GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[ShonTron]

Just to be clear, a "Bay" platform is for a dead-end track?

That's my impression. A few 'bay' platforms, with a pedestrian passage between the stub-ends, could potentially help passenger flows and transfers between trains as well. The new eastern storage and maintenance facility would also help this stub-track concept since fewer trains need to be sent westward through Union to Willowbrook.

 

[dowlingm]

Just to be clear, a "Bay" platform is for a dead-end track?

That is certainly how the term is used in Ireland.

 

[raptor]

Preferred Proponent Selected for Highway 401 Rail Tunnel Project
October 20, 2017
TORONTO - Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have selected Toronto Tunnel Partners (TTP) as the preferred proponent to design, build and finance the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project, in support of the province's GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program. Members of the TTP team include:

• Applicant Lead: EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc.
• Construction: EllisDon Civil Ltd. and STRABAG Inc.
• Design: WSP Canada Inc., Dr. Sauer & Partners, Amec Foster Wheeler
• Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc.

The selection of TTP is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third party fairness advisor.

IO and Metrolinx expect to reach financial close in late fall 2017, with construction to begin shortly thereafter.

The scope of work for the project includes construction of a second tunnel under Highway 401/409 to accommodate two tracks, future signaling, communications infrastructure, and replacing footings of retaining walls that support the ramp from eastbound Highway 409 to eastbound Highway 401.

Quick Facts:

• The project is being delivered using IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which transfers the appropriate risks associated with design, construction and financing of the project to the private sector.
• Work on the Kitchener GO corridor is part of a larger, system-wide plan to improve overall GO Transit service, including the delivery of GO RER. GO RER will provide faster and more frequent service across the GO rail network, with electrified service on core segments, including the Union Pearson Express. It is one of the largest transit infrastructure investments in North America.
• Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history. To learn more about what's happening in your community, visit Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Quotes:

“Ontario is moving forward to double capacity on the Kitchener GO Corridor. The new rail tunnel under Highways 401and 409 will support two-way, all-day service along the corridor through our GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program, making it easier and more convenient than ever before to take the GO. The new tunnel may also support future high speed rail service on this corridor.”
Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation

“Improving commute times and easing congestion are critical for families and businesses, and a priority for our government. I look forward to the completion of the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project, which directly supports local jobs and a strong economy.”
Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

“With this announcement, Metrolinx will begin a new phase of construction by building a second rail tunnel under Highway 401/409. This tunnel will allow for two-way train traffic, enabling more service on the Kitchener GO corridor. This is all part of our plan to connect communities within the GTHA and improve the customer experience.”
Phil Verster, President and CEO, Metrolinx

“Upon successful evaluation of the proposals, we have a great solution for the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel by Toronto Tunnel Partners. Infrastructure Ontario looks forward to awarding the contract and beginning construction in the fall.”
Ehren Cory, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario

 

[Edward Skira]

News Release

Ontario Making Transit More Convenient in Durham Region
October 20, 2017

Improvements to Oshawa GO Station Support Future 15-Minute Service
Ontario is making it easier and more convenient for commuters and families to take public transit in Durham Region with the opening of a new station building at Oshawa GO Station.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, visited the Oshawa GO Station today with Celina Caesar-Chavannes, MP for Whitby, Granville Anderson, MPP for Durham, Roger Anderson, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Durham Region, Mayor Adrian Foster, The Municipality of Clarington, Greg Percy, Chief Operating Officer, Metrolinx, and Marie-Anna Murat, Senior Director of Communications, VIA Rail Canada, to officially open the new station building.

Upgrades include a modern ticketing counter and waiting area, bigger public washrooms and, once complete, a canopy to connect the new station building with the VIA pedestrian bridge, which will protect passengers from the elements. Changes to the parking area, bike racks, and kiss and ride lot will also make it easier for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to access the station. The new station building is designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for sustainability.

The new station building is part of the largest rail project in Canada as Ontario transforms GO from a commuter transit system to a regional rapid transit system. Weekly trips across the entire GO rail network will grow from about 1,500 to nearly 6,000 by 2024-25, with electrified trains leaving every 15 minutes from Oshawa to Union Station.

The province is also cutting the cost of commuting for people in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Starting in January 2018, adult, senior, youth and student commuters will pay a TTC fare of just $1.50 when they use a PRESTO card to transfer between GO Transit or the UP Express and the TTC.

Investing in more accessible and convenient public transit is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.


QUICK FACTS

• Oshawa GO Station is a shared facility with VIA Rail, and is the eastern-most point on the GO Rail network. Over 7,850 passengers get on and off GO trains daily at the Oshawa GO station, making it one of the busiest stations across the GO system. It accounts for 16 per cent of the total ridership on the Lakeshore East line.
• Construction began on the new station building and other improvements in 2015. Work will continue at Oshawa GO Station until spring 2018, including the demolition of the old station building.
• The construction cost for this project is $14 million, funded by Ontario and VIA Rail, which contributed $4.3 million to the project.
• The upgraded Oshawa Station is part of Ontario’s $21.3 billion transformation of the GO Transit network from a commuter transit system to a regional rapid transit system.
• Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province’s history. To learn more about what’s happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

 

[innsertnamehere]

no pricetag for the tunnel? Do they not usually announce the price when the RFP closes (right now)?

 

[MisterF]

Globe and Mail interview here with the new Metrolinx CEO. A few items relating to GO RER and platforms at Union Station.

The weak link at Union is definitely the train boarding experience, something that's becoming more apparent with the station renovation. The new CEO is right on the money with this. Having a setup where you exit the platform before getting to stairs would allow more efficient passenger flows. A central area that the platforms feed into would allow much higher capacity stairs and escalators instead of squeezing stairs into already narrow platforms.

High platforms means new equipment, and potentially high platforms in other stations....and/or equipment with doors on two levels. That has to be a long term plan. I wonder which route would go first.

I wonder what impact that would have on the trainshed. All we need is a dark, dingy station with lower roof. Maybe it's an opportunity to get the whole thing right.

Frankly, with the stance they take on other things, I'm surprised that Transport Canada hasn't intervened on some of the very narrow stretches of platform. In the day, the far ends of platforms were not used for passenger boarding the way they are today.

- Paul

I imagine that other stations would have higher platforms where possible but they wouldn't necessarily have to be. High level trains can have stairs that automatically come out at stations with low platforms.

 

[Allandale25]

no pricetag for the tunnel? Do they not usually announce the price when the RFP closes (right now)?

Which tunnel? Edit: nevermind. It's on the previous page. You're asking about the 401/409-Kitchener Line tunnel. I don't think they've broken it down anywhere but I think it's indirectly referenced as part of the federal funding the Kitchener Line got in this from March 2017.

Also, the September 2017 Capital Projects report to the Metrolinx Board shows the total RER budget as $1,534,000,000 so I assume it's part of this line item. The tunnel description is noted further in the report under the "Kitchener Corridor" update.

 

[smallspy]

no pricetag for the tunnel? Do they not usually announce the price when the RFP closes (right now)?

They haven't come to a financial close yet - just picked the proponent with which they will negotiate. I suspect that once they've come to financial close that they will then announce the final pricetag.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[Allandale25]

They haven't come to a financial close yet - just picked the proponent with which they will negotiate. I suspect that once they've come to financial close that they will then announce the final pricetag.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

Give the complexity of building a grade separation while dealing with an existing wide highway, is it safe to assume it could be $150M or so? Just a guess. Also, any speculation on if they would use the method where they build the structure near the highway, close the highway, demolish in a short period of time the road above and remove the soil, and then maneuver the bridge into place, like this?

 

[Allandale25]

Metrolinx Board Strategy session Monday:

 

[drum118]

Give the complexity of building a grade separation while dealing with an existing wide highway, is it safe to assume it could be $150M or so? Just a guess. Also, any speculation on if they would use the method where they build the structure near the highway, close the highway, demolish in a short period of time the road above and remove the soil, and then maneuver the bridge into place, like this?

Not for the 401. Even the 409 is very questionable.

Its been done up in the Ottawa area. While in Paris, a new bridge was being built next to the current LRT line to allow the road to be straighten that require longer spans over the new road alignment. The bridge itself was in bad shape.

When they widen Hurontario at the Cooksville Underpass years ago, they used precast sections for the current sidewalk like this on a long weekend with CP having no access to the Milton Line. Even though CP was 5 hours late closing the line, they had the line in service 6 hours ahead of schedule.

 

[mdrejhon]

I went back to the West Harbour GO south platform.

(....Not open yet, but has multiple different unobstructed stairwells and even a working elevator, so it's now 100% pedestrian accessible through multiple different routes -- there is no longer any "NO TRESPASSING" signage -- all these signage are all gone at all entrances from all streets, with no barriers or any indication it's closed -- so any Joe Q Public can walk straight onto the finished not-yet-in-service platfrom that has rail still under construction!....)

That said, the 150-meter extension is still a pre-requisite for through service (as seen in my article at www.raisethehammer.org/article/2720 ....) ....There is still no track eastwards past West Harbour GO yet: That section needs to begin construction before the winter in order to successfully lay track to support the Niagara seasonal GO trains.

For me, the Election 2018 question is: Will we get Toronto-Hamilton-Niagara seasonal train service beginning in 2018?

My city councillor has already retweeted me on this:
https://twitter.com/mdrejhon/status/921445857626427392

 

[Allandale25]

Not for the 401. Even the 409 is very questionable.

Good to know. But I'd describe the bridge as 401/409 since the interchange ramps meet at the same location as the existing tunnel, so there's no 409 questionable part.

 

[Allandale25]

I went back to the West Harbour GO south platform.

Speaking of West Harbour, any info on the ridership since it was opened? Just curious.

 

[mdrejhon]

Speaking of West Harbour, any info on the ridership since it was opened? Just curious.

Not very many, due to its inconvenient and limited introductory schedule.
Typically less than 50 for the two morning trains, 6:09am and 6:39am

The easiest way to put "More bums in seats" (Greg Percy's quote) is to stop the Niagara seasonal GO train. That's an existing train, no additional new trains needed. This will help raise the profile of West Harbour GO station, putting new infrastructure to use sooner. I daresay more GO riders will ride those existing Niagara trains than the 6:09/6:39 commuter trains. Easily tripling monthly West Harbour numbers, long before extra trains needs to be added (2018-2023 construction towards Niagara).

West Harbour GO will be an important future station for Niagara train service, especially as Confederation GO (terminus) gets extended to West Harbour GO (new terminus) for their Hamilton-StCat/Niagara service -- an obvious step that they are likely keeping in the wings of incremental service expansions in the next 6 years.

But it's not necessary to politically warehouse the minor (even if logistically complicated) 100-to-300 meter stub extension necessary to stop the existing Niagara seasonal GO train, to win more voter points/support. It already stops in Oakville/Burlington/Grimsby -- all minor stops compared to West Harbour, a stop in a major city -- so the red tape of the logistical complexity of a minor fix must be cut as quickly as possible.

It's possible GO/Metrolinx is neglecting expanding this obvious West Harbour incremental bump, because of dissapointingly low numbers for too-early trains, and the numbers for the impressive (but poorly advertised) PanAm express trains were pretty low too. That train took me only 47 mins Toronto-Hamilton; the fastest ever for a revenue BiLevel, but it probably had less than two dozen passengers on it. A 47-minute express that was more than 95% empty. Probably privately dissapointed a few at Metrolinx.

However: The train's correct name wasn't even displayed on the digital signboards, the Union digital signage isn't capable of displaying "GO specials" properly. The bus bays at West Harbour GO are still currently unused, as Hamilton HSR buses haven't yet modified routes to use their bus bays yet.

There are real easy fixes that can triple or quadruple ridership at West Harbour (last year), with zero dollars of extra tax subsidy. The increase in weekend boarders would more than pay for all-day wicket manning during the summer weekends, given the emerging boom (as of 2015-2017) cycling in the Jamesville area, Cannon protected cycle track two blocks away, and the Niagara GO train bike coach -- a perfect recipie to easily increase weekly West Harbour ridership with some simple free promoting from orgs like @CycleHamilton and also the plenty of free parking (room for 300 cars); traffic isn't bad on weekends to West Harbour (much easier than driving on QEW). The seasonal trains already moves fast enough to go to Niagara Falls faster by GO train than via car! I'd be first in the #HamOnt line to ensure that sort of community/organizational social-media promoting does occur. No involvement from City of Hamilton needed;

I can easily (single handedly, on social media) bring enough passengers onto the Niagara GO train to pay for the weekend West Harbour operating cost (2 days of wicket manning per weekend + probably 1 security guard).