Union Station Renovation Will Benefit GO Commuters
McGuinty Government Making Public Transit Better, Creating 2,000 Jobs
Ministry of Transportation
The GO terminal at Toronto's historic Union Station is undergoing a major transformation.
The Union Station of the future will be filled with natural light through a, glass atrium roof over the passenger platforms and railway tracks. The new roof will include solar panels to generate electricity and louvered panels that will open and close to improve the air circulation throughout the passenger platform area.
Additional work includes building two new concourses for passengers -- one off York Street and one off Bay Street -- giving passengers triple the amount of space they have now and improving access to street and platform levels. More stairs, elevators and improvements to tracks and signal systems will also provide commuters with a more accessible and reliable station.
This project is part of the Open Ontario plan to create jobs and opportunities that will boost the province's economy. These renovations at Union Station will support nearly 2,000 construction jobs. Construction started in January and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Quick Facts
- The $200 million dollar project awarded to Aecon Ltd will modernize the GO Transit train station at Union Station while preserving the landmark building's heritage values.
- Union Station is an essential transportation hub for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It handles 65 million passengers each year, servicing GO Transit, VIA Rail and Toronto Transit Commission riders.
- On a typical weekday, 185 GO trains carry almost 175,000 commuters to and from Union Station. GO estimates that by 2020, ridership to downtown Toronto will more than double.
Quotes
Union Station is being transformed into a world-class transportation station that is modern, bright and less congested. A larger concourse for passengers with more stairs and elevators will help commuters move through the station easily and board and exit their train more comfortably."
Union Station represents the heart of GO's operations. This historical undertaking will breathe new life into the facility while improving the customer experience."
Gary McNeil