Hamilton GO station meeting

The public got a sneak peak at the plans for the new GO station in downtown Hamilton tonight. The station is being built to meet increased ridership demands in the area as well as provide special train service for the Pan Am games. Metrolinx says this project is on time and on budget.

Welcome to the new Hamilton GO station and plaza. These are the final plans for the 58 million dollar project that will be ready to get people going by next June.

Randal Dreise is with GO Transit: “It’s the start of peak service to downtown Toronto and more service for the city of Hamilton.”

Peak service will run from 6 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm to start with. There will be 350 parking spaces, 32 bike shelter spots and the bike share program will be onsite. Plans include 150 trees, 500 shrubs and 200 perennials. Metrolinx says the station has also been ‘Hamiltonized’.

Randal Dreise: “We included steel within the plaza itself — a number of steel structures to represent the Hamilton community and the community with the production of steel and the last thing we included was limestone reflecting the precious GO stations.”

But not everyone is happy with the design.

Terri Wallis, Persons with Disabilities Hamilton: “They said the HSR buses stop at James St. and it seems like a very long walk from James Street to get the station building and I’m afraid it could be very difficult for persons with disabilities, for seniors or people with small kids.

Alyson Wenzowski lives in the neighbourhood: “I thought the design was very clean, very crisp, but I have to say it very much looks like GO Transit”

Metorlinx says the bulk of the construction behind me will be done for the Pan Am games in 2015. But after that, there’s still work to be done. The Bay Street pedestrain bridge, platform and plaza will need to have some finishing touches completed after the scheduled opening.

Randal Dreise: “It’s always anticipated to be a two-phased project and implemented over a number of years due to the size and magnitude of the project.”

There will also be an art installation using local artist works. The city is putting up $50,000 and Metrolinx another $50,000.

You may remember the sewer line down here that was accidentally filled in with concrete. That’s expected to be repaired within the next three weeks.