FOR THE LOVE OF GO
Mayor of Niagara Falls, N.Y., hopes to extend transit train system to U.S. to help boost his city’s real estate market,
The mayor of Niagara Falls, N.Y., thinks the recent GO Train extension to his town’s Ontario counterpart didn’t go far enough, saying he wants the commuter trains to cross the border.
It may end up just a dream, but Mayor Paul Dyster told a U.S. news outlet he thinks a cross-border line would transform his town into a “bedroom community” for people working in Toronto.
“The border crossing station on the rail line between Toronto and New York City, the two most vibrant metropolitan areas anywhere in the world. That’s a really good place to be,” he told WKBW Buffalo earlier this week.
Dyster said the arrival of GO Transit would have an impact on his area’s real estate market and possibly attract more investors. The border town has a population of just over 48,000 people, and housing options are more affordable than Toronto — with multiple-bedroom houses selling for under $100,000.
Metrolinx recently stretched its Lakeshore West line into Niagara Falls, Ont., for commuters on weekdays, with stops in Hamilton and St. Catharines.
That trip takes more than two hours, but Dyster, who did not immediately return calls from the Star for comment, told WKBW his plan would allow travellers to connect between his town and Toronto in just 90 minutes.
In response to Dyster’s comments, Metrolinx said there are currently no plans to extend their services into New York state.
“There are specific restrictions when a train leaves Onta- rio, or any province in Canada, that require a different set of inspection criteria and standards in order to legally enter the United States,” the provincial agency said in a statement.
“Once in Canada, we hope our American visitors to Ontario’s Niagara region will take advantage of our rail service from Niagara to downtown Toronto.”
Urban designer Ken Greenberg described Dyster’s plan as unrealistic, especially given how contentious the issue of border-crossing has become. Metrolinx already has “enough on its plate” and should instead focus on improving its services on this side of the border and help people explore the region without being dependent on a car, he added.
“I think the Niagara region on the Canadian side could benefit enormously from improved and frequent train service. Driving on the QEW is a nightmare,” he said.