News   Apr 02, 2026
City Council March, 2026 Settlements: Negotiations Advance Projects Across Toronto
 361     0 
News   Apr 02, 2026
News Roundup for April 2, 2026
 337     0 
News   Apr 02, 2026
Mount Celeste
 366     1 

GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

reaperexpress said:
Station stops typically add about 2 to 3 minutes to GO schedules, depending on the speed limit. Breslau is in a 70 mph zone so I'd guess slightly over two minutes.

The Kitchener Expansion BCA describes a 90 minute travel time for express trains including extra stops at Breslau, Malton and Woodbine (Pearson Junction). Today the travel time is 101 minutes, though I expect that to drop to around 98 minutes in the next timetable.



A more optimistic theory is that GO is assembling properties on the south side of the tracks to make room for another pair of tracks. And the surface parking lots are just a placeholder until that happens.
Click to expand...

The parking lot was planned to replace parking on the main station lot where the Ryerson/Sheridan building was planned before the province eliminated funding for it (right after the 2018 municipal election). The City of Brampton owns the vacant two office buildings at the northwest corner of George and Nelson, and owns 8 Nelson (the office building above the bus terminal) and 14 Nelson. The 8 and 14 Nelson properties are slated for the new transit hub that will provide more space for buses, the proposed Hurontario LRT extension, and the third track.

There is room within the ROW between the northern curb of Railroad Street and the existing south platform for that new track (the south platform would serve two tracks). Railroad Street might have to narrowed somewhat, and become a one-way street. Closing down Railroad Street between Elizabeth and George (adjacent to the parking lot) would make the construction of the new transit hub easier for sure. But the properties on Railroad Street between Elizabeth and Mill should not be affected.

Here's a link to a new staff report concerning the planned transit hub: https://pub-brampton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=36905
 
Last edited:
Site plan approval filed for the Allandale transit hub: https://www.barrie.ca/City Hall/Pla...ed-Developments/Ward8/Pages/20-Essa-Road.aspx

Type of ApplicationDate Application ReceivedStatus
Site Plan Control,
D11-020-2021		Oct. 28, 2021Under Review

"This proposed development will include the relocation of the City of Barrie’s main transit terminal to centrally locate a modern inter-regional transit hub within the Allandale area. The Hub will be adjacent to the existing rail corridor to host seamless transit services and connections. The proposed development includes a building fronting Essa Road with the remainder of the site acting as a transit bus loop. For further information please visit the Allandale Transit Mobility Hub project webpage."

From the above link:

"This project is anticipated to be complete by end of 2022 and will include the following major components:

  • The Allandale Transit Mobility Hub will be located within Barrie's Allandale area to centrally locate a modern inter-regional transit hub with adjacency to the existing rail corridor. This hub will host seamless transit services and connections between Simcoe County, Muskoka, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The City has submitted a Site Plan Control application for 20 Essa Road.
  • The Downtown Mini Hub will include bus stops and sheltered waiting areas located on Maple Avenue. These bus stops will maintain downtown transit service levels and provide direct access routes to and from the downtown. Reducing the footprint of the current transit terminal (24 Maple Avenue) within the downtown while preserving route coverage will support downtown revitalization objectives and provide continued access to Barrie's busiest destination."

2021 Q3​
​
  • The Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) team has procured the additional major engineering consultants and building trades to assist in validating aspects of the project. The IPD team continues to develop conceptual drawings, inclusive of refining costing and schedule details.
  • The following site due diligence activities have been completed over the past quarter: Traffic Impact Study to 2031, Species at Risk Study with Letter of Clearance, Supplemental Hydrogeological Report, Due Diligence Risk Assessment Report, Tree Preservation Study, Decommissioning of Monitoring Wells and a Fire Hydrant Flow Test.
  • The following site due diligence activities are underway: Site Survey for the Downtown Mini Hub, Supplemental Geotechnical Report, and Consultations with Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
"
 
Not sure what has been posted thus far on the Allandale Hub; but I've lifted a couple of slides from the following presentation last June:




1637110376331.png


1637110435321.png


1637110476535.png
 
Nomad_87 said:
Would love for them to have the Midland and Orillia linx buses terminate here now for the connectivity.
Click to expand...

Or at least integrated fares between Barrie Transit and Simcoe County Linx. Barrie Transit does a decent job of connecting the Simcoe Linx buses at RVH and Georgian College to Downtown and Allandale with frequent and direct express buses; it's a matter of making it convenient, either with non-stop Simcoe Linx service between RVH and Allandale, or with a free transfer.
 
ShonTron said:
Or at least integrated fares between Barrie Transit and Simcoe County Linx. Barrie Transit does a decent job of connecting the Simcoe Linx buses at RVH and Georgian College to Downtown and Allandale with frequent and direct express buses; it's a matter of making it convenient, either with non-stop Simcoe Linx service between RVH and Allandale, or with a free transfer.
Click to expand...
Agree with all of that, except the “Frequent and direct bus service” part. Barrie Transit’s routes are just as meandering and infrequent up there as they are in any other part of the city.

Source: Georgian College alumni. Left just before the pandemic
 
Nomad_87 said:
Agree with all of that, except the “Frequent and direct bus service” part. Barrie Transit’s routes are just as meandering and infrequent up there as they are in any other part of the city.

Source: Georgian College alumni. Left just before the pandemic
Click to expand...

I found Route 100 pretty good, but that's the highlight of what is otherwise a mediocre system for a city of its size. Kingston shows how to do it right for a city of that weight class.
 
I think the goal of Linx was to connect outlying communities with those parts of Barrie that the majority of bus-dependent residents currently head to on a halfways regular basis - Georgian College and the regional health centre. It may evolve.
 
I've been noticing all trains incurring a 1 minute delay just east of Kitchener station, and based on VIA tracker, there seems to be a 15 mph restriction at Lancaster Avenue:
a.jpg

Is there indeed a speed restriction there, and if so, is it new and does anyone know why?
 
reaperexpress said:
I've been noticing all trains incurring a 1 minute delay just east of Kitchener station, and based on VIA tracker, there seems to be a 15 mph restriction at Lancaster Avenue:

Is there indeed a speed restriction there, and if so, is it new and does anyone know why?
Click to expand...

There was a high profile pedestrian incident there two years ago, but the signage has been updated, pedestrian gates and anti-trespass barriers installed, so if that was the cause for a restriction then it certainly shouldn't be any more.
 
No official announcement yet but the area for the 2nd platform at Guelph Central is completely cleaned. Surely they must announce something soon.

A62BA204-3F46-421D-BB6E-A77EE0968493.jpeg
D7CF70A1-E0ED-418C-9048-5C13C1DF020F.jpeg
A268CD7E-0115-4D8D-9965-97F8CD86E88F.jpeg
 
I was hoping the new main track (old service track) through Malton would allow for a better PM eastbound schedule, without the 1.5 hour gap to let VIA 87 through.

With the current layout at Wice, though, the new track (blue) can't be accessed from the east without reversing, and the construction zone seems to end west of here.
wice.png

Does the current work include a connection here (e.g. dotted line) and they just haven't gotten to it yet? Or will the track sit unused until it's extended further east?
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top