Riders in the York Region of Ontario will have a new option to connect to downtown Toronto come June 28 when the new Bloomington GO Transit Station opens.
The station is a key component of Metrolinx’s Richmond Hill GO Expansion, which will deliver increased service on the line and offer faster travel times.
The Bloomington GO Transit Station extends service on the Richmond Hill line by five kilometers (3.1 miles) and Metrolinx notes the station is “part of a complex, important and evolving system connecting GO Transit vehicles and routes to destinations and other transit options across the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region.”
The new transit hub has nearly 1,000 parking spots in a multi-level garage in addition to access from Highway 404 to ease drop-off and pickups. Additionally, the new station will include bike storage, a bus loop with six bus bays and a 12-car platform with heated shelters and a snowmelt system.
“We’ve reached an incredible milestone with the completion of the new Bloomington GO Station, a major transit stop that extends the Richmond Hill line further north,” said Caroline Mulroney, Ontario Minister of Transportation. “By helping to better connect communities, we’re keeping our promise to build accessible, modern transit infrastructure that drives economic growth and spurs job and housing opportunities across the province.”
In addition to the mobility options, the station features:
- Large modern waiting areas with plenty of natural lighting and views.
- Accessible, well-lit ramps throughout the structure and two elevators to allow passengers access to every level of the station.
- The station was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, which includes solar panels on the roof to generate electricity and a stormwater management system.
- A special underground crossing from an existing pond to nearby wetlands to preserve migration paths for area wildlife, such as frogs.
Bloomington GO Station’s entrance waiting area is 668-square feet and has a large glass roof atrium that allows for plenty of natural lighting. Elevators and accessible ramps are found throughout the building to allow passengers to navigate all four levels of the station.
“We are so proud to open the new Bloomington GO, which will deliver even more transit connections in York Region,” said Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx. “Our customers will have access to a brand-new station building with amenities that will keep them safe as they travel on GO Transit and will support future growth in the region.”
Metrolinx utilized a design, bid, build delivery model for the station project and awarded a C$82.4-million (US$67.14-million) contract to Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. in December 2016. Construction began on the Bloomington GO Transit Station in early spring 2017.
