Toronto Union Station Revitalization | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto | NORR

I guess they’re not replacing these barriers anytime soon. Fix them up with some art and a few signs and we’ll be good for a few more years
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It took a city like London (UK) weeks to install permanent barriers to their bridges after the vehicular ramming attacks a couple years back.

Meanwhile in Toronto, we'll do study, upon study, and ultimately put it on the never-ending list of "approved but unfunded" projects. If we thought politicians in England were a joke, then we have a much bigger problem.
 
Amare said:
It took a city like London (UK) weeks to install permanent barriers to their bridges after the vehicular ramming attacks a couple years back.
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The concrete barriers at Bremner Blvd and Lake Shore still exist and block the gate the city put in as a permanent solution. The gate was supposed to be opened whenever events were not taking place to allow access to Lake Shore via Maple Leaf Square. They have actually blocked the gate (and by extension the road) by placing the temporary barriers in front of it.

Even when they city does get a permanent solution in place there is no guarantee the temporary one will be removed.
 
MetroMan said:
It's disappointing that in the most prominent part of the station, walked through by millions a year, shown in every photograph, they had an opportunity for some striking architecture, but they went for this off the shelf Canadian Tire Gazebo*
*Some assembly required.

Frank Gehry's DZ Bank for context:
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Pics: Arch Daily
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Not sure if having a big bulging glass roof that screams look at me right by the historical head house is the best idea. The current one is restrained enough to be deferential, and that's perfectly good.

AoD
 
junctionist said:
Can't they tap into the pool of development funds or the Union Station renovation funding for a proper permanent solution? It's ridiculous that so much money was spent on the public realm improvements, only to trash the place with highway construction barriers.
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Yes, and it isn't like the original plan didn't have a solution for this built into the design. They could have put in full strength bollards along the street spaced out such that vehicles couldn't get through. Instead they put in weak faux bollards that have already been damaged by the light taps of bad drivers trying to park. Auger, drop in sleeve, pour concrete around sleeve, drop strong and shiny bollard in sleeve, get rid of ugly traffic barriers.
 
One of my neighbours recently wrote to the City to get an update on Union Station and she just sent me the quite detailed reply that she received from the City's Project Director.:

"As with many of the construction projects around the city, COVID has had an impact on the schedule of the Union Station project also. Not having pedestrian traffic around the station has been helpful but not to any great extent as most of the work that is being undertaken is behind hoarding for the public's protection. The largest impact from COVID has been the availability of resources to work on site. Despite this, we continue with the project as best we can.

We are anticipating the re-opening of the carriageway tunnel areas under the Front Street plaza by the end of September. This area also has an Art Display but we do not anticipate the installation of the art to be completed until the end of January 2021. The floors of the Great Hall are not part of the scope of work for the General Contractor but are scheduled to be completed along with the lighting in 2021. The Bay Concourse opening is presently being reviewed by Metrolinx and the City however, we do expect the opening by November.

In general, the scope of work of the General Contractor should be completed by the end of 2020. Although the General Contractor will be completed their work there are other aspects of work that will continue. Osmington, our partner, will be completing the fit outs of the retail units in the new retail area of the station. Also, Metrolinx has planned work continuing at the south end of the station. "

I heard separately, from Councillor Cressy's office, that the art work in the Carriageway (celebrating the Walks & Gardens Trust) is delayed because the artists are 'stuck' in Belgium due to covid travel restrictions.
 
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