[projekktor id=’18697′]

3 days after the budget was presented politicians from Niagara went to Queen’s Park to plead their case for Go train extension to the Peninsula. They want a piece of the $14-billion the province has promised for transit expansion. The Niagara team walked into Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca’s office this afternoon armed with what it calls an irrefutible business plan.

The capital costs about $150 million, a third of that would be picked up by regional taxpayers. The projected travel times, about an hour and 20 minutes from Niagara Falls to Hamilton, 2 hours and 20 minutes to Union Station. And then there’s the cost of a one way fare, $23 to from Niagara Falls to Union Station, riders taking the Go bus to Burlington from St. Catharines say that’s not bad.

Metrolinx has said daily Go trains to Niagara are not a priority, the ridership numbers don’t support it. In 2031 it projects about 360 commuting each day from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines to Toronto. Steven Del Duca says before the province invests in Go trains to Niagara it has to make sure they get it right. “So today, I’m receiving this business plan will look at it and keep that dialogue going with them.”