Executive summary

We're building transportation infrastructure across the province — including expanding GO Transit networks and creating vibrant, transit-oriented communities that connect people to jobs and housing. We’re working closely with municipalities to build new GO Transit stations, giving residents more convenient travel options and helping local communities grow.

To support the building of new GO Transit stations, the Ministry of Infrastructure introduced the voluntary Transit Station Charge (TSC) through the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023. The TSC is an optional tool that can help municipalities fund new stations. A regulation under this Act which came into effect September 2, 2025, provides details on how to implement it.

Under the Act, the Minister of Infrastructure can provide consent to eligible municipalities to implement a TSC. This tool can help fund the design and construction of new GO Transit stations and if implemented, will allow for municipalities to recover the costs over time as new development is built around the station.

Key sections of the guide

The Transit Station Charge implementation guide provides municipalities with information about implementation requirements, including process, eligibility, roles and responsibilities.

The implementation guide outlines:

  • the purpose of the Transit Station Charge and how it works
  • how to enact a Transit Station Charge, including roles and responsibilities of the municipality and province
  • steps to develop a background study, including the following legislative requirements of a Transit Station Charge:
    • proposed geographic boundary
    • municipality’s funding contribution
    • amount of development
    • calculating the proposed Transit Station Charge
    • municipal plan to offset the Transit Station Charge
  • steps to draft the Transit Station Charge
  • how to seek minister approval of the TSC by-law
  • how to enact the finalized TSC by-law
  • list of eligible municipalities
  • list of eligible costs that could be recovered through the Transit Station Charge

Who uses the guide

This guide is meant to be used by eligible municipalities that are interested in implementing a Transit Station Charge.

Industry partners, developers and real estate stakeholders may also refer to this guide to get information on the implementation process and to understand how a Transit Station Charge might impact them.

GO Stations Lending Stream

Eligible municipalities who are seeking to implement the Transit Station Charge may also be eligible to apply for the GO Stations Lending Stream (GSLS), a new loan program delivered through Infrastructure Ontario’s lending program.

Key features of the GSLS include:

  • lower interest rates compared to market interest rates during both the construction and debenture phases of the qualifying project(s)
  • construction loan tenor of up to 7 years
  • interest payment deferral option during the construction period, adding the deferred and accrued interest amount to the principal portion of the debenture loan 
  • debenture loan amortization of up to 40 years compared to the maximum 30 years for Infrastructure Ontario’s standard loan terms, subject to the maximum useful life of the asset

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Transit Station Charge or GO Stations Lending Stream, please contact TransitStationCharge@ontario.ca.