The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

For some reasons, nothing depresses me more than a food court, in any context.

It beats what was offered before, there wasn't even any seating. I'm sure most commuters and travelers will be happy this amenity now exists. I'm just reading more about what's been going on at Union and it does kind of feel like a destination now and they aren't even close to done yet.


This is what Union had before all be it is closed in this shot.
source: https://farm1.staticflickr.com




But if Food Courts make you sad Union now offers many other non food-court options. I'm also not a food court fan.


All but last pic below are from blogTO.com https://www.blogto.com/slideshows/union-station-restaurants-toronto/
Amano Italian Eatery.



Love these guys Poke Bowls.


Union Chicken which opened their second location here. Lucky name I suppose.


Pilot Coffee


Greenhouse Juice


Danish Pasty


Forno Cultura (Damn these people make the best sandwhiches on King Street, looks like just pastries here though.)


WVRST Sausage and Beer Hall source: https://s3.amazonaws.com

[ssiguy]

When is Union suppose to actually be finished?

[TorontoDrew]

It's way behind schedule and way over budget but in the end it will have been worth it I think.

Looking Ahead
During the next year, we will continue to complete the restoration of the Great Hall, the VIA Concourse, the new Bay Concourse and lower retail level. In addition, the glass moat covers located on Front St. and York and Bay, will provide commuters with shelter from the elements when accessing the Station from street level and the TTC.


It's a three stage process. Right now they are finishing a few Stage 2 items and have started on Stage 3 items. Who knows when it will all be done. We are in year 9 now of the work. You can find info here: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments...ties/union-station/construction-staging/

[ssiguy]

9 years to redo one station is absolutely absurd and one of the reasons why very few Torontonians have any faith in Metrolinx to get it`s RER system up and running by 2025 little alone come in on budget.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

9 years to redo one station is absolutely absurd and one of the reasons why very few Torontonians have any faith in Metrolinx to get it`s RER system up and running by 2025 little alone come in on budget.

Absurd, perhaps, if you were renovating a station that had been closed, but not that unreasonable for a project of this scale on a building that has continued to function throughout the process, istm.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Absurd, perhaps, if you were renovating a station that had been closed, but not that unreasonable for a project of this scale on a building that has continued to function throughout the process, istm.

Well considering it's nearly 4 years late, on it's 3rd general contractor, and roughly 200 million over budget ya I'd say that's pretty unreasonable.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

9 years to redo one station is absolutely absurd and one of the reasons why very few Torontonians have any faith in Metrolinx to get it`s RER system up and running by 2025 little alone come in on budget.

To be fair to call it a redo is a huge understatement. Yes it is taking a long time much longer then expected but adding an extra level below an active railway station is no small feat. In fact it's the second busiest railway station in North America so adding a new level, upgrading all existing levels and restoring the heritage sections without causing any major disruptions is a massive undertaking.

Source: https://www.blogto.com

[GeneralLea]

I honestly miss the old food court in some way...but I understand why they wanted to renovate it. It definitely needed some fixing in some places. I'd be surprised if that many Torontonians have much trust in Metrolinx.

[Metro-One]

By 2025 Montreal will definitely have the most complete / best transit system in Canada.

Toronto will arguably have the nicest transit features (love what is being done at Union Station)

Vancouver will arguably have either the best or second best system relative to its population base.

All rankings aside, it is great really seeing our urban rail systems maturing and expanding.

The entry of Ottawa into the club with what is essentially a true metro system (joining Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver) has really helped raise Canada’s urban rail profile IMO.

Also fingers crossed for Calgary getting its first metro-like subway section.

Exciting times.

[ScreamingViking]

For Union Station, it's been a long process so far, with still much to do. I remember them starting the platform work so long ago... and there are still platform upgrades under way. It's frustrating as a regular GO commuter (the TTC renos of their subway station have been equally frustrating; that's largely been done for a while but I still don't think it works as well as it could have)

Bear in mind this is a joint project: Metrolinx and the City of Toronto.

I imagine there have been some unanticipated surprises given the age of the station and how long it had been since any major improvements had been made.

Re: the food court, I walked through it tonight and I can't say I noticed departure boards, but I wasn't looking either. It would be silly not to have those, so if they're missing they may just be additions to complete. I was more interested in the options (seems to be a nice mix, though many of them seem to be more expensive than "traditional" food court fare).

I'm glad that's open finally as it's been frustrating to see this level below the York concourse being completed, looking so inviting yet totally closed off.

Saw some people doing some people-watching below from the upper level. There was a DJ playing too.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

To be fair to call it a redo is a huge understatement. Yes it is taking a long time much longer then expected but adding an extra level below an active railway station is no small feat. In fact it's the second busiest railway station in North America so adding a new level, upgrading all existing levels and restoring the heritage sections without causing any major disruptions is a massive undertaking.

Source: https://www.blogto.com
]

What, that is indeed an impressive task. Remember that Berri-UQÀM is still not finished and work started in 2010...

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

What, that is indeed an impressive task. Remember that Berri-UQÀM is still not finished and work started in 2010...

On a similar note, work to extend Autoroute 35 to the border started a while back and stopped, with completion nowhere in sight.

[SteelTown]

HSR is testing out the new electric buses for the next 30 days; before city council decides to switch to electric buses for future purchases.

Originally Posted by StEC

I saw the new bus being tested today, I can't wait until our entire fleet is electric!!! Tired of gagging on the diesel fumes!

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

By 2025 Montreal will definitely have the most complete / best transit system in Canada.

Toronto will arguably have the nicest transit features (love what is being done at Union Station)

Vancouver will arguably have either the best or second best system relative to its population base.

All rankings aside, it is great really seeing our urban rail systems maturing and expanding.

The entry of Ottawa into the club with what is essentially a true metro system (joining Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver) has really helped raise Canada’s urban rail profile IMO.

Also fingers crossed for Calgary getting its first metro-like subway section.

Exciting times.

This one is possibly in doubt now pending the results of the upcoming provincial election.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by lubicon

This one is possibly in doubt now pending the results of the upcoming provincial election.

yep, the term Conservative now means cuts, especially to services, capital projects and high income taxes. Thank gawd Ronald Reagan brought us trickle down economics. It has been a revelation to Conservatives ever since.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

I honestly miss the old food court in some way...but I understand why they wanted to renovate it. It definitely needed some fixing in some places. I'd be surprised if that many Torontonians have much trust in Metrolinx.

Same. It was dated as hell and the options weren't the best but I think the non-seated design of it worked better for a busy terminal like Union. I know that every time I grabbed something to eat at Union, I was in far too much of a rush to sit down anywhere proper with it.

The new food court seems more suited to a shopping mall than a busy transit hub.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by lubicon

This one is possibly in doubt now pending the results of the upcoming provincial election.

I really hope that is not the case. Would add such a great layer to Calgary’s transit system and urbanity.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I really hope that is not the case. Would add such a great layer to Calgary’s transit system and urbanity.

It seems unlikely Jason Kenney would cancel the Green Line. He was the one that announced the federal funding when he was in government, and he is the MLA for Calgary SE, the main beneficiaries when the line eventually is built out. It would be pretty poor politics, but who knows.

[ssiguy]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Absurd, perhaps, if you were renovating a station that had been closed, but not that unreasonable for a project of this scale on a building that has continued to function throughout the process, istm.

That`s not really the point. I appreciate that it is a very difficult undertaking but they knew that from the beginning. If it was going to cost hundreds of million more and take up to a decade to complete then they should have stated that in the first place instead of endless delay and over budget announcements. All that does is set up false expectations for the travelling public and reinforce Torontonians view that Metrolinx couldn`t bring in a transit project on-time and on-budget if their life depended on it.


At best it`s complete incompetence and a worse just a bold faced lie. Either way it shows contempt for both transit users and taxpayers but then again being accountable to either of those parties has never been big on Metrolinx's priority list.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by milomilo

It seems unlikely Jason Kenney would cancel the Green Line. He was the one that announced the federal funding when he was in government, and he is the MLA for Calgary SE, the main beneficiaries when the line eventually is built out. It would be pretty poor politics, but who knows.

Regardless of who the premier is, does it make sense financially for Alberta and Calgary to drop billions into a very very expensive transit project when their revenues are getting beat up?

Traffic in Calgary is a joke so the green line isn't desperately needed compared to how badly say Toronto needs the DRL, so I'd imagine that $5+ billion would be much better put towards.. oh I don't know, buying some oil cars or another refinery? Or maybe just to reducing the deficit.