The New Year has kicked off with a new gridlock-fighting mayor in Toronto and billions of dollars on the books in transit improvements for the region.

The TTC has already launched a minor milestone by offering debit and credit payments at all 69 subway stations for purchases of $10 and more. Metrolinx has introduced an additional trip in the morning and evening on the busy Milton GO line.

Those are the kind of incremental service improvements both transit agencies say riders can expect as they wait years for the completion of mega-projects such as electrified GO regional express rail, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Spadina subway extension and the signal modernization of the Yonge subway.

"The regional express rail program is a game changer, and the best part is people won’t have to wait 10 years to see progress. New services will be added each year," said Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins.

The TTC wants to add bus service and allow proof-of-purchase boarding to speed streetcar service on all 11 downtown lines. But how much of that is achieved this year depends on the city's budget, said the TTC's Brad Ross.

Regardless, he said, riders will notice "a constant and continuous improvement of service. ... an improvement in reliability on the surface routes and on the subway."

The TTC will continue efforts to eliminate short-turns on buses and streetcars. But increasing subway reliability will require more weekend closures as crews tackle track repairs and other upgrades.

Here's a list of some of transit developments riders can expect to see in 2015:

The $456 million Union Pearson (UP) Express train wasn't designed for commuters. But it's the marquee project on the horizon. Metrolinx is playing coy about the exact opening date, but it will be up and running in time for the Pan and Para Pan Am Games this summer. Even some of the steeper discounts on the $27.50 one-way train fare put the cost well above the TTC's Airport Rocket bus. But the trip time of 25 minutes from downtown to the airport will be unbeatable.

The west end of the Union Station renovation, the York GO concourse, is expected to open early this year, once the departure screens and Presto fare machines are installed. Its originally scheduled 2014 opening was delayed due to a late handover by the city, according to Metrolinx. As soon as the York side of the station opens, the commuter pain shifts east with the closure of the Bay St. GO customer area. The Bay teamways will remain open to allow riders to enter and exit the track area from the east end, however.

Metrolinx says it will be 2016 before the entire station renovation, including the train shed, is complete.

The TTC expects to complete the renovation of its concourse at Union Station and to bring the University, Downsview-bound platform up to the same standard as the newly complete second platform by May. A glass art wall running the length of the station will also be installed this year.

The Leslie Barns, a mammoth $500-million streetcar maintenance and storage facility on the corner of Leslie St. and Lake Shore Blvd. E., is expected to open in the second quarter of the year.

The TTC will continue to roll out its new longer Bombardier streetcars. But due to delays in the delivery schedule, it's unclear how many will be in Toronto by the end of the year. The plan is to fully convert the Spadina line to the new cars this year — it needs 12, and so far only three are in operation. The TTC would also like to begin furnishing Bathurst with new vehicles this year.

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Presto will continue to infiltrate the TTC, expanding to 26 subway stations from 15 this year, according to Metrolinx. Presto machines will roll out on the surface with the new Spadina and Bathurst streetcars, to be followed by the Harbourfront and Dundas lines. Again, however, it's not clear whether there will be enough new vehicles for those lines this year.

Around the region, riders will find MiWay bus service hours boosted by 3 per cent in Mississauga. Hamilton's new GO station on James St. North is also scheduled to open, with additional train service in time for the Pan Am Games.

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