‘This would really cut down on car dependency,’ said Coun. Luke Leatherdale as council backed a resolution urging Ontario to prioritize expanded GO Transit service
A renewed push to connect Orillia to the Greater Toronto Area through expanded GO Transit service is hoping to gain traction after council supported a resolution Monday aimed at improving regional transportation options and reducing reliance on cars.
The proposal, presented Monday in the council chambers, calls on the province to prioritize extending GO Transit connections to Orillia through an integrated system that would link the city directly to Barrie’s Allandale GO Station and beyond.
Transportation and Parking Working Group meeting facilitator Doug Cooper and citizen representative Pat Kenney outlined a vision that begins with enhanced bus service feeding into the Barrie line, with potential long-term consideration for rail expansion.
“This position is developed as a complete competitive community and supports our climate and growth objectives,” Kenney told council.
Councillors were quick to highlight the potential benefits — both environmentally and economically — of improving access to transit.
“Anything we can do to reduce the number of cars that are spewing out emissions going back and forth to the GTA is certainly worth a letter of support,” said Coun. Ralph Cipolla.
Coun. Luke Leatherdale pointed to the growing number of residents commuting south for work, saying demand already exists for a more efficient option.
“The amount of people who I have heard from already about this, the amount of people that go from Orillia to Toronto on a daily basis is substantial,” he said. “This would really cut down on car dependency.”
Leatherdale also noted broader quality-of-life benefits tied to improved transit.
“We know that spending time in your vehicle is bad for your mental health and physical health. Rail is a very positive thing for quality of life, for the economy,” he said.
Kenney explained the proposal centres on a phased approach, beginning with a dedicated GO bus service connecting Orillia riders to Barrie’s transit hub, where passengers could transfer onto GO trains heading to Toronto.
The concept includes the potential for a park-and-ride system, possibly incorporating a stop in West Ridge, to support commuters accessing the service. Integration with Metrolinx’s fare system was also highlighted as a major advantage, allowing riders to use a single Presto card across multiple transit systems.
“You can swipe a Presto card once, and get to Toronto and then take a subway and get to wherever you’re working all in one fare,” Kenney said. “Affordability is key.”
Coun. Tim Lauer raised the possibility of advocating for a future rail stop closer to Orillia, referencing past discussions about extending service toward communities like Washago or Brechin.
Kenney acknowledged that while rail could be explored in the long term, the immediate focus should be on building ridership through bus connections.
“We had suggested probably a tiered approach, starting with bus service, build the demand,” Kenney said, noting that rail expansion would require significant infrastructure investment. The old rails were long ago ripped out.
Council also heard that improvements already underway along the Barrie line, including double-tracking and increased service frequency, could make future connections more viable.
Coun. Jay Fallis says the proposal emphasizes not only outbound commuting, but also the potential to bring more visitors into Orillia.
“There’s also the inverse economic benefit,” Fallis said. “People from the city are now able to get up here in a much more economical, efficient way.”
Council ultimately supported the resolution, which will be sent to provincial officials including Premier Doug Ford and the Ministry of Transportation, as the city looks to position itself for future transit expansion.
