Metrolinx began construction Sept. 23 on accessibility upgrades at the Eglinton GO Station, a key part in moving forward with more frequent, two-way, all-day service on the Lakeshore East Line.
While seemingly small improvements and upgrades, they will add up to sizable benefits to making sure all riders get to where they need to be.
Work to upgrade Eglinton GO Station and make it fully accessible will include:
- Two new pedestrian tunnels
- Stairwells and elevators to platforms
- Mini platforms to enable level boarding at accessibility coaches
- Tactile edge tiles
- New ramps
- Digital signage
- Improved Wayfinding
- Rehabilitation of the pick-up, drop-off zone
Metrolinx says it is committed to creating an accessible transit service for all customers, and these upgrades will bring Eglinton GO Station in line with requirements laid out in the Metrolinx Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. Metrolinx plans to offer a fully accessible Eglinton GO Station as early as Summer 2024.
During construction, community members and GO customers might have a different experience at Eglinton GO than what they are used to. Changes to services and the station are all part of the project to ensure the station can remain open during these upgrades, to continue serving our passengers for the duration of construction.
On some weekends, construction will operate overnight and one of the two GO rail tracks might be closed for construction work.
The weekend work has been planned to ensure that GO customers can use Eglinton GO Station as normally as possible on weekdays, when many people rely on this station for their commutes to and from work. Overnight work is planned for when work must take place very close to the track and is a critical safety measure for workers.
Enhanced accessibility
Eglinton GO Station, located near the intersection of Eglinton Avenue East and McCowan Road, was built in 1978 and received its most recent rehabilitation in 2000. A project has been started to upgrade the station to provide full passenger accessibility to the station building, the side platforms, north and south parking lots, and the pick-up, drop-off area.
Accessibility upgrades at Eglinton GO Station are the second phase in a two-phase project and will prepare the station to support the 251,000 GO customer boardings at this station per year, as well as prepare the station to support increased two-way, all-day service in years to come.
