Resident group planning to protest part of upcoming LRT in Mississauga
Published November 1, 2019 at 8:07 pm
A group of residents is furious about a planned Metrolinx transformer that will be constructed as part of the upcoming Hurontario LRT in Mississauga and is planning to protest on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Kingsbridge Matters, an advocacy group that has lobbied for an LRT stop in the Hurontario Street and Kingsbridge Garden Circle area, recently announced that it’s planning a demonstration against Metrolinx’s plans to place a transformer in their community.
The protest will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the parking lot of 20 Kingsbridge Circle.
According to a news release, the residents will express their opposition by displaying a colourful, actual size model of the unit – constructed with 36 large shipping containers – and displaying it in the location where the transformer is slated to go.
“This site is surrounded by nine large condominium buildings,” says community spokesperson and former Mississauga city council candidate Grant Gorchynski.
“It’s insane that Metrolinx wants to construct a hulking, dangerous transformer in the centre of a thriving residential and commercial neighbourhood. We constructed our model to show just how large and overwhelming this monstrosity would be. It makes no sense on any level. We’re determined to stop it.”
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The planned transformer would be part of the 18-kilometre Hurontario LRT, which will connect the Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga to the Gateway Terminal in Brampton.
The LRT is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2024.
Kingsbridge Matters is still hoping to convince Metrolinx to build a station in their area, arguing that Kingsbridge is one of the most densely-populated communities along the route with a population of more than 10,000.
Whether they’ll get a station in the future is hard to predict, as Metrolinx recently announced that it was cutting the planned City Centre loop (thus chopping the route down from 20 km to 18 km) to save costs.
The LRT will boast 19 stops and provide connections to the Port Credit and Cooksville GO stations, Mississauga Transitway, GO Transit’s Milton line, Lakeshore West rail lines, MiWay and Zum transit lines.
The project will also include a maintenance and storage facility for the light rail vehicles located south of Highway 407 and west of Kennedy Road
“Metrolinx is not only ignoring the transit needs of Kingsbridge, it’s further victimizing the people of this community by planning to drop a giant transformer here,” says Gorchynski. “That will present significant health and safety hazards, and sharply reduce the value of homes and businesses in the community.”
Gorchynski is expecting a sizeable turnout.
“We’re expecting a large gathering on the afternoon of Sunday, November 3,” says Gorchynski.
“Artists have been invited to paint the containers, and there will be food, games and activities for the entire family. We’re coming together to celebrate our community – and fight this transformer.”
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