City
Union Station Re-modernization Approved
Union Station will finally get its long overdue remodel after years of talk. The 640 million dollar renovation is scheduled to take place over the next five years and is funded by city, provincial and federal governments. Go Transit has even chipped in 172 million, along with VIA Rail who put in 25 million to upgrade passenger lounges. The new station improvements come after approval from City Hall earlier this week - with an outstanding 35-1 result.
Although Torontonians will always remember Union Station's classic look, I think a change is long overdue. The station is in constant disrepair. Cracks in the walls cause wet floors on rainy/snowy days. It's a poor (and ugly) reflection of our city, especially to tourists from around the world.
The project will definitely meet some challenges - particularly in terms of incorporating the historic elements in with modern architecture. I don't think a wholesale Union revamp would meet the warmest reception amongst Torontionians. With no construction plan set in place just yet, it will be interesting to see how this entire plan plays out. Within two months, City Hall should have a solid idea of what the new Union Station will look like. Artist renderings will surely follow soon after.
Upgrades will include: expanded retail space, new concourses, office space, pedestrian tunnels to the PATH system, and a new atrium over the tracks. On Union's new image, Mayor David Miller states, "We want places that draw people, not just places people go to because they happen to be walking by." I haven't been agreeing much with Mayor Miller lately, but I must say these are undisputed words of wisdom. An estimated, 65 million people visit Union Station - twice the amount that see Pearson International each year. And we can always look to tourism to help our city.
I'm usually one to raise an eyebrow when I hear talks of remodeling projects on historic buildings. I can't help but wonder what the result will be. In 2007, Michael Lee-Chin's Crystal addition to the ROM faced much criticism from some Torontonians. And I'm sure there will be much controversy over this project at Union. But it's definitely a much-needed move. I just hope that Union becomes a beautiful clean and safe station, while keeping some of its "vintage vibe".
Image by Aramil Liadon
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Escalators.... Please, spend money on escalators..........
You can always head to the arrivals, cut through to the departures and back up the ramp if you don't want to lug your luggage up the stairs.
Re-modernization? I guess I missed it was it modernized already?
There was a modernization project in the early 2000s when the station was sold. It was a 100 million project.
Any bets on whether this will happen? Council has repeatedly announced "deals" to make this happen and then they haven't panned out. Toronto Council is incompetent, immoral, and corrupt. I'll be shocked if work is started by the supposed completion date.
There was a comment left on the star that "no new tracks = no new capacity, waste of money blah blah". However, this is the kind of project that should set up Union for decades, not a few years.
There will be more people coming from the subway, more people coming from the streetcar from Queens Quay East and Bremner Boulevard, more people coming in from longer existing trains and more trains made possible on existing tracks and platforms by the Union Station Resignalling Project, more people coming in by the new North West PATH connection which is part of the project. All that while GO/Metrolinx move their headquarters to currently vacant office space, also part of the project.
More tracks are useless if all these people are stuck in insufficient pedestrian pathways to get from - and lots of them will not be in Union Stn to catch or disembark a GO Train.
"I just hope that Union becomes a beautiful clean and safe station, while keeping some of its "vintage vibe"."
This quote is pretty much how I feel at the moment about the whole subject. As much that was said about the addition to the ROM I don't think too many of those people that did the negative talking are saying much now. It turned out gorgeous and inspiring to Toronto, let's hope it's some sort of indication of the outcome of this project. Fingers crossed.
if you have the money to re-modernize the station, modernize the subway train first
New trains are set to start replacing some of the oldest cars on the Yonge-University-Spadina line by year's end.
They had a mock up touring major subway stations three years back and you can find out more information here: http://www3.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects_and_initiatives/New_Subway_Train/Overview_and_key_features.jsp
I believe they ordered a little over 200 trains, all of which should be on the tracks within the next two years, unless I'm mistaken.
that should have read a little over 200 new CARS, not trains, but still, it's progress.