Immediately following the Cybersecurity Event at Durham College, over in Bowmanville MPPs Lindsey Park to made another significant announcement, this time about the GO rail extension east to Bowmanville. Here is a link to the 124 page report, hot off the press, with some charts pictured below, showing the timeline for the preferred Option 2, map of route with track on former GM rail spur and the 4 new stops, 2 in Oshawa north of 401: one at Thornton Rd. and one at Ritson (former Knob Hill) and 2 in Clarington, one in Courtice and one in Bowmanville.
The 1st chart presents the Business Case and timelines. Note the bottome the statement: The capital costs do not include costs for stations as they will be delivered by third party investment through a market-driven strategy, as agreed upon between Metrolinx and the Region. (I question why there is not full disclosure about what has been agreed upon between Metrolinx and the Region and wonder about the implications of what the Region is keeping confidential ultimately will be to Oshawa taxpayers.) The 2nd chart below provides the Financial Case, and the 3rd, the Economic Case. Note: the Benefit Ratio Cost (BRC) for Option 2: .7 - .9 is to be interpreted as: for every 70 cents spent, the return is 90 cents for Option 2 Full Day Service.
A picture of the GM rail spur bridge over the Hwy 401 is copied below the charts. Although there are many positive notes with the announcement, and the anticipation that by utilizing it Metrolinx should be able to save some time and money, NOTE:
i) none of the land, rail line, bridge deals seem to have finalized (even the former Knob Hill Site is not completely final (although it is nearing a resolution with a March 9, 2020 LPAT/OMB Hearing) and ii) option 2 will require a connection from the mainline to the spur, has a grade change that needs to be worked out, has the longest travel time, and the most stakeholder dependancies. (alsothe trains on the CP line will not be electric, but diesel)
The 1st chart presents the Business Case and timelines. Note the bottome the statement: The capital costs do not include costs for stations as they will be delivered by third party investment through a market-driven strategy, as agreed upon between Metrolinx and the Region. (I question why there is not full disclosure about what has been agreed upon between Metrolinx and the Region and wonder about the implications of what the Region is keeping confidential ultimately will be to Oshawa taxpayers.) The 2nd chart below provides the Financial Case, and the 3rd, the Economic Case. Note: the Benefit Ratio Cost (BRC) for Option 2: .7 - .9 is to be interpreted as: for every 70 cents spent, the return is 90 cents for Option 2 Full Day Service.
A picture of the GM rail spur bridge over the Hwy 401 is copied below the charts. Although there are many positive notes with the announcement, and the anticipation that by utilizing it Metrolinx should be able to save some time and money, NOTE:
i) none of the land, rail line, bridge deals seem to have finalized (even the former Knob Hill Site is not completely final (although it is nearing a resolution with a March 9, 2020 LPAT/OMB Hearing) and ii) option 2 will require a connection from the mainline to the spur, has a grade change that needs to be worked out, has the longest travel time, and the most stakeholder dependancies. (alsothe trains on the CP line will not be electric, but diesel)
