.

Premier Jean Charest said the Quebec government would go ahead with a proposed extension of Montreal's Metro system, announcing it will spend $12 million on feasibility studies.

The three mayors have proposed an extension that would add up to 20 kilometres to the Metro system in the next decade.

The plan would include:

-Closing the Orange Line loop by connecting the Côte-Vertu and Montmorency stations.
-Five kilometres added to the Blue Line extending to Saint-Léonard and Anjou.
-Five new stations added to the Yellow Line to serve the Pierre-Boucher Hospital and CÉGEP Édouard-Montpetit.

The plan ignores the West Island parts of Montreal which has people disappointed.

Whether it's an underground métro line or an above-ground rail link doesn't matter to many West Island residents - all they want is better transportation service to downtown Montreal.

Claire Francoeur, who regularly commutes to Montreal by train, said anything would be better than the rail service that now exists.