Throughout February I’ll be visiting places across the country where infrastructure projects are making a real difference in the lives of Canadians, whether it’s new bridges, roads or housing. And I know that in the GTA, one of the biggest things on people’s mind is transit. Here in Vaughan, people count on the GO Train to get around, whether it’s to get to work during the week or to catch a Jays game on the weekend -- although at the start of February, summer baseball season seems a long way off.

The GO is convenient, and it cuts out the daily hassle of getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 401 or the 400. But for people who need to get where they need to go on time, there has to be good service. After all, it’s frustrating to be crammed into an already full train or to miss your ride because you can’t find a spot to park. Our government has invested more than $595 million for the GO expansion project in the Barrie corridor to deliver faster service, one part of over $1.8 billion for GO Transit across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. That means less time waiting for the train and more flexibility for people’s schedules.

It’s also an investment in improvements for the station. If you arrive by car, soon you’ll be able to use the new parking garage and then walk right to your train. And if you cycle, there will be a new storage space for your bike, and it’ll be easier to get to the platform. Of course, these projects don’t happen overnight. Construction is underway right now so that people can see good results as soon as possible. With today’s weather, it’s pretty clear why that’s important. No one wants to stand outside in the chilly rain even though that’s exactly what we’re doing this morning.

In good weather and in bad, a reliable public transit network is good news for everyone. It helps people to spend more time with their families, saves money, and … and it also helps reduce … fight climate change. During infrastructure month, I’ll be travelling across the country visiting cities where new projects are making a real difference in the lives of Canadians, whether it’s helping them get where they need to go faster, improving air quality, or even creating good jobs for the middle class.

Here at the Maple GO station, it’s clear that smart, targeted investments are the key to making people’s lives better today and setting our communities up for a successful tomorrow.