TTC Marks Milestone of Revitalized Union Station

July 2, 2015

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.

The new Union Station features a spectacular 500-ft. glass art wall, created by Toronto artist Stuart Reid. The mix of black and white images, coloured glass and poetry are created from the artist's observation and shared experiences with subway riders over the years.

The $137.5 million subway station portion of the project was funded by the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario and Government of Canada through Waterfront Toronto.

The TTC thanks its customers, partners at Metrolinx and the City of Toronto, businesses and residents for their patience during the construction period. Union Station opened in 1954 and the TTC is proud to add the completion of its renovation to a long list of modernization efforts under way today, as well as meeting a 2015 Customer Charter commitment to have Union Station finished before Toronto welcomes visitors for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.