Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says he would like to see a direct public transit connection between downtown Brampton and Toronto Pearson Airport, a move he believes would be beneficial to residents of the city.

Brown raised the idea during a recent interview with broadcaster Brian Crombie, saying he has already discussed airport connectivity with Toronto Pearson President and CEO Deborah Flint and the provincial government.

“It’s not something we have approvals for today, but it’s something I’d love to see eventually,” Brown said.

“I really believe if you could have a direct transit link to Pearson, it would be a great way to get people into our downtown.”

He added that would also assist the many people in Brampton who work at the airport.

Brown did not outline a specific route, funding model or timeline for such a connection, and there is currently no approved project to establish a direct transit link between downtown Brampton and Pearson.

The comments nevertheless offer a glimpse into the mayor’s thinking about how Brampton’s downtown could benefit from its existing GO Transit station and the major transit investments now underway.

Brown was asked about the role of the downtown GO station, noting that it gives Brampton a transportation advantage that some other major GTA municipalities do not have.

“It is a unique benefit,” Brown said. “It’s why we wanted the LRT connected to it.”

The Hazel McCallion Line is being extended into downtown Brampton through a planned four-kilometre tunnel, creating a connection between the downtown core, Brampton Gateway Terminal and other regional transit services. The city says the project is expected to support significant housing and employment growth along the corridor.

Brown also pointed to efforts to increase GO service frequency, saying the city has secured additional service on several occasions through discussions with the provincial government.

A direct connection to Pearson would add another layer to that network, potentially allowing airport passengers and workers to travel directly between the airport and downtown Brampton without relying on a car or transferring through other parts of the region.

Pearson is Canada’s largest airport and a major employment centre, with more than 52,000 people working across its airport community. Passenger volumes reached 23.5 million during the first half of 2026, up 3.5 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

Brampton already has a direct Brampton Transit connection to Pearson through the 115 Airport Express bus, although Brown’s comments appear to envision a more direct regional transit connection between the airport and the heart of Brampton.

The idea comes as both downtown Brampton and Pearson are undergoing major infrastructure investment.

At Pearson, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority has launched Pearson LIFT, a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure program that will transform the airport over the next decade. Brown attended the groundbreaking for the first phase of the program in May.

Meanwhile, Brown said downtown Brampton is entering a major period of construction as the city works on several projects intended to lay the groundwork for future growth.

Those projects include the $100-million Riverwalk flood-mitigation project, which is intended to remove development restrictions caused by the downtown’s location in a floodplain. The city is also redesigning its downtown squares, pursuing the redevelopment of the Heritage Theatre block, expanding sidewalks and streetscapes and bringing the Hazel McCallion Line into the downtown.

Brown acknowledged the construction will be difficult for downtown businesses but said he believes the long-term result will be a stronger core.

“I believe when we complete this process, we’ll have a downtown that rivals other great cities,” he said.

A direct airport connection, if it eventually moves beyond an idea, could become another piece of that vision — linking Brampton’s downtown directly to one of the GTA’s largest transportation and employment hubs while potentially bringing more visitors, workers and investment into the city centre.


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