A 2005 Statistics Canada survey revealed that commuters in the GTA spend the most time getting to work of all Canadians, averaging 79 minutes total per day traveling to and from work. Though commuting time varies between regions, it has seen a general increase. Between 1992 and 2005, traveling time for those using public transit grew from 94 to 106 minutes.

The same statistics also show that people are more likely to use public transit the faster and more efficient the service is. (Well, duh!) It’s no surprise that the majority of people living outside metropolitan Toronto choose to commute by car, while most within the city choose to travel using public transit. This results in an overwhelming amount of traffic leading into—and out of—the city during the week, meaning not just more time wasted, but more pollution released from idling cars.

There is a simple solution to this problem. If the government would increase spending allowances for efficient transit systems in nearby cities leading into the downtown Toronto area, there would be less traffic on the highways and less time wasted for commuters.

In the Conservative Party’s latest federal budget, finance minister Jim Flaherty has already taken an exceptional step in this direction, with the approval of a train going from Peterborough to Union Station. The train would carry approximately 900 commuters per day, but some argue that this is an underestimate due to rapid growth in the Peterbo-rough area.

Take the small town of Millbrook, which sits between Peterborough and Toronto on the proposed railway line. It has only one “main” street but five realtors—all preparing for the housing boom taking place as the town’s population steadily increases.

Currently, those living in Peterborough and the surrounding area are forced to the GO station in Oshawa, or to make an entire trip into the city if they want to commute to Toronto. Commuters spend less time with family and often suffer from lack of sleep, higher stress, and other health problems. With the population growing at the current rate, the government must introduce an easier way for these residents to make it to and from work. That is exactly what they have done by approving this train service.

While this train will certainly not put an end to all our public transit problems, it shows some government initiative towards fulfilling long-term solutions. Adding extended services to growing areas such as Peterborough, increasing the number of regular trains and buses, and making small improvements in metropolitan Toronto will contribute to a more convenient transit system, resulting in a drastic decrease in stressed commuters and car emissions.