Station Expansion
Union’s status as a transport hub has resulted in overcrowding on its narrow centre platform, often requiring TTC personnel to regulate the number of passengers allowed to wait on the platform at a given time. This results in overcrowding in the concourse level and significant commuter delays.
In 2003 public consultations and planning meetings were held to examine options to reduce crowding in the station. The resulting plan calls for the current platform to be re-purposed to serve only the University-Spadina line trains, while a new platform would be built on the south side of the existing tracks to serve the Yonge line trains. Preparatory construction for the expansion (mainly re-locating utilities buried in the area to be excavated for the new platform) began in 2006. The project went to public tender in April 2010 and construction commenced in February 2011.
The Transit City proposal calls for a new light rail line known as the Waterfront West LRT, extending the 509 Harbourfront streetcar route from the Exhibition Loop to Long Branch GO Station. Included in the plan is an expansion of the Union Station streetcar loop with additional platforms and passing tracks. Yet another line, not part of the Transit City plan, is to be built east along Queens Quay, from Bay to Parliament, partly to service sports facilities being built in the old Portlands for the 2015 Pan American Games. This Queens Quay East light rail line also would require expansion of this portion of the station.
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