Ontario Construction News staff writer
Niagara Region has acquired historic train stations in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls from VIA Rail, along with the surrounding station lands, as part of a significant redevelopment of the two sites.
“This project will completely change the way people travel to and from Niagara Falls and spur major upgrades in our downtown core. The scope spans from underground updates to prioritizing safe traffic flow and modernizing the VIA/GO Rail Station into a warm, welcoming hub for travelers,” Niagara Falls mayor said Jim Diodati said in a statement.
Final approval is needed from Parks Canada for the disposition of the heritage railway stations – a critical part of the region’s plan to build new multi-modal bus-meets-train connections at the two station sites
The regional government committed $40 million to the strategy in 2016, anticipating GO service expansion and has completed several projects at the two stations.
Construction will include updates and expansions to VIA Rail/GO Rail stations in Niagara Falls (4267 Bridge St.) and St. Catharines (5 Great Western St.).
Niagara Falls
Planned station building and site improvements including:
- A new multi-modal mobility hub preserving the historic VIA/GO Rail station, while modernizing the interior structure for multiple transit tenants
- New bus loops with nine bays split between the east and west side of the building, moving the existing transit plaza on Erie Avenue to be adjacent to the station for safer and more efficient movement of people
- Modernized washrooms and customer waiting area, including a dedicated space for bus operators
New Victoria Avenue roundabout that connects Victoria Avenue, Thorold Stone Road (extension) and Bridge Street; thus, improving traffic flow/function in the station area
Bridge Street reconstruction providing active transportation connections; accommodations for future growth; safe movement of transit; and accommodating increased pedestrian volumes at the station
St. Catharines
Complete reconstruction of the VIA station site including:
- A new multi-modal mobility hub preserving the historic VIA/GO Rail station,
- Establishing new bus connections for Niagara Region Transit (NRT) and GO Transit; parking enhancements; public plaza space; active transportation connections
- Constructing a new site access road connecting the station to Ridley Road in partnership with the City of St. Catharines and Ridley College.
- A new bus loop with six bays resulting in overall improvements to the property, including appropriate site access and servicing
Replacement of the 100-year-old CN overpass (St. Paul Street West Bridge) to improve sight lines; providing flatter slopes on the approaches and improved public safety for all modes of transportation (vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians)
Streetscape improvements on Ridley Road such as sidewalks, on-street parking configuration, boulevards and driving lane configurations
“The acquisition of the VIA station is an important milestone that will allow Niagara Region to progress on developing a multi-modal hub that not only supports GO Transit services, but also regional transit and other transit tenants. It will also serve as catalyst for transformational change in the area around the station, as envisioned in the St. Catharines GO Transit Station Secondary Plan,” said St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik.