Toronto: TTC Marks Milestone of Revitalized Union Station

On July 2, Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver and Provincial Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Michael Coteau joined TTC Chair Josh Colle and TTC CEO Andy Byford to mark the completion of major renovations at the Toronto Transit Commission's Union Station.

About 125,000 people use Union Station each day. The addition of a second subway platform and expansion of the concourse to include a single TTC fare-paid area and pedestrian by-pass routes, have helped to reduce overcrowding and improve passenger circulation.

Construction began in May 2011 and is part of the larger Toronto Waterfront revitalization. New station features include:

• Second subway platform
• New concourse
• New fareline and collector booth
• New elevator and escalators to the new second platform
• Widened and improved access/exit to/from platforms and concourse
• Automatic entrance into the Brookfield tunnel
• Art wall
• Ceramic tiles
• Ramped walkways with glazed glass partitions
• Improved signage

Union Station remained open throughout the transformation, a challenge that called for a balanced customer-focused approach and close co-ordination with GO Transit and local businesses. The reduction of lanes on Front St. W., from Yonge to York Sts. was necessary to excavate to the existing tunnel structure and build the new platform. Crews were required to dig and temporarily support existing watermains, gas lines, sewers and other utilities. ..................(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12089566/ttc-marks-milestone-of-revitalized-union-station