King-Victoria Transit Hub

[ZEBuilder]

Here's a piece that I wasn't anctipating:

Approval from Canadian Wildlife Services is still required concerning modifications to the existing chimney.  The Region is working with this agency to confirm the preferred approach to preserving the Chimney Swift habitat.

This is why demo of the Rumpel Felt building was delayed. It went to tender and then continously got extended out until it was cancelled.

[ac3r]

There's a new sign that mentions 127 million for the train station from the federal and provincial governments. Or, it might be old and I just never noticed.

[MidTowner]

Prolonged closure on Duke Street in preparation for transit hub

[ZEBuilder]

There's a new sign that mentions 127 million for the train station from the federal and provincial governments. Or, it might be old and I just never noticed.

It's new funding that was announced a couple months ago, it basically makes up the balance of funding for the project that the Region didn't have. It allows for Phase 2 to go ahead where it originally wasn't going to, so works on Phase 1 and 2 can effectively be concurrent as opposed to the multi year gap between the bare bones station with platforms (Metrolinx) and the actual building.

[ac3r]

Good to hear. Now, if only they would start building it.

[nms]

I noticed that there was fencing around the factory and equipment parked on Duke St. Duke St between Victoria and the train tracks is also fenced off.

[taylortbb]

Good to hear. Now, if only they would start building it.

The region's update I linked last week has the timeline. Metrolinx has tendered the construction of the platforms, contract will be awarded soon for a fall construction start.

The passenger building needs to wait for the platforms to be finalized, so tendering is about 6 months behind.

[nms]

Will Metrolinx wait for the passenger building and associated infrastructure before moving GO service to the new station?

[KevinL]

I imagine so, I gather both projects will overlap to a degree.

[ZEBuilder]

Will Metrolinx wait for the passenger building and associated infrastructure before moving GO service to the new station?

The way the project is being phased Metrolinx will have the ability to open the station before the new building is completed. The Region hasn't come out with a new phasing plan since they got funding for the actual building and with how far designs were I doubt they're going to change the plans. The original plan was to have all the associated regional infrastructure (bus loop, King St bridge, parking lot) completed concurrently with the Metrolinx work (some of it is required for Metrolinx to even do their work). Phase 2 (actual building) was to occur later as it isn't required in any way to have the station open, it's a nice to have but the station is designed to not require it.

Nothing has publicly been said to alter that plan so it is likely still the plan. Now being on the construction side of things it would make life way easier to not have to deal with the public while building the actual building, but nothing has been said on what the new plan is.

[tomh009]

Many (most?) GO stations don't even have a station building ...

[ZEBuilder]

Many (most?) GO stations don't even have a station building ...

Give or take half of the stations have a station building of some kind but they tend to be more common further from Toronto (old Via Stations or purpose built tiny ones). Take Lakeshore West for example, Burlington, Oakville, Appleby, Aldershot, and Port Credit all have buildings but Clarkson, Long Branch, Mimco and Exhibition don't (Exhibition will once OL is done). The same is true for all the lines with few exceptions.

None of the stations are really as grandeur as ours is going to be but much of that comes down to the Region leading it and not Metrolinx. The only real exception to that statement is Bloomington GO but it's a weird one for a whole other plethora of reasons. Then eventually Exhibition but that's thanks to OL.

[danbrotherston]

Anyone know what the passenger numbers are for the station currently?

I would hope it would go up, but also most stations here have no station building (but will still have infrastructure like elevators and shelters) and still have 2000-3000 passengers per day (mind you that is spread among many more trains which people wait less time for so it's not exactly apples to oranges).

Still for a central station in a major city, there are other reasons to have a train station building. It does represent a kind of civic investment.

[westwardloo]

I agree the building is a bit about Civic Pride. It is almost an Art installation that will represent our city for decades to come. There will be some function to the space as well though. There is planned retail space (Only 1 space) which is better than the original idea to have no retail. There will be community meeting spaces, Offices for GRT & Metrolinx staff. The public Square will be slightly larger then Carl Zehr square so I could see it hosting Civic events as well. 

There is also the potential that a station like this could be a stop for a future southern route of the HSR. 

In terms of numbers, I don't know what they are like currently, but I could image they would start to pick up once we officially have 2-way all day go 7 days a week. Also if metrolinx buys the track between KW and London, make upgrades to the bring travel times down and extends 2-way all day go to london.

[MidTowner]

As far as ridership goes, Metrolinx doesn't tell us, but the Kitchener bus is one of the busiest in the system, so I bet Kitchener Station itself ranks highly for ridership.

This is a hub with local buses and Ion; Via rail; Go train and buses; and other private inter-city buses. It can't really be compared to a station like Long Branch, which has extremely high ridership but will also be commuter rail connecting to big parking lot and some TTC service.