Union Station is the busiest transportation facility in Canada with 65 million passengers passing through the area every year. In order to improve the flow of TTC, GO Transit and tourist traffic, the TTC in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, are expanding the central subway platform to include a second platform. The second subway platform will provide additional passenger capacity, improve safety, make the station fully accessible and streamline the operational efficiency of Union Subway Station. The expansion is also needed to accommodate the increased number of passengers who will someday live and work across the waterfront.

In order to reduce overcrowding and improve passenger circulation, the second subway platform and concourse expansion will include a single TTC fare-paid area and pedestrian by-pass routes.

Other project components include improved underground access from the station through a new underground PATH connection along York Street from Union Station to Wellington Street, new access to Toronto’s waterfront, and a new elevator and ramp system connecting the TTC area to the railway station.

• Construction of a new subway platform on south side of existing subway tracks to separate eastbound and westbound passenger flow
• Expansion of the concourse level
• New elevator and ramp system connecting the subway area and the railway station
• New collector booths and fare lines
• New east automatic entrance
• Improved access to the underground PATH system

Construction activities do not interfere with regular weekday TTC service hours. Track level construction is carried out after service hours, while street level work is done during the day.

Construction of the second subway platfrom is being done in phases.

Some of the most recent construction activity involved shoring and excavation of the second platform at platform, concourse and street level, construction of the automatic entrance, and siphon sewer installation.

Hoarding has been installed in the mid-point of the tunnel pathway and Brookfield Place to facilitate the building of a new automatic entrance, which will serve the east end of the newly expanded subway platform.

Beginning February 10, 2012 through to the end of April 2013 the westerly stairwell entrance and exit at street level on the south side of Front Street leading to the subway station concourse will be closed. A portion of the sidewalk adjacent to the stairwell will also be closed and replaced with a temporary walkway.

The four entry doors at the west end of the moat situated between the subway station and the railway station will be closed in order to accommodate construction of the new second platform and the concourse in this area. Access to the station will be maintained through the remaining doors in the moat area.