Connecting the Southwest

Wednesday, 5 February 2020 14:28

The first draft plan of Connecting the Southwest is being made available to the public today.

WOODSTOCK - The first draft plan of Connecting the Southwest is being made available to the public today.

MPP for Oxford Ernie Hardeman says this is a transportation system that will connect individuals, families and businesses in southwestern Ontario.

“Our government is building a better transportation system and getting people moving in Oxford and across southwestern Ontario. The plan includes projects to connect smaller communities to larger centres, improve access to jobs and critical services and encourage an open and competitive business environment.”

Connecting the Southwest has over 40 advancements and strategies, including options for improvements to existing rail corridors and private-sector partnerships to optimize passenger and freight rail.

As part of the plan, the Town of Ingersoll will receive $55,496, the Town of Tillsonburg will receive $52,793 and the City of Woodstock will receive $468,089 towards public transit funding. Tillsonburg will also receive $1,578,461 under the Connecting Links Program for the reconstruction of Oxford Street and Simcoe Street.

The Province is looking for input from the public about the plan. You can take an online survey until March 17th to have your say included. Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney says Connecting the Southwest is a living document that will evolve throughout the consultations and as new and innovative technology advances.

People in southwestern Ontario deserve access to a safe and reliable transportation network that gets them to where they need to go. Our plan for southwestern Ontario includes real, practical transportation improvements that will connect our cities, towns, villages and hamlets by improving our roads and highways, improving accessibility, and ensuring bus, rail and local transit services are as seamless as possible.”

You can read the draft plan of the document online here.