A GO Transit 'terminal' - a Park & Ride lot with shelter - is coming to Orangeville.

The Town of Orangeville will enter into an agreement with GO and the Orangeville Railway Development Corporation (ORDC) for the project.

The plan is to construct a paved "Park & Ride" lot at the town's railway station on Town Line.

ORDC and Orangeville Council approved the agreement at separate meetings Monday night.

Construction is expected to begin next month to meet GO Transit's need for completion to occur by December of this year.

GO Transit is providing the Town with $219,000 to construct the GO Bus Park & Ride lot and shelter at the railway station, plus two additional shelters on the Town's and GO Transit's routes.

A parking lot, to accommodate 55 spaces, including five accessible spaces, will be constructed as part of the project. An overflow parking area for Credit Valley Explorer tourist excursions will also be provided, south of the Park & Ride lot.

"This tripartite agreement represents a big step forward in the provision of transit service to this area," Mayor Rob Adams said.

"The construction of a GO Transit bus terminal is very positive news for the entire region and I am pleased to see GO Transit make this investment in Orangeville and to offer this service to area residents."

The Town will be responsible for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the Park & Ride lot and bus shelters.

As part of the arrangement, the Town will conduct a pilot project to extend local transit hours for a period of up to three months in 2008. The Town will:

• offer free Orangeville Transit rides to GO Transit passengers holding a valid GO Transit ticket or pass;

• arrange to have Orangeville Transit begin its service earlier in the morning and to end its service later in the evening each day there is GO service, in order to complement the GO Transit service schedule, and

• arrange to have Orangeville Transit review its schedule and confer with its passengers to determine whether there is commuter interest in matching the timing of the Orangeville Transit and GO Transit schedules.

"This agreement for a GO bus terminal has been in the works for several months and the parties have co-operated to achieve this milestone," said Ed Gill, Orangeville's Managing Director of Operations and Transportation.

GO Transit offers bus service from Orangeville to Brampton, with five trips each day, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays). Single-ride tickets and day passes may be purchased from the driver, or tickets may be purchased from Total Video at 41 Broadway. There are several bus stops in Orangeville.

For more information, visit the ticket agency at Total Video or www. gotransit.ca