Metrolinx officials have “heard loud and clear from the community” and are no longer proposing to install a Traction Power Substation (TPS) in Margaret Greene Park, intended to support electrification of the track. The decision was announced on the company’s website Thursday.
“In the meantime, we’re going to continue working on advancing two-way, all-day GO service,” said Metrolinx spokesperson Scott Money. “It was always going to be, at least for the interim … diesel service.”
Metrolinx first announced in April that Margaret Greene Park as one of nine potential sites for a TPS, which will be needed in the city’s west end in order to electrify the tract from Brampton to Kitchener, which is part of the long-term plan to improve service.
When the park was announced as the preferred location in June, many residents rallied in opposition to the plan and let it be known during a public meeting at the park with Metrolinx and city officials in August.
"We are trilled," said Linda Busuttil, neighbourhood development coordinator for the West Willow Village Neighbourhood Group.
“This is exciting because this is a direct result of the citizen engagement, the activism in the West End around this issue,” Ward 4 councillor Mike Salisbury said of Margaret Greene Park being eliminated as a potential location. “It’s a win for the community, a win for the people who said ‘we’re not going to let this happen.’”
Margaret Greene Park was donated to the city in 1966.
“I think the game-changer was pushing them to extend the consultation period,” added Salisbury. “In that time, we were not only able to get additional community input, we had time to bring it forward in a council meeting, have a debate about it, have a unanimous vote on council that says ‘hey, we don’t want this in a park’ and have our staff prepare a position as well, which I think was a big deal.”
Council’s motion, calling for the TPS not to be located in a public park, was unanimously approved on Aug. 26.
“I’m really thankful that Metrolinx listened to the concerns that we had,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie, adding he’s also glad to hear the plan is still to establish two-way, all-day GO train service between Kitchener and Toronto, including Guelph.
“The more vehicles we can get off the road … the better,” he said. “That not only helps with future infrastructure costs but it’s environmentally friendly.”
A train commute also helps people with their work-life balance, Guthrie added.
“This park is important to the Guelph community and it deserves to be kept intact,” said MPP Mike Schreiner in a news release. “I will continue to advocate for a suitable site to be found for electrification because we need more clean transit for the Kitchener-Waterloo corridor.”
Metrolinx will continue considering potential future location for a TPS, Money said, noting the public consultation process will be launched again when a new preferred site is selected.
There is no timeline for that, he added.
"It was successful this time," Busuttil said of opposing the chosen location. "We're keep an eye on this going forward."
