Latest news with #Metrolinx
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
How close are we to the big dig for Hamilton's LRT? Here's when construction is expected to start
Major construction on Hamilton's long-delayed LRT could still be two years away, and there's no public estimate yet for when trains will start rolling, says project manager Metrolinx. But visible 'enabling works' will be ramping up along the lower-city corridor for light rail transit in the coming months, residents heard at a virtual update meeting this week. Ontario recently kicked off bidding on the first 'civil works' phase of LRT construction — think relocating utilities, rebuilding bridges, roads and sidewalks — with plans to award a contract early next year. Even then, the chosen contractor will spend 18 to 24 months working with Metrolinx on detailed designs, co-ordination with private utilities and scheduling before the big dig begins, said Danielle Bury, the project vice-president for Hamilton LRT. A map of pending 'enabling works' to prepare for LRT construction on the Main-King corridor. 'Major construction … will begin following that development phase,' Bury told a virtual public meeting that attracted more than 350 viewers at one point. You can watch the recorded meeting at . 'I do know we get a lot of questions … in terms of when are you going to be constructing in front of where I work, live, play? That is information we will develop with our partners through the development phase.' Metrolinx also won't hazard a public guess at when the off-and-on-again project might actually be finished, until it works through the project schedule with a yet-to-be-chosen contractor. A map of the eastern section of the LRT route showing planned enabling works ahead of major construction. That's frustrating for residents who recall that the original LRT plan, funded a decade ago, called for trains to be running in 2024 until budget concerns temporarily cancelled the project in 2019 . Still, Bury said residents can expect to see more 'enabling works' underway — the relocation of some city water pipes, hydro and telecommunications lines in advance of the main project — up and down the Main, King and Queenston corridor. 'There is activity happening in the corridor, and will continue to happen within the corridor during that development phase,' she said. There were a lot of questions at the virtual meeting — although not all of them have answers yet. Here's the latest: Maps provided during the presentation show telecommunications relocations happening or planned near Queen and Ottawa streets, while Alectra is nearly done relocating some hydro lines downtown. More power infrastructure needs to be moved along the King Street corridor between Sherman Avenue all the way to the Delta. The city is also rearranging water mains to ensure resident taps still work when major digging starts. That includes relocations or upgrades along Wentworth Street, in the area around Queenston and Nash roads and in several spots along Main Street East. Metrolinx confirmed during the meeting the province is responsible for theoretical building-cost overruns — although so far, no one has publicly admitted the project is over budget since it was resurrected in 2021 with $3.4 billion in cash split between Ontario and the federal government. The Spectator has reported, however, on provincial documents noting rapid transit costs have skyrocketed since the pandemic. Metrolinx announced a route change in late 2023 that will send trains around sharp-angle corners on and off Dundurn Street. At the meeting, the agency said modelling suggests the change will not substantially slow what is meant to be 'rapid' transit. In part, that is because a new stop is planned on Dundurn — meaning trains would have to slow down entering and leaving the station anyway. Short answer, no — but the agency says it is considering a proposal from the city to start with private operation, with an option to transition to a publicly run system later. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
When will the Eglinton Crosstown LRT open? Place your bets
"Out of Service" signs are shown on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto on Friday, May 5, 2023. Nearly 15 years after construction began, there's a possibility the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT will open this coming September. If you'd like to place your bets on that, you actually can. Online sportsbook FanDuel has a novelty betting offer on when the Eglinton LRT will be open. 'At FanDuel, our team of dedicated Canadian Traders are on the ground building novelty markets that touch on the most topical storylines across sports, entertainment, local news and pop culture,' the FanDuel Canada Trading Team told CP24 in a statement. 'Our goal is to engage in the conversations our customers are already having, offering odds on the moments that resonate.' The site has been taking wagers for a month now and following last week's announcement from Metrolinx about the current timeline for the Crosstown LRTs opening, it has seen a surge of activity. 'We have seen increasing interest in this market with 35 per cent of all bets being placed this week,' FanDuel Canada said. The top two most popular opening timelines receiving bets are 'On or after November 1st' and 'Before or on August 31st.' If correct, bettors will earn +550 for the former or +1100 for the later. The favourite however—at +195—is for the LRT to launch between Sept. 16 and Sept. 20 There are three other dates available to wager on as well. LRT bets Online sportsbook FanDuel has a novelty betting offer on when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be open. 'At FanDuel, we are committed to promoting responsible gaming, ensuring that our customers can enjoy these unique betting opportunities with responsible play in mind. That is why our novelty markets, including the Eglinton LRT market, carry low bet limit restrictions.' Construction on the Crosstown began in 2011 and the nearly-$13 billion line was originally expected to be complete by 2020.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ontario begins construction on Woodbine GO station
Ontario is beginning construction on a new GO Transit station next to Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke. The Woodbine GO station will replace Etobicoke North station beside Kipling Avenue and Highway 409, which the province says cannot accommodate future growth — a plan that was first unveiled in 2019. The minister of transportation said the construction marks a "milestone" for transit riders in Etobicoke. "We are marking another step forward in our plan to tackle gridlock and shorten travel times for thousands of daily commuters, so we can stand up for Ontario and build the province for the future," said Prabmeet Sarkaria at Thursday's announcement at Woodbine Racetrack. Woodbine GO could see trains arrive at the station every 15 minutes during busy travel hours and is expected to serve approximately 7,000 daily riders by 2041, Metrolinx said in a release. The station will create links between the Union Pearson Express, Kitchener GO train, and Pearson International Airport, as well as local bus services including the TTC, MiWay, York Regional Transit, and Brampton Transit. Premier Doug Ford called the station a "game-changer." "This is going to be a game-changer for North Etobicoke and for the people who rely on the Kitchener Line every day. With better connections, improved services, and new jobs and growth in the community, it's a great example of what we can do," he said at the announcement Thursday. The construction is expected to create more than 40,000 jobs, including steel and construction jobs, which are sectors that were hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Ford says that he knows workers are worried about the tariffs' impacts. "We know workers and families are worried about the impact of President Trump's tariffs and the economic uncertainty they're causing, and they're counting on us to step up to protect their jobs, their communities, and their families, and that's exactly what we're doing," said Ford. The station will also provide increased capacity and feature new rail platforms, accessible facilities, pedestrian bridges, dedicated parking, a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a bus loop, and a passenger waiting area. Woodbine GO is part of the province's $70 billion in funding for public transit, including the GO expansion program, which generates more than 8,000 jobs annually, the province said in a release. The province says Woodbine Racetrack will be providing up to $170 million toward the construction.
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Ontario plans to move GO train station to new community at Woodbine Racetrack
The Ford government has announced it plans to relocate a GO Transit station in Toronto to accommodate an ambitious new housing plan for the Woodbine Racetrack. On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced plans for the new GO train station in Etobicoke and a funding agreement with the group that runs the racetrack. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The investments we are making in Woodbine GO and in two-way, all-day GO service across the province will keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty and will help commuters get around faster and more conveniently in one of Ontario's fastest growing regions,' Ford said in a statement. To accommodate the new Woodbine GO Station, Metrolinx will close the nearby Etobicoke North GO Station, which the province said 'lacks the capacity' to handle new growth. It will be located on a section of the Kitchener GO train line, which the province owns entirely, allowing for more frequent service. Story continues below advertisement Once completed, the province said it will connect Woodbine Racetrack to Union Station, Kitchener and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Woodbine Entertainment Group will contribute up to $170 million to the cost of constructing the new station.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ontario promotes interim Metrolinx CEO to permanent position
Michael Lindsay is the new CEO of Metrolinx. (Metrolinx) The interim head of Metrolinx has been appointed as the transit agency's permanent chief executive officer. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced Michael Lindsay's appointment to the permanent position on Wednesday. 'Michael has done an outstanding job in his role as acting CEO, and I have complete confidence that he will continue to lead with the same dedication and vision,' Sarkaria said in a statement. 'His leadership is critical at a time when we need to protect Ontarians and support workers, while delivering the largest transit expansion in Canadian history.' When Lindsay was named interim CEO in December, the government said his top priority would be opening the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Lindsay revealed in a news conference last week that the province was in the process of transferring control of the Crosstown vehicles to the TTC. The province has not announced when the Crosstown, which will be called Line 5, will open but Premier Doug Ford recently said it could open as early as September. Lindsay was previously the president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario and served as a special advisor to the Ford government in 2019 on the upload of the TTC.
