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Saturday, April 25, 2015

York Concourse! It's so pretty. Unfortunately, I wasn't invited to the media tour (I wouldn't have been able to go anyway)


Take notes my GO train friends because what you see here will be happening on the Bay Street side after this summer.

The days of the Bay Concourse looking like one giant washroom or a warehouse only Dexter would love are numbered.

21 comments:

TomW said...

Bay concourse will close after the PanAm games and re-open in 2017... only two more years to go!

Bicky said...

If 2017 is GO's estimate of when it will re-open, then it's more like 2018 in reality. heh heh.

Robert Wightman said...

"If 2017 is GO's estimate of when it will re-open, then it's more like 2018 in reality. heh heh."

I think GO years are like dog years; 7 real years for each dog err GO year.

Bicky said...

@Robert: Ha ha ha! You may be correct. I was trying to be optimistic. :o)

George said...

Considering the engineering challenge of digging under an active rail station the size of Union, removing all the material, removing and re supporting the ceiling that contains the tracks all the while minimizing impact on daily commutes, they did an outstanding job.
I'm quite surprised they did it with only a few months delay. Something of this magnitude has never been done before anywhere. Remember there is another concourse below the one that's opeining Monday.
So laugh all you want at the people who did this and their tiny delay and understand they are obviously far more skilled at what they do than the naysayers ever will be. I have nothing but respect for Carillon and Metrolinx for getting it done almost on time and right on budget.
Renovation the bathroom, or the Bay concourse as it is known will be a breeze compared to this job. I can't wait for that to be finished. Then it's on to the VIA concourse. The final step in a tremendously complex project.

C.J. Smith said...

No one is doubting this was a tremendous job and we're all very impressed. The "late" and "delay" comments are said in jest. We're all very happy with this project. At least I am. I always poke fun at Metrolinx. It's what I do as a business doesn't have feelings.

Bicky said...

@George: The logistics of a renovation of this scale, while the station is still operating at capacity, is a marvel to me. I'm not denying that. But many projects undertaken at various stations are NEVER done on time.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new concourse. And I'm sure it will look really spiffy once ALL the work is done.

C.J. Smith said...

*cough* Burlington *cough*

George said...

Burlington is a complete cluster flick because of a very under performing contractor from what I've heard.

Hopefully it'll get sorted out but I bet they won't be doing any Metrolinx work again.

CJ jesting is fine if credit is given where credit is due. I rarely see that when Metrolinx is involved.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the PATH culture in Toronto. There's no equivalent in the finer cities of Europe. If it's about getting from A to B why not close the downtown streets to cars during rush hour? Think about how nice it would be to have all that street space to walk around. And no lights!

C.J. Smith said...

Then I guess I know why I wasn't invited then.
I haven't yet seen this engineering marvel but I'm user impressed with the photos. Hopefully I can get over that way this week.

George said...

I'm going to check it out in the morning since I get off at York Street at track 27. I was off today :)

I just have to make sure I'm not late for work after checking it out.
@ Anonymous. Who cares what the Europeans do?

I love it because in the winter or on rainy days I can go anywhere I need to go downtown without taking my jacket, umbrella and whatnot with me. I leave the office and find a place to eat without the discomfort of having to dress for weather and It's nice. I have met many Europeans through work who marvel at the Path.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have before pics? Having a hard time picturing it.

C.J. Smith said...

Whoops. I should have said *uber* impressed!

Squiggles said...

@Anon 5.22pm

I guess you haven't seen some of the Paris subway stations. 3+ stories of shopping, restaurants, food courts, the like.

George said...

There are no before pics. It was not there. The concourse was dug out from underneath the station.

Any before pics would should well....dirt.

Anonymous said...

I think it was a secret subterranean dwelling. Little eWok type creatures used to live there. I saw them scrambling out a couple of years ago when they Metrolinx started poking around. I've no idea where they went...

George said...

Nope it was CHUD people.

They were evicted by flamethrower. Everyone thought it was a BBQ by the construction workers.

Anonymous said...

"There are no before pics. It was not there. The concourse was dug out from underneath the station."

That explains why I can't picture it!

PS love the tag on the post

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, you went to Paris and found an underground concourse. That's one example for the entire continent. To respond to the questions:

1. Why should we compare ourselves to Europe? Because world class European cities have a built environment which creates thriving people places OUTDOORS. Until you have experienced the vibrancy of such places it's difficult to imagine how much better they are than the caverns we build in Toronto. Madrid's Plaza de Mayor, Montpellier's Place de la Comedie, Barcelonas Las Rambla. Putting street life underground is no substitute for what we could achieve. The shear pleasure of sipping coffee or beer on an outdoor patio and watching kids run around and play cannot be compared to the rat trap existence of underground shopping malls.
2. 'European's love our PATH system' - Again congrats on providing some anecdotal evidence. The only opinion that matters is your own. If you've experienced the outdoor Plaza lifestyle and prefer the PATH then that's great. But all I ask is that you try to experience it and then make up your mind. If you can't try it keep an open mind.

The only reason we are spending gazillions digging underground is because we daren't disrupt the precious car. North American cities need to start poking their head above ground. The sun is out and the streets are (can be) lovely.

C.J. Smith said...

It's really unfortunate that all our outdoor spaces were swallowed up to build condos and office towers. So yes, we've been forced underground and well, at least there was an attempt to make it interesting?