GO passenger Maria Sysova was chosen as the symbolic millionth rider for 2004. This is the first time in any year since the service began that GO has reached this milestone. She was presented with a pass for one year of free travel on GO, as well as a York University backpack. Maria is a second-year psychology student at York University. She regularly commutes from Burlington.

Photo from left: York is U’s Elizabeth Saati, GO Transit Chair Dr. Gordon Chong, GO Bear, millionth rider Maria Sysova, York President Dr. Lorna Marsden

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden spoke to students and faculty gathered at York’s Centre for Film and Theatre.

“York is pleased to be a GO Transit partner and to celebrate the one millionth rider on the highly successful Highway 407 GO Bus service,”said Marsden. “York has become the largest and busiest transit hub in the region and, in marking this milestone, we also look forward to further developments to improve transit to our campus.”

GO Transit Chairman Dr. Gordon Chong also spoke at the ceremony. “This milestone is just another proof that public transit really does work,” he said. “In just four years we’ve gone from 700 riders a day to nearly 10,000.”

Elizabeth Saati, Executive Director of York’s student alumni program, York is U, applauded the convenience, accessibility, and green initiatives that GO brings to the campus.

GO began bus service to York U in September 2000, and today carries up to 10,000 daily passengers. Ridership on the Hwy. 407 bus service has grown by 70% during the last year. In addition, GO’s York University rail station near the campus provides a direct link from the north.

GO Transit is Canada’s first, and Ontario’s only, interregional public transit system, linking Toronto with the surrounding regions of the GTA. York University’s Keele campus is the largest post-secondary campus in Canada. Over 1,000 public transit buses serve the university each day, making it the biggest transit hub in the GTA without a subway.

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For further information, the media should contact:

Ken Turriff, Media Relations, York University, 416 736-2100 ext. 22086

Stephanie Sorensen, GO Transit, 416 869-3600 ext. 5231;