Vaughan will host a pilot program providing the public rides to GO transit stations.
The program is called the Rutherford and Maple GO Mobility On-Request Pilot Project, and services the two GO stations in the title. Participants can book a free pick-up using their PRESTO card, which will take them to their desired station. They can also book a return trip to take them home in the evening. The goal of the program is to provide greater access to the trains that connect Vaughan to Toronto and other surrounding areas, including making them accessible for non-drivers and people with disabilities.
Servicing a limited area, the pilot project will be run by York Region Transit. YRT has released a public survey for service users to express their interest in participating and ways in which the service could be improved or expanded.
The project will operate on weekdays during morning and evening rush hours, and the pilot is expected to continue for one year. Rides can be booked up to two hours in advance, with a wait time available through the order portal. Pilot programs like this, often using tools such as brochure printing and online portals to provide information, often lead to new permanent services.
The Mobility On-Request Pilot Project will launch in May 2022 in Vaughan, servicing an area running between the GO rail line and Bathurst Street and between Rutherford Road and Major MacKenzie Drive.
