Construction will linger at Union for years to come, with Metrolinx soon starting construction on the new platform and electrification coming. The interior construction for the station concourses will be done in a year or two however.

The impact of the construction is going to get much lower in the future.

And, if they want to make level platforms, that will add to the workload. In the end it's all worth it and catch-up after decades of no progress.
 
Following up on this, I believe the entire width of the North-South ramp in question will connect to the lower retail level. At the bottom of that ramp, there will be East-West ramps/stairs on the sides that will go up to the VIA/GO Concourses. This would be a much smarter use of that space considering the majority will be via the PATH or TTC, and it encourages traffic through the market/retail which is ideal. Most of all, it will provide an inviting vista connecting Union Plaza to the market, instead of what seems like a dead end currently.


Can anyone confirm how the South entrance from Maple Leaf Square will be handled (in orange)? It seems to be able to access both the concourse and lower level market place, so will it be a divided ramp with one going up and one going down?

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Yes, it did get very congested but eliminating the fairly simple (if rather brutal) current exit to Union Plaza from the level of the VIA concourse may not be good either. I am not convinced they will just have an exit/entry from the south (Union Plaza) into the Bay and York concourses or the "Market" area. As the City expands south of Union it will need better exits in that direction and removing the fairly one-level one from the VIA concourse floor seems odd.
 
There is a lot more obvious construction activity in the 'basement level' of the York Concourse this week - looks like they are 'fitting out' the restaurants etc.

I figured someone would have taken photos by now but there's a lot of construction progress showing all over the station.

The moat between TTC and Union which was covered is now tarped off on the ends, sealing (?) it in
The other side of the stair next to the TTC Union meetup has been un-hoarded and looks like it's opening soon?
The far side of the TTC - Union connection has been opened, massively improving flow during crush load
The shops between "Pilot" and Amano, more in the hallways, have had some of the hoarding come down so you could see inside

The mystery stairs in the Via luggage drop off hallway, which was mentioned above as being part of an office or something, look brand new (not connected to anything, hanging, awaiting install)

There have been brand new heaters installed in the hallway between York and Platforms 26 and 27
 
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^ Per the above, here are pictures of the white covering in the moat. Not sure what it's for. Also, pictures of the far side of the TTC - Union connection that is now open. Fully agree that it should help with the crush loads.

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The open parts of both moats are 'walled off so that they can work inside the already covered areas without freezing their asses off and/ or getting wet.

[Tounge in Cheek}
That''s Canada for your. Damn workers need to be warm and dry... No wonder it takes forever to build anything here, meanwhile in China they can build a whole new station in 9 hrs.
[/Tounge in Cheek]
 
[Tounge in Cheek}
That''s Canada for your. Damn workers need to be warm and dry... No wonder it takes forever to build anything here, meanwhile in China they can build a whole new station in 9 hrs.
[/Tounge in Cheek]

To be fair, China (and incidentally Japan, in the case of the overnight station rebuild) was able to do it quickly by deploying a large amount of labour at once. I mean, how many people have you seen working at the moat? A few?

AoD
 
The open parts of both moats are 'walled off so that they can work inside the already covered areas without freezing their asses off and/ or getting wet.

Makes sense. What type of work are they now doing in there? Floors and walls?
 
Makes sense. What type of work are they now doing in there? Floors and walls?
Hard to see but there were large piles of what looked like granite floor tiles in the York moat a few weeks ago. Presumably they hope to get the York moat finished fairly soon so that people can be directed there to get to/from TTC and reduce pressures from the easterly side. (They still have one small section of York Moat roofing to install but can't do so until they finish fixing the easterly wall - which they continue to work on, rather slowly.)
 
Hard to see but there were large piles of what looked like granite floor tiles in the York moat a few weeks ago. Presumably they hope to get the York moat finished fairly soon so that people can be directed there to get to/from TTC and reduce pressures from the easterly side. (They still have one small section of York Moat roofing to install but can't do so until they finish fixing the easterly wall - which they continue to work on, rather slowly.)

I think the granite tiles might be for the shopping concourse, not the moat, but not 100% sure.

AoD
 
At Council today - another legacy from Pam McConnell!

Authorization to Release Section 37 Funds to Real Estate Services for Installation of Public Art at Union Station - by Councillor Lucy Troisi, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie
* This Motion has been deemed urgent by the Chair.
* This Motion is not subject to a vote to waive referral. This Motion has been added to the agenda and is before Council for debate.

Recommendations

Councillor Lucy Troisi, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie, recommends that:

1. City Council increase the approved 2018 Capital Budget for Real Estate Services, on a one-time basis by $385,000 gross, $0 net, from Section 37 from 15 York Street community benefits to be used for the installation of a public art piece at Union Station (Cost Centre CCA 912-08).

Summary
Authority is being sought to release Section 37 funds to Real Estate Services for the installation of a Walks and Gardens Trust Commemoration public art piece at Union Station (65 Front Street West).

The public art piece went through an open public art competition and jury selection process in 2013. The piece is for the Walks and Gardens Trust Commemoration at Union Station, with the purpose of creating an interpretative installation on the Walks and Gardens Trust in perpetuity. The art piece is located below the Front Street Pedestrian Bridge, where a portion of the original trust lands were located.

The jury selected "fLUX" by internationally renowned, Brussels, Belgium-based studio LAb(au) as the winning proposal. The piece will generate an immersive experience of light and sound within the corridor, providing an element of interaction that will engage pedestrians traversing the walkway. fLUX will also be a significant contribution to contemporary art and Toronto's public art collection.

This Motion is urgent as design has been finalized and installation is scheduled to commence in Spring 2018.

It is to go in the walkway under between the York and Bay moats (as far as I know.)

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