2.1 Million Dollar Investment in Allandale GO Station

March 26, 2010

Stimulus funding will create jobs, boost local economy

BARRIE, ONTARIO – The Government of Canada, Province of Ontario and City of Barrie today announced joint stimulus funding of $2.1 million to build a pedestrian tunnel and stairs for the new Allandale GO Transit station in Barrie.  To make the announcement, Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, and the Honourable Aileen Carroll, P.C., Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie, joined City of Barrie Acting Mayor Mike Ramsay.  The new access tunnel will allow pedestrians to walk from the parking area, under the railway tracks and to the platform of the GO station. 

“As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is proud to support a project that will upgrade Barrie’s GO transit station and support Barrie’s economy,” said MP Brown, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister.  "This is one of many stimulus projects that is helping to create jobs in Barrie, including the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport expansion, upgrading the watermain system, building a new fire and emergency services station and headquarters, and improving a number of local roads,”  

“The provincial government continues to invest in the return of GO rail service to Barrie. Today’s investment is an important part of our Open Ontario plan to create jobs and opportunities for Ontario families,” said MPP Carroll on behalf of Ontario Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne.  ”In 2008, we provided $1.6 million for the parking lot expansion and a GO station building on Yonge Street.  In 2009, a second station at Allandale was announced.  Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to this very popular GO service which means people in Barrie can commute stress free.”

"The City welcomes the news of additional funding by the federal and provincial governments towards this important project.  These additional funds will ensure the second GO Train Stop at Allandale becomes a reality in the near future," said Acting Mayor, Councillor Mike Ramsay.

Heritage Barrie Chair, Councillor Alex Nuttall added, "When we went to Ottawa last year to petition for these funds, we didn't expect to see government move so fast to help. The provincial and federal governments have been incredible partners in this heritage project".

The governments of Canada and Ontario are each providing up to $700,000 in funding support and the City of Barrie is responsible for the balance.  Total eligible costs for this project are $2.1 million.  Along with today's announcement, in total close to $30 million in joint federal-provincial funding has been committed toward projects benefiting the GO Transit System.

This funding complements a $3 million joint federal-provincial investment announced on April 3, 2009, by MP Brown and MPP Carroll to build the Allandale GO Transit station, which will be the second station in the city when complete. 

The Government of Canada’s contribution for this project is being provided through the
$4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, a key component of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. which invests in infrastructure projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011.

The contribution from the Government of Ontario is from the two-year, $32.5 billion infrastructure commitment laid out in the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.  Ontario's two-year, $32.5-billon investment will support more than 300,000 jobs and strengthen Ontario's economy.

To date, the governments of Canada and Ontario have announced over $11 billion in joint funding for more than 2,600 infrastructure projects across the province to stimulate the economy and create jobs.



LEARN MORE

Learn about the Government of Canada’s Infrastructure Stimulus Fund investments.

Learn how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province.