Mississauga Transitway Celebrates One Year of Growth

A more efficient way to travel on MiWay across the City

This month marks one-year since the Mississauga Transitway opened as a dedicated bus corridor. Ridership for the first year of service is expected to reach three million boardings.

“Ridership in the first year of service on the Mississauga Transitway has exceeded our expectations,” said Martin Powell, commissioner, transportation and works. “The transitway is a cost-effective solution to address congestion and provides efficient east-west service across Mississauga.”

Since Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken and Dixie stations opened in November 2014, there has been steady growth on MiExpress routes 107, 109, 185 and MiLocal 21 reports Geoff Marinoff, director of transit. In September 2015, GO Transit opened the Erin Mills station and five GO bus routes serve the station. MiWay will provide service to Erin Mills in the later part of 2016.

Daily weekday ridership increased by 41 per cent from 8,000 on opening day to 11,300 in October 2015. At the same time, Saturday service was introduced and ridership reached 2,900.

Mississauga’s strategic goal to become a more transit-oriented city continues as the City gets ready to open the next two stations, Tahoe and Etobicoke Creek in winter 2016; while at the same time putting finishing touches on the first four stations – Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken and Dixie. All four stations met safety testing requirements prior to the November 2014 opening. Finishing details are related to aesthetics and do not impact the safe use of these stations. Work on exterior concrete cladding on the stations as well as landscaping has begun.

“Much of the work will be completed by the end of January 2016, except plantings, they will be completed in spring 2016 when the weather is better suited to planting,” said Powell.

Next up, Winston Churchill (the final station in the west) is expected to open in the later part of 2016. In the east, Spectrum, Orbitor and the Renforth Gateway (the final station in the east) will open in 2017. This will complete the 18 kilometre, 12 station dedicated bus corridor, making travel connections to Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Bloor-Danforth Subway line easier via Highway 427.

“On completion, MiWay and GO Transit will offer more service on the transitway,” said Marinoff.  “MiWay will increase express service, routes and frequency as well as re-align local services making connections to surrounding municipalities easier. When all 12 stations are operational, we expect five million annual rides on the transitway.”

The time saved while travelling on the transitway will be impressive, added Marinoff. “Riders will save 15 to 18 minutes when travelling from Winston Churchill Station to Renforth Station.”