GREATER TORONTO AREA, Ont. — A plan called SmartRide LRT would see the creation of a light rail transit network across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to relieve gridlock on major roads.

SmartRide LRT would take advantage of under-used rail lines and hydro corridors across the GTA, and work in conjunction with existing transit systems, to create a seamless GTA-wide public transit system.

It is one of several transit proposals that have been submitted to the provincial government under its Golden Horseshoe Transit Investment Partnerships (GHTIP) initiative. All the proposals are currently being reviewed.

The GTA is expected to grow to 8 million people by 2026. The group behind SmartRide LRT says light rail transit -electrically powered trains running on a separate right of way – is the most cost efficient way to move Greater Torontonians. SmartRide LRT would stretch 106 kilometres, serving Toronto as well as York and Peel regions, and could be expanded to Durham and Halton regions.

The SmartRide plan was developed by the Aecon Group Inc., Canada’s largest public construction and infrastructure development firm; Alstom Transport, a rail transportation development company; and Borealis, a capital asset management firm.

The consortium says SmartRide will not only relieve gridlock, but also will improve links to key facilities in the GTA such as Pearson International Airport, York University, downtown Toronto and the waterfront, and City Centres in York and Peel regions.