GO East Clarington

On Thursday, February 20, 2020, the Metrolinx Board of Directors endorsed the updated business case for the GO Train extension, choosing Option 2, the route north of Highway 401. Clarington will see two-way, all-day train service with two new stations in Courtice and Bowmanville. The chosen preferred route under Option 2 will connect through the existing Oshawa GO station to Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway’s General Motors spur line crossing north of Hwy. 401 and finally linking back to the CP line. Oshawa will also see two new GO stations. The route was selected after months of review by Metrolinx, the provincial agency that operates GO Transit.

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The next step in the process is to evaluate the preferred route in more detail by undertaking a Preliminary Design Business Case, which will be presented to the Metrolinx Board before moving to Step 4 in the process, the Design and Procurement Preparation.

Photo above: Project status (as shown in Metrolinx Initial Business Case Update) - View larger (PDF)

The proposal adheres to Council’s resolutions supporting the option with the preferred route north of Highway 401 using the CP railway line. The selected option supports the previous Transportation Hub work that was completed in July 2017 by Clarington Planning Staff as well as the ongoing Secondary Plan projects in Courtice and Bowmanville.

The Municipality of Clarington has long advocated for the GO Train extension. Clarington Council has taken some key steps to make a sound economic case for this crucial infrastructure investment. An independent economic impact study was released in April 2016. It showed the potential for $1.1 billion in investment that would be generated by the GO Lakeshore East extension. The study was financed by Durham Learning and Business District (dLAB), a partnership between Durham College, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Trent University Durham, River Oaks Group and Halloway Developments Ltd.; the Municipality of Clarington; the City of Oshawa; the Municipality of Port Hope; the Town of Cobourg; Northumberland County; and Halminen Homes.

Secondary plans

Currently, the Municipality is working on two Secondary Plans that include these proposed GO train station areas: The Courtice Transit-Oriented Community Secondary Plan and the Bowmanville West Major Transit Area Secondary Plan. The proposed new route will strengthen GO service dramatically within the community by providing two-way all-day service and integral connections to the existing Durham Region Transit bus network. The announcement also supports the Municipality’s goal of providing transit-oriented development around stations. Transit-oriented development is the primary focus of the Secondary Plan process.

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Transportation hubs

In anticipation of the GO train extension, Clarington worked with a consultant to develop a high-level vision for the two transportation hubs around the future Courtice and Bowmanville GO stations. The Municipality wants to ensure that development around the future stations is adequately planned, so these areas are more than just train stations; they also become destinations.

Transportation hub study

GO East Clarington: GO Train Expansion to Bowmanville Study (Available upon request)

Transportation hub workshops

Clarington hosted two transportation hub workshops in June 2017. See the information below for the presentation and background information presented at these workshops.

Reports and public engagement

Metrolinx Initial Business Case Update: Bowmanville Rail Service Extension - February 20, 2020 (PDF)
Metrolinx Public Meeting - April 24, 2018 (PDF)
Metrolinx Presentation to Council - March 5, 2018 (PDF)
Metrolinx Presentation to CBOT Members - June 26, 2017 (Available upon request)

Metrolinx: Bowmanville Expansion

Stay informed and get involved

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Get in touch with project management staff: Amanda Tapp, Principal Planner, at 905-623-3379 ext. 2427 or Carlos Salazar, Manager of Community Planning and Economic Development.