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Mississauga’s Hurontario LRT will be named after legendary former mayor Hazel McCallion

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Hazel McCallion turns 101 and has a transit line named after her

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 14, 2022 – As Mississauga’s legendary former Mayor Hazel McCallion celebrates her 101st birthday today a press conference was held in her honour to announce that the Hurontario 18 km, 19-stop light rail transit route will be named in her honour.

Numerous dignitaries were on hand including Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, to celebrate both Hazel’s 101st and Metrolinx naming the Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project as the Hazel McCallion Line, to commemorate the former Mississauga mayor.

The Province of Ontario decided on the name to recognize McCallion’s legacy and decades of public service.

McCallion, who today celebrates her 101st birthday, was the mayor of Mississauga for 36 years from 1978 until 2014.

“There’s only one name we can name this LRT after, and that’s someone who is a true icon not just here in Mississauga but everywhere across the country. Everyone knows Hazel and it’s just the appropriate thing to do,” Premier Doug Ford told reporters. “No one has had more of an impact on this city than Hazel has,” said Ford.

“And I know after we get moving on this I’m sure Bonnie will be calling me or the minister about continuing the loop around and you know something, that’s something we all want and we will make that happen eventually. sooner than later… but that’s our goal to make sure that we finish the loop,” said Ford.

Hazel McCallion turns 101 and the Hurnontario LRT will be named in her honour. L-R Hazel McCallion and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, photo by Bonnie Crombie

Metrolinx says the project will continue to be referred to as the Hurontario LRT while construction is underway, but will adopt the name once the line opens. This is similar to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, which will be known as ‘TTC Line 5 Eglinton’ once it opens.

“If you know Mississauga, you will know that Hazel’s fingertips have touched every corner of our city, and every point in between,” said Bonnie Crombie. “You’ve set the benchmark for longevity and politics while inspiring so many women leaders including myself, to put their names on the ballot. So it’s of course it’s only fitting that here today to name the most transformative project in our city’s history, the Hurontario LRT after the city’s most transformative and iconic person,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

Want more information on the project? Click here.

When it opens, the Hurontario LRT line will bring 18 km of rapid transit with 19 stops between the Brampton Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue and the Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga.

“I’ve had many things named after me but this one is really unusal,” said Hazel McCallion on her 101st birthday. “You know I remember when I spoke to the provincial government about an LRT and said to them ‘you paid for on in Toronto you’ve gotta pay for the next one in Mississauga.’ The LRT is going to be such an asset to the city. Unfortunately it only goes to Steeles Avenue but someday Madame Mayor, Brampton will realise it should go all the way through right up to the great city of Brampton,” said McCallion.

https://twitter.com/BonnieCrombie/status/1493308954620968960

The new line will connect over 32 million people per year to other major transit systems including two GO train lines (Milton and Lakeshore West Lines), the Mississauga Transitway, Zum, Brampton Transit and MiWay services. And today, Premier Doug Ford hinted that a “loop” will be completed in Mississauga, implying more LRT lines may be coming to Canada’s sixth largest city.

“The Hazel McCallion Line will support thousands of jobs, businesses and new housing units and I’m thrilled that the construction is well underway with the project on schedule to be finished by 2024,” said Crombie.

Hurontario LRT vehicles will run along their own dedicated lane which means they will be able to move quickly up and down Peel region’s busiest street.

by Terry Lankstead with notes from Metrolinx

Other articles from totimes.camtltimes.caotttimes.ca

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