HAMILTON—With the clock ticking down to the start of the 2015 Pan Am games, transit commuters to Hamilton’s new CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium will arrive at an unfinished, but safe James Street North GO Station.
While work continues on the $50-million facility, Metrolinx staff believe the station building and one fully accessible platform from MacNab Street North to almost Tiffany Street will be ready for soccer fans.
"Our new West Harbour GO Station makes it easier for people in Hamilton to choose transit first. The fully accessible north platform, station building and a portion of the outdoor public plaza will be in service in time for the Pan Am Games," said Vanessa Barrasa, Metrolinx spokesperson.
In a Metrolinx media release, it was announced that extra GO train service for the games will run from July 11 to July 26. In Hamilton, it will include more Lakeshore East and West service, including weekends, to and from the new West Harbour GO Station.
"Adding extra GO bus and train service is part of our plan to help keep people moving during the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
"It will be a busy time and I encourage people to plan ahead and consider carpooling, taking transit, working flex-time or telecommuting to help make the games a success," said Steven Del Duca, Ontario’s transportation minister.
Crews appear to be prepared to continue working on both train platforms, towers linking train users to street level and the glass building, up until the final hour.
"We can tell you that we are working diligently to ensure that the station is operational and ready by Thursday, July 9 for the start of service," said Barrasa.
The deadline being extended for service was not an option and even a couple of early snafus, such as concrete at the site being mistakenly dumped into a city sewer and a delay by CN to rebuild the nearby Bay Street Bridge, have not caused project delays.
"I have visited the crews working hard onsite daily to deliver this new transit station and I have been assured by Metrolinx that this new GO Station on James Street North will be operational in time," said Del Duca in an emailed statement.
A second phase of the project is set to begin after the games. It includes a 300-spot parking structure and pedestrian bridge to Bay Street.
Once that is complete, the station will also feature two platforms with elevator access, a bus loop, pedestrian and bicycle pathways, a pedestrian bridge from Bay Street and a fully landscaped pedestrian plaza.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed