Cancelled LTR transit loop through City Centre could be back on the table for Mississauga

Mississauga | Original Features | Politics | Transit |

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Published August 18, 2023 at 3:12 pm

Hurontario LRT

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie says she will get the cancelled light rail transit (LRT) loop back on the table if she becomes premier.

Crombie is currently running for leader of the Ontario Liberals, and would have to win that race, and then beat the Progressive Conservatives to become premier.

Nevertheless, in an interview with founder and publisher of insauga.com Khaled Iwamura, Crombie said she would put the loop back on the table if she were premier.

The loop, initially included in Hurontario LRT (now called the Hazel McCallion LRT) to serve residents who live in condo towers around Square One, was pulled off the table more than three years ago by the Ontario government in a cost-cutting move.

Mississauga officials, including Crombie, have been aggressively pushing for its reinstatement ever since.

Crombie said the loop will be much needed as there are about 72,000 people expected to move to the downtown area in Mississauga by 2050.

There are about 50 tall towers today but in the next 20 years there will be 116 added, Crombie said.

“So the population growth will be incredible,” she said.

The loop would help those living in tall towers to the east and west of Hurontario, such as Central Parkway and Centennial Park Boulevard, access the main line.

“This is where all the height and density has been allocated,” Crombie said.

The parking requirements have been lowered for many new developments in this area as residents could have accessed the new LRT loop.

Without support from the province, the question left now is how it will be financed, Crombie said.

“I am fairly confident it will be added in once we can get the financing in place,” she said.

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