GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[Allandale25]

Wasn't sure if this should go in GO Service or GO Construction, but since it mentions geotechnical I'll add it here.

What’s going on with the GO Train expansion to Oshawa and Clarington?

How work to bring GO train from Oshawa to Clarington is progressing in the pandemic

NEWS Sep 17, 2020 by Jennifer O'Meara Clarington This Week

Without a lot of horn-tooting, it’s hard to tell how much work is progressing during the COVID-19 pandemic on the GO train eastern expansion through downtown Oshawa and into Clarington.

Jim McEwen, a retired Civil Engineer from Bowmanville with over 32 years of infrastructure design experience, said COVID-19 has made it impossible to hold public consultations at Information Centres and he’s very concerned the economic impact of the pandemic might lead the Province to defund or delay the project.

“The citizens of Clarington and central Oshawa have been waiting far too long for this essential infrastructure in Durham Region,” McEwen said via email. “I would like to see the Ontario government and Metrolinx provide a commitment to bring the GO Train to Bowmanville by the year 2025.”

He said he wants to see Metrolinx’s preliminary design for eastern GO Train expansion along the new Option 2 route, announced in February. The route will extend through the current Oshawa GO station connecting to the Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway’s General Motors spur line to cross Highway 401 and connect to the CP rail line north of the 401. There would be four new GO stations at Thornton’s Corners East, Ritson Road (the old Knob Hill Farms), Courtice and Bowmanville.

Since the route announcement and approval in February, public updates have been infrequent to non-existent. However, work on the GO train eastern expansion seems to still be chugging along.

Metrolinx is currently working on an update of their environmental assessment because of changes in their alignment in Oshawa, explained Clarington Manager of Community Planning and Design Carlos Salazar.

Work is also progressing on the preliminary design business case, explained Durham Member of Provincial Parliament Lindsey Park.

“We’re eagerly awaiting that because that’s required to be finished before Metrolinx submits the project to the Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Treasury Board for approval,” said Park.

She added her understanding is Metrolinx was able to work remotely and the pandemic did not much delay the eastern expansion project.

Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney confirmed that although the pandemic has had a great impact, it hasn’t stopped the province from moving forward with some of its important projects.

“As you know, Metrolinx has been working closely with Durham Region on the details of the Bowmanville GO extension and so it’s still proceeding as we intended before the pandemic,” Minister Mulroney said. “It is continuing as planned and we’ll have more to say about that in the future.”

Park confirmed there had been recent meetings between the Ministry of Transportation and Durham Region and local mayors.

“We’re not worried,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “I think it’s moving ahead.”

He said to keep residents’ faith the GO train is coming east, there will need to be contracts signed and shovels in the ground before the next provincial election.

“This has been promised for decades,” said Mayor Foster. “It’s time to move forward.

Mayor Foster added local Mayors and the Region of Durham have a meeting with the president of Metrolinx scheduled for later this fall. He said there would likely be more public information on how the project is progressing after that meeting.

Metrolinx did not respond to requests for an update or interview. However, a recent pamphlet from Metrolinx was mailed out to residents near the future train stations.

This September investigative work is beginning along the rail line, according to the mail-out. Along the CP-owned corridor there will be geotechnical investigative work underway. The geotechnical work is necessary preliminary works in advance of Bowmanville Expansion construction.

The geotechnical work means drilling boreholes and testing soil conditions for the future construction of corridor infrastructure. Residents may see a small drill rig, trucks and work crew working within or near the rail corridor. There may be construction noise, vibration and dust. This work will take place during the daytime hours for several months.

While Metrolinx does the geotechnical work, Clarington, Oshawa and the Region of Durham have been working to plan transit-oriented neighbourhoods around the future train stations.

“The development community and property owners around the station are really enthusiastic about planning the area around the stations,” said Salazar.

Soon, Clarington residents will have a chance to help plan the neighbourhoods around the future train stations:

— Future Courtice station is part of the Courtice secondary plan public information centre on Tuesday, Sept. 29 beginning at 7 p.m. by phone (905-623-3379) or online at www.clarington.net/CourticePIC.

— Future Bowmanville station is part of the Bowmanville west secondary plan public information on Thursday, Oct. 1 starting at 7 p.m. by phone (905-623-3379) or online at www.clarington.net/BowmanvilleWestPIC.

“That’s part of our community engagement to ensure we have ideas from the public,” said Salazar. “We hope by that date we have more details from Metrolinx.”

— with files from Tim Kelly.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Since the announcement of the GO train route through downtown Oshawa and into Clarington this February, there has been very little public information on how the expansion is progressing. Your Community Newspaper found a lot of planning work is going on behind the scenes and the public will soon have a chance to help plan some of the neighbourhoods around the new stations.

Jennifer O'Meara
by Jennifer O'Meara
Jennifer O’Meara is a reporter for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. She can be reached at jomeara@durhamregion.com . Follow her on Twitter and DurhamRegion.com on Facebook

 

[robmausser]

It seems like the kitchener line might finish its 15 minute rer first, as barrie and stouffville hasnt even gone through 40% of the progress yet

I wouldnt put money on it yet; electrification on the Stouffville or Barrie Lines will be way easier than Kitchener Line.

I'd still consider Stouffville still possibly beating Kitchener; but only not Barrie because they need to do the Davenport Diamond project first.

 

[Krypto98]

I wouldnt put money on it yet; electrification on the Stouffville or Barrie Lines will be way easier than Kitchener Line.

I'd still consider Stouffville still possibly beating Kitchener; but only not Barrie because they need to do the Davenport Diamond project first.

I think Stouffville will be done first, then kitchener(however that could be done at the same time and we get through-way trains) and finally barrie.

Lakeshore east and west, could be finished first?

 

[anb]

I wouldnt put money on it yet; electrification on the Stouffville or Barrie Lines will be way easier than Kitchener Line.

I'd still consider Stouffville still possibly beating Kitchener; but only not Barrie because they need to do the Davenport Diamond project first.

That could be true. At least my home station is malton so i can use either UP Express and Miway whenever the next go train is like 40+ minutes away, after 11pm or if i just missed a train. When kitchener line is finished, this will be the most frequent line out of the entire corridor because of the 2 lines (KI and UP) and i can’t be more thankful for this

 

[hw621]

That could be true. At least my home station is malton so i can use either UP Express and Miway whenever the next go train is like 40+ minutes away, after 11pm or if i just missed a train. When kitchener line is finished, this will be the most frequent line out of the entire corridor because of the 2 lines (KI and UP) and i can’t be more thankful for this

Hopefully you still need to commute at that time...

 

[Allandale25]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1307811682023100416

 

[crs1026]

^The new signals are part of an upgrade to trackage in the Kitchener area. The existing CTC controlled track is a bit of a pinch point especially getting CN freights through town and getting GO trains to the layover yard. This will improve on that.

The change in track and signalling doesn't have any bearing on crossing safety, although it appears there are also changes being made to improve the crossing protection signals.

- Paul

 

[KevinT]

^The new signals are part of an upgrade to trackage in the Kitchener area. The existing CTC controlled track is a bit of a pinch point especially getting CN freights through town and getting GO trains to the layover yard. This will improve on that.

What I've found weird is that there's no facing point crossover to get GO trains from the south track into the Shirley Ave layover yard's western entrance, except for the one west of the freight yard at Lancaster St. The north track through the freight yard is often blocked, forcing retiring GO trains which have just changed direction at the station to go east past the layover yard, then change direction yet again to get into the yard. I'd imagine the crossover behind the Canadian Tire would be more useful if it faced the other direction, but I'm no rail controller.

 

[drum118]

Sept 22
The trucks of structural steel that been sitting on site since last year has finally been installed as the centre of the new GO Station. They have the east end steel in place as well with a small section for the west end that could see steel until the existing station can be torn down.

They are getting ready the ground floor of the parking structure. About 60% of the glazing for the stairs and elevators install.

The new west platform has the snow melting system in place and waiting for concrete to be pour on top of it. Work taking place on the new accessibly platform.

When we were heading to the station, all block singles were red, but when I hit the platform amber for the GO train and red over flashing green for track 1. Track 2 had an eastbound sitting under Steeles with no lights on. Waited for 10 minutes for the track 1 eastbound and left since the other haft was not willing to wait for the train. As we got to the parking lot, the eastbound train went by. After I finish shooting the east end and getting in the car, an westbound on track 1 went by with 3 units on point. Maybe with this westbound train passing, the sitting eastbound could move east. If I was by myself, would have hang around to train watch on the platform.

Lot more photos up on site.

 

[Coolstar]

Sept 22
The trucks of structural steel that been sitting on site since last year has finally been installed as the centre of the new GO Station. They have the east end steel in place as well with a small section for the west end that could see steel until the existing station can be torn down.

They are getting ready the ground floor of the parking structure. About 60% of the glazing for the stairs and elevators install.

The new west platform has the snow melting system in place and waiting for concrete to be pour on top of it. Work taking place on the new accessibly platform.

When we were heading to the station, all block singles were red, but when I hit the platform amber for the GO train and red over flashing green for track 1. Track 2 had an eastbound sitting under Steeles with no lights on. Waited for 10 minutes for the track 1 eastbound and left since the other haft was not willing to wait for the train. As we got to the parking lot, the eastbound train went by. After I finish shooting the east end and getting in the car, an westbound on track 1 went by with 3 units on point. Maybe with this westbound train passing, the sitting eastbound could move east. If I was by myself, would have hang around to train watch on the platform.

Lot more photos up on site.

Not a good question but what GO station is that again?

 

[drum118]

Not a good question but what GO station is that again?

Bramalea

 

[W. K. Lis]

Sept 22
The trucks of structural steel that been sitting on site since last year has finally been installed as the centre of the new GO Station. They have the east end steel in place as well with a small section for the west end that could see steel until the existing station can be torn down.

They are getting ready the ground floor of the parking structure. About 60% of the glazing for the stairs and elevators install.

The new west platform has the snow melting system in place and waiting for concrete to be pour on top of it. Work taking place on the new accessibly platform.

When we were heading to the station, all block singles were red, but when I hit the platform amber for the GO train and red over flashing green for track 1. Track 2 had an eastbound sitting under Steeles with no lights on. Waited for 10 minutes for the track 1 eastbound and left since the other haft was not willing to wait for the train. As we got to the parking lot, the eastbound train went by. After I finish shooting the east end and getting in the car, an westbound on track 1 went by with 3 units on point. Maybe with this westbound train passing, the sitting eastbound could move east. If I was by myself, would have hang around to train watch on the platform.

Lot more photos up on site.

Where's the bicycle garage, shopping mall, office buildings, and condos next door to the station?

From link.

 

[reaperexpress]

Where's the bicycle garage, shopping mall, office buildings, and condos next door to the station?

Next to Bramalea? You can't be serious. It's in an industrial park hemmed in by an expressway.

Not every station needs to be the centre of a planned community. Bramalea can remain a giant parking lot to serve some of the park-and-ride demand that is displaced when we build upon the parking lots around Brampton and Mount Pleasant stations.

 

[Northern Light]

Next to Bramalea? You can't be serious. It's in an industrial park hemmed in by an expressway.

Not every station needs to be the centre of a planned community. Bramalea can remain a giant parking lot to serve some of the park-and-ride demand that is displaced when we build upon the parking lots around Brampton and Mount Pleasant stations.

Well now, in fairness.

Bicycle parking can work in an industrial area too.

Also, the station really would benefit from food retail (a place to grab a bite to eat) and lots of nearby factory workers need to eat too.

The station doesn't need condo towers, but it could be made less hostile to pedestrians and cyclists and more amendable to passengers and neighbours alike.

 

[reaperexpress]

Well now, in fairness.

Bicycle parking can work in an industrial area too.

Also, the station really would benefit from food retail (a place to grab a bite to eat) and lots of nearby factory workers need to eat too.

The station doesn't need condo towers, but it would be made less hostile to pedestrians and cyclists and more amendable to passengers and neighbours alike.

Yes, absolutely. Bicycle parking, bus terminal (existing) and some food retail makes sense at Bramalea. I was more referring to the request for a full-on residential community.