PCs, Liberals and NDP all say they plan to build the Grimsby GO Station if elected

The Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP), the provincial Liberals and the PC Party of Ontario have committed to building a GO station in Grimsby.

Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria delivered the government's announcement Tuesday morning,

He said a more concrete plan, including deadlines will be released in the spring.

Sarkaria was accompanied by infrastructure minister Kinga Surma, MPP for Niagara West Sam Oosterhoff, chair of the Regional Municipality for Niagara Jim Bradley, and local mayors of the area, including Grimsby Mayor Jeff Jordan, as well as interim Metrolinx president Michael Lindsay.

Bradley said on Monday, the announcement "is a big step forward for all of Niagara."

According to a news release, the province will be working with the Town of Grimsby and the regional municipality to start the process of "identifying lands required for the Grimsby GO Station."

Lindsay told reporters on Monday, Metrolinx is looking at "doing everything that we can to optimize for more rides and faster travel times."

"In some places, it might absolutely be new trackage. In almost all places, we want it to be grade separations so that we are segregating passenger rail from freight rail," he said.

NDP and Liberal candidates also promise the station

Earlier this month, Dave Augustyn, the NDP candidate in Niagara West, said in a video to his social media platforms that an NDP government would deliver a Grimsby GO station.

"Others promised it, there's a sign there that was put up in 2018, and it was promised to be completed in 2021. Well, the last time I looked it's 2025," said Augustyn in the video.

Shauna Boyle, the Liberal candidate for Niagara West, told CBC Hamilton in a statement the party is "committed to two-way all-day GO to Niagara and having Grimsby GO as a station along the way."

"This has been a long-held commitment and unlike Doug Ford, I will deliver for the people of Niagara West," said Boyle.

A spokesperson for the Green Party of Ontario said it supports the station.

This GO station has been in the works for a long time in Grimsby.

According to Niagara Region's website, it partnered with the Town of Grimsby in 2015 for a plan to develop a 20-year planning framework "to guide transit-supportive development around the new GO station."

That year, the region also bought 14 acres of land next to the CN rail corridor near Casablanca Blvd. and South Service Rd. in Grimsby.

Ontario announced the planned extension of GO train services to Niagara with stops in Grimsby, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls in 2016.

Metrolinx projected in 2019 revenue from the expansion would "more than offset the initial capital and operating costs."

On Monday's news release, the province said it is "advancing plans — including design work," as part of the extension project.

Metrolinx started work on the Grimsby station and in 2018, the province and the company moved to a "third-party delivery model for station infrastructure," according to the Niagara Region's website.

Things like bus loops, station building and parking lots were to be delivered by third parties, and Metrolinx had to halt work at the Grimsby station, "which was already underway."

"Transportation solutions mean better connectivity, improved quality of life, and a positive impact on Niagara's economy.  We stand ready to support this announcement and work collaboratively with the province to bring this plan to fruition," said Jordan in a Monday statement.