Federal transport minister pushes for Mississauga City Centre LRT loop
Published November 4, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Federal Transport Minister and Mississauga Centre MP Omar Alghabra has again thrown his full support behind Mississauga’s push to have what was once a key part of the major Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project reinstated.
Speaking with insauga.com publisher Khaled Iwamura in an interview via Instagram this morning (Nov. 4), Alghabra reaffirmed both his and Ottawa’s commitment–financial and otherwise–to making the City Centre loop a reality.
While noting the huge Mississauga/Brampton infrastructure project is a provincial government undertaking, the transport minister said he fully supports a reintroduction of the loop into the plan.
Transport Minister and Mississauga Centre MP Omar Alghabra wants the City Centre loop to be part of the Hazel McCallion Line.
The loop, initially included in Hurontario LRT plans to service residents/passengers who live in the highrises around Square One, was pulled off the table three years ago by the Ontario government in a cost-cutting move.
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Mayor Bonnie Crombie and City of Mississauga councillors have been pressing the Province ever since to reconsider, arguing the area’s population is growing quickly and will need convenient transit service.
“We very much would like to partner with the (Premier Doug) Ford government on reinstating that loop; it makes a lot of sense,” Alghabra said during the wide-ranging 30-minute interview. “I was disappointed when the Ford government announced it was eliminating that loop.
“However, I was heartened when earlier (this) year they named the LRT the Hazel McCallion Line, and I felt like the Premier alluded to the reinstatement (of the loop).”
Alghabra said in an interview late last year that if Ontario does reconsider the loop, “I can assure you I and the federal government will be there to work with them on reinstating it.”
The 18-kilometre LRT route, to be completed by fall 2024, will move passengers from Port Credit GO station in the south to Brampton in the north, with 19 stops along the way.
When completed, it will offer a dedicated right-of-way running from south Mississauga to Brampton Gateway Terminal. It will link to GO stations at Port Credit and Cooksville, the Mississauga Transitway, Square One GO Bus Terminal, Brampton Gateway Terminal, and key MiWay and Brampton Transit routes.
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