Union Station project: The worst (noise) is yet to come

By Miranda Beninger –

Toronto has recently seen several revitalization projects aiming to make the city more welcoming to both tourists and residents. Regent Park, Dundas Square, Nathan Phillips Square and Union Station are just a few Toronto landmarks getting makeovers.

But the largest-scale project has yet to come.

Along with the restoration of facilities in and around Union Station, Toronto’s transportation system is also set to drastically expand—and several historic buildings will be returned to their original glory in the process.

The GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO TRIP) is currently underway. Up until now, most of the work has gone unnoticed by the public. Platforms have been updated and workers have just begun to replace the rail switches that route trains from the point of departure to their destination.

GO TRIP will replace several parts of the existing railway and equipment and restore or demolish older buildings in the Downtown core. The old railway signaling system—in use since 1927—will be replaced as well.

David Hopper is the program manager for the Union Station rail corridor infrastructure improvement program. At a recent neighbourhood meeting, he explained the operations of a big city transportation hub.

“Running a railroad, there is more that goes into it than meets the eye,” he said. “We have to make these infrastructure improvements, before things in the city get so packed that there is nowhere to do the work we need.”

GO Transit currently moves 160,000 people every day and Hopper is expecting that number to double in the next 25 years.

This means several new facilities will be needed to support to influx of passengers.

The Don Yard—an old freight storage building—will be converted into a midday train storage yard between Don and Cherry streets. In the future, extra trains will be put on standby for the rush hour instead of being stored farther away.

The historic Union Station train shed will be transformed as well. The roof will be restored to its original form, but GO TRIP is planning a new glass atrium to be built in the centre—allowing more natural light to come in.

The north and south portions of Simcoe Street will finally be connected by a tunnel underneath the train tracks.

For commuters, the renewal project will have many benefits. Replacing rails will mean a smoother and quieter ride to and from the city. And new tracks will accommodate larger trains to carry more people.

But there are downsides to the upcoming developments. Noise could become an issue for residents living near construction areas which stretch along the waterfront from the Don River to Strachan Avenue. The scope of the project means construction will take place in locations that are geographically spaced out, and over a long period of time.

Tom Davidson, a representative from Pam McConnell’s office in Ward 28, says his concern is that contractors follow all the city guidelines.

“They will have to work with municipal standards to obey all of the noise bylaws,” he said.

Other residents have health and environmental concerns. Catherina Perez is a mother of three, and she is concerned about a new school that is set to be built right beside one of the construction areas.

“We need to look at all of the long term effects on the school, and the parks in that area,” she said.

At the meeting, Hopper assured residents that every precaution will be taken to make sure that safety and noise regulations are met throughout the project and communities will be consulted if any extensions are needed for construction.

“The closer you are to the station, the more impact there will be on you,” he admits.

In the future, more trains could mean more noise. But Hopper says the tradeoff will be worthwhile if more people use public transportation.

GO Transit’s overall expansion program, including the work being done at Union Station, is expected to take seven years to complete and cost well over one billion dollars. The funding comes from a combination of federal, provincial and municipal governments.