Toronto’s Union Station renovations have finished
After a decade of construction work that has seen delays and increasing costs, renovations to Toronto’s Union Station are finally complete. The project not only restores Union Station but also triple the size of the GO transit space and make the station a shopping attraction. Renovations include a new food court, expanded retail shopping, a renovated VIA Concourse and Panorama Lounge, and two new bike parking stations. The final cost for the project, which started in 2010, was $824 million — an increase from the original budget of $640 million. [cbc.ca]
Coalition to push for Chicago-New York rail expansion
Seven passenger rail advocacy groups have formed a coalition to push for improved rail service between Chicago and New York City. The Lakeshore Rail Alliance combines All Aboard Erie, All Aboard Ohio, the Empire State Passenger Association, the Chicago-based High-Speed Rail Alliance, the Indiana Passenger Rail Association, the Northern Indiana Passenger Rail Association, and the Northwest Ohio Passenger Rail Association. The group is calling for at least four daily Amtrak round trips between Chicago and New York as an interim step until a high speed rail line can be built. [trains.com]
Feds commit $400M for Edmonton LRT expansion
The Canadian government has committed nearly $400 million toward Phase 1 of the Capital Line LRT expansion into southwest Edmonton, Alberta. The 4.5 km (2.7 mi) South Edmonton LRT extension will run from Century Park to Ellerslie Road and include new stations at Twin Brooks and Ellerslie. The project also includes a new operations facility, 24 new light rail vehicles, and Heritage Valley park and ride expansion. The extension is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 269,000 tons by 2050. [globalnews.ca]
LA Metrolink OKs environmental report for Simi Valley
Los Angeles’s Metrolink board has certified the final environmental impact report for the Simi Valley double-tack project in Southern California. The project will be located on a 2.2 mi segment of the Ventura County Line within the city of Simi Valley. The work will help increase train capacity on Metrolink’s Ventura County Line and the existing Simi Valley Station. The project will enable more frequent, reliable, and on-time service, and improve safety at five grade crossings. Improvements will also include convenient and safer platform access. [progressiverailroading.com]
