12 hours ago
Ontario begins construction on Woodbine GO station
Ontario is beginning construction on a new GO Transit station next to Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke.
The Woodbine GO station will replace Etobicoke North station beside Kipling Avenue and Highway 409, which the province says cannot accommodate future growth — a plan that was first unveiled in 2019.
The minister of transportation said the construction marks a "milestone" for transit riders in Etobicoke.
"We are marking another step forward in our plan to tackle gridlock and shorten travel times for thousands of daily commuters, so we can stand up for Ontario and build the province for the future," said Prabmeet Sarkaria at Thursday's announcement at Woodbine Racetrack.
Woodbine GO could see trains arrive at the station every 15 minutes during busy travel hours and is expected to serve approximately 7,000 daily riders by 2041, Metrolinx said in a release.
The station will create links between the Union Pearson Express, Kitchener GO train, and Pearson International Airport, as well as local bus services including the TTC, MiWay, York Regional Transit, and Brampton Transit.
Premier Doug Ford called the station a "game-changer."
"This is going to be a game-changer for North Etobicoke and for the people who rely on the Kitchener Line every day. With better connections, improved services, and new jobs and growth in the community, it's a great example of what we can do," he said at the announcement Thursday.
The construction is expected to create more than 40,000 jobs, including steel and construction jobs, which are sectors that were hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Ford says that he knows workers are worried about the tariffs' impacts.
"We know workers and families are worried about the impact of President Trump's tariffs and the economic uncertainty they're causing, and they're counting on us to step up to protect their jobs, their communities, and their families, and that's exactly what we're doing," said Ford.
The station will also provide increased capacity and feature new rail platforms, accessible facilities, pedestrian bridges, dedicated parking, a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a bus loop, and a passenger waiting area.
Woodbine GO is part of the province's $70 billion in funding for public transit, including the GO expansion program, which generates more than 8,000 jobs annually, the province said in a release.
The province says Woodbine Racetrack will be providing up to $170 million toward the construction.
