Union Station construction and maintenance issues impacting entries, bike storage spaces

It’s been more than a decade since construction on Toronto’s mammoth $825-million Union Station revitalization project began and while much of the major work has been completed, the nearly century-old building is still dealing with construction and maintenance-related issues.

As commuters are gradually continuing their return to the office, there has been an increased demand for secured bike storage among cyclists. But for those looking to get a space, there’s an indefinite wait time to get a spot in stations like the one at the northwest corner of the ground floor at Canada’s busiest transportation hub. The lack of space means bikes chained to a limited number of nearby posts.

“I would describe it as almost non-existent,” Ry Shissler, the communications manager for Cycle Toronto, told CityNews when asked about the state of cycling infrastructure in and around Union Station, noting the absence of things like bike lanes and other related infrastructure south of Adelaide Street.

“In the last few years we have seen a massive explosion in the number of people who are riding bikes for transportation and for recreational uses. I think people have really recognized how useful bicycles can be as a utilitarian thing beyond just being fun, and good for the environment, and affordable.

“We’re focusing around Union Station and that specific area around downtown is not great, but there is much of downtown that is way better than that. But say you want to get to Scarborough GO station or Kipling station or somewhere in North York, getting to those stations by bike — saving yourself waiting for a bus or taking a car ride and parking in a parking garage — is just not feasible, just not safe to do.”

Construction by Metrolinx at track level of the south side of Union Station to facilitate the Ontario government’s major planned increase in GO Transit train service along with the creation of a new south concourse is taking out a major bike storage locker.

“We have a plan to improve access for bikes and that is underway now. Safe, covered storage will be expanded to more access points around Union Station,” Anne Marie Aikins, a spokesperson with Metrolinx, told CityNews in a statement.

RELATED: Despite 2021 formal end of Union Station revitalization project, construction continues

But a year after City of Toronto officials said its portion of the construction was done after it began in 2009, a closer look across the heritage facility raises questions about maintenance.

At the front door on Front Street West there’s a sign warning of falling rocks from the restored facade. There are also a couple of flood-damaged entryways and near one of those, there are several tipped-over benches. Nearby there’s a broken window at a door.

“It is an old building, a 95-year-old building, that is going to be in constant need of upkeep and a state of good repair. Things are going to happen unfortunately that were not an issue during the major renovation that we saw,” Brad Ross, the City of Toronto’s chief communications officer, said when CityNews approached officials to ask about maintenance issues.

He said supply chain issues and recent labour disruptions have impacted repair projects at Union Station, such as the broken door in need of glass replacement.

Also, plans to replace the current, older barriers installed in front of the station in the wake of the 2018 Yonge Street van attack have been put off until 2023 due to increased costs and a need for significant and careful waterproofing.

As for those falling rocks off the front of Union Station, Ross said part of the soffit came away. He said conversations with the architect are underway and repairs will need to be carefully carried out due to heritage preservation concerns.

For the areas blocked off due to flooding, Ross said the issue is being addressed with Metrolinx since the flooding came from track level.

Meanwhile, he said it’s “short-term pain, relatively, for long-term gain” and it’s all in the name of progress.

“The work [Metrolinx is] doing on the tracks is about being prepared for increased volumes of traffic. This is the largest transit hub in Canada so they need to expand and be ready to deal with the number of passengers that are coming in so that it is a pleasant experience and it is safe as well,” he said.