Construction Begins on Major Transit Hub With Mississauga Connection
Published April 16, 2018 at 2:46 am
Construction has begun on a major transit hub that will boast a significant Mississauga connection.
Last week, the province announced that it’s building a new bus terminal and renovating the Kipling GO Station to connect subway, regional rail and inter-regional bus services in a major new transit hub.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, along with MPPs and representatives from Metronix and the TTC, appeared at the site of the new bus terminal at Kipling GO Station to break ground on the new transit hub.
The province says the hub will include new and improved pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle connections. They also say it will integrate subway, GO train, and local and regional bus services–including GO, TTC, and MiWay services–into a single mobility hub in Toronto’s west end.
As for what it will look like, the province says the scope of work at Kipling includes an elevated pedestrian bridge; a pedestrian underground tunnel; a new entrance; renovations to the existing Kipling GO station building and existing TTC pedestrian pick-up and drop off building; a new bus terminal building for MiWay and GO Transit; complete site infrastructure including parking upgrades, and improved vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access; and a new extension of Acorn Ave south of Dundas St. West with vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, including traffic signals.
“I’m pleased that shovels are in the ground and work is underway to build the new Kipling Transit Hub. This transformation will make connecting to MiWay, GO Transit and TTC seamless for the thousands of Mississauga residents who travel across the GTHA every day,” says Crombie.
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“I’m pleased that the province shares Mississauga’s vision to build a regionally connected transit system that is affordable, fast and easy to use.”
The announcement follows closely on the heels of news that transit could become significantly more affordable.
Prior to beginning construction on the hub, the province said it would be introducing more integration between transit fares.
Starting in 2019, all GO Transit trips within Toronto will cost Presto card users just $3 a trip. Mississauga riders should note that Presto users at stations such as Port Credit, Malton, Pickering, Ajax and Markham will also see fare reductions when taking GO Transit back and forth to Union Station.
Price reductions for those travelers will vary depending on distance.
Also, the government says that all GO Transit trips under 10 kilometres will cost those very same Presto card users just $3 per trip anywhere on the GO network. Metrolinx says that GO fares for trips between approximately 10 km and 20 km will also be reduced, varying between about $3 and $6 depending on the specific route.
Commuters also might want to note that they can, in some instances, pay just $3 to ride the UP Express. That said, that fare is for Toronto exclusively.
Proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market will also provide fare integration discounts of up to $1.50 per ride for anyone who travels between the York, Durham, Brampton and Mississauga transit networks and the TTC, saving regular commuters up to $720 every year.
The province says it’s investing $21.3 billion to transform GO Transit from a commuter transit service to a regional rapid transit system, including the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program. GO RER is increasing the number of weekly trips across the GO train network from about 1,100 in 2013 to nearly 6,000 by 2025.
“Our mission is to connect our communities. Here at Kipling Station, as we start this phenomenal project, we’re moving forward on improving the transit experience for our customers in an incredible way,” says Phil Verster, president and CEO, Metrolinx.
“Whether you ride your bike here, walk here, get dropped off, or arrive by transit, every part of the journey will be better.”
Construction on the Kipling Station Bus Terminal project is scheduled to complete in spring 2020.
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