What's Happening in Newmarket, ON…

A new plan released by the Toronto Region Board of Trade would see Newmarket directly connected to Toronto and other southern Ontario cities through rapid rail transit.

The proposal, called the Trillium Rail network, would consist of nine train lines connecting together cities like Newmarket, Kitchener, Hamilton and Oshawa, with downtown Toronto still serving as a hub. The trains would run every 5-30 minutes, depending on location and demand. The proposal states that its goal is to create a transit system that is less centred on the model of the 9-to-5 commuter, given the changing nature of the work, and will make it easier for people to live in suburbs or small cities without cars.

The 60-page report was compiled by the Board of Trade, an influential body which represents Toronto’s business community, with consultation from international experts. Drawing on the model of Ottawa’s O-Train, the plan would build on existing freight lines and minimal stations to allow for more frequent service. Documents like this, often prepared through printing services as well as electronic files, and can serve as important predecessors of official government plans. The proposal argues that building on existing infrastructure will make the network more affordable than the planned underground Ontario line.

The Board of Trade’s Trillium Rail proposal was released this March, with future reports on “Solving the Last Mile” and “Building Infrastructure” to be released later this year.