Background
Toronto Union Station Transportation Hub Study
The firm of A.J. Diamond, Donald Schmitt and Company as architects and planners with the participation of McCormick Rankin, transportation engineers, Yolles Partnership, structural engineers, and Vermeulens, cost consultants, undertook this study for Via Rail Canada in the mid 1990s.
The following summarizes the main conclusions of the study:
Existing situation
Union Station is a very important site in downtown Toronto both because of its historical significance as a transportation centre and because of its potential as a commercial development site. The Station currently works as a transportation hub for Via Rail, the GO Train and the TTC rail systems, but has poor provisions for bus and taxi services and for connections to the two Toronto airports. It is also an important pedestrian route as the southern end of the PATH System providing linkage to the Convention Centre and Skydome walkways.
The Station is clearly in need of good, comprehensive planning and redevelopment. The existing linkages between the different transportation modes are awkward and inadequate. The pedestrian connections to surrounding developments and access to the Station itself could be greatly improved. The Station appears worn and in need of upgrading. The alterations that have been made for recent retail and restaurant facilities and to accommodate GO Transit generally appear temporary - poorly designed commercial infill in an elegant, historic Station that was originally planned to meet the needs of travelers during the grand era of long-distance passenger rail travel.
Study conclusions
The study demonstrates how the Station can physically accommodate 11 different modes of transportation with greatly improved coordination and linkages between modes.
- The Station can accommodate a new bus terminal to replace the existing terminal at Bay and Dundas Streets, bringing inter-city buses and GO Bus services directly into the Station.
- Service by Via Rail and GO Train can continue with greatly improved accessibility.
- An Airport-rail connection could be developed with a dedicated track and with the potential for airline check-in at Union Station.
- TTC Subway and Harbourfront Light Rail service can continue as currently configured, or with improvements to the ticketing and platform levels of the subway station.
- Taxis are given a dedicated queuing area eliminating congestion on Front Street.
- Rental car counters can be located in the Station with pick-up, drop-off and storage located in a new underground parking facility accommodating 500+ cars.
Improvements are also proposed in pedestrian access to the station with development of the moat along Front Street, a new entrance on the south side of the Station and improved circulation through the Station on a new main concourse level. There is also potential for a universal ticketing and baggage handling system between the different transportation modes.
The concept for the multi-modal transportation hub proposes to open up the grade level of the historic Station building as well as the lower level of the Station and all the areas under the track to create one large concourse area that provides access to a full range of transportation services. In the simplest terms, the proposed approach is to excavate the area beneath the tracks, reinforcing the existing structural columns and taking the lowest level of the station down to bedrock.
Transportation modes
The various transportation modes are accommodated as follows:
- The lowest level will accommodate a new bus terminal on the west half of the site to replace the existing terminal at Bay and Dundas Street. A large parking garage on two levels is located on the east half of the site. The parking garage will also accommodate an active rental car outlet.
- The next level up, the main concourse, provides access to every mode of transportation and accommodates the major retail and restaurant services in the Station. The main concourse level connects directly to the TTC subway and light-rail station; has escalators down to the bus terminal; has escalators up to the three train mezzanine/departure levels; and provides direct access to the taxi departure area.
- At the same elevation as Front Street and the Great Hall of the Station are the three train departure mezzanines. The mezzanines overlook the main concourse floor and provide escalators up to the train platforms. The west mezzanine provides access to westbound GO Trains and the proposed Airline-rail line. The central mezzanine provides access to Via Rail platforms. The east mezzanine provides access to eastbound GO Trains. The Great Hall of the historic Station building and the east and west halls will be restored and used as the primary location for transportation related services such as ticket purchase and baggage handling.
- The track level maintains the current number of tracks going through the station. A new long span train shed roof with skylights to allow natural light to flood the track level is proposed as part of the improvements.
- The improvements to the station also allow for the development of two commercial office towers located partly over the tracks and partly over the east and west wings of the historic Station building. The building lobbies will have a Front Street address utilizing the existing office entrances at the east and west ends of the Station building.
The overall goal of this study of Union Station has been to take full advantage of the Station's potential as a regional intermodal transportation hub, expanding the number of different modes servicing the station, rationalizing and improving the delivery of service for each mode of transportation, and improving the linkages between different modes.
An associated goal has been to provide improved retail opportunities within the concourse areas of the station and to provide an opportunity for expanded commercial office development. These commercial opportunities, related directly to the transportation improvements in the station, will provide an important source of revenue to support the improvements.
Development Opportunities
In addition to expansion of the Station floor area to accommodate increased and improved modal connections, the expansion provides opportunities for commercial development that will generate revenues for the Station.
Retail
The main concourse of the Station contains the bulk of potential retail space that can be developed. Most of this space is located within the historic station building or below the mezzanines overlooking the main concourse area. Approximately 16,250 sq.m. to 18,600 sq.m (175,000 s.f. to 200,000 s.f.) of retail and associated services space could be developed within the main station concourse.
Commercial Office
The two commercial office towers proposed in the redevelopment scheme are scaled to the height of the neighbouring Royal York Hotel and sited to complement the existing Union Station Building. The twin towers are each 30 stories tall with a gross floor area per floor of 2,322 sq.m. (25,000 s.f.). The gross floor area of the commercial office development in the two towers is 139,350 sq.m. (1,500,000 s.f.).
