GO Transit increases walking and cycling access to GO Stations

Improving transit is about more than just upgrading vehicles, timetables and routes. It’s also about making it easier to get to and from stations, beyond using a car. As the province moves closer to the other side of COVID-19 pandemic measures, and more riders return, GO Transit is working on making it easier to walk and bike to five key stations. And those spots are just the start, as improvements for those on foot and peddling are in the future of many more stations and transit hubs.

GO Transit is making improvements at five popular stations – to start – so customers can walk or bike easier.

Much of it comes after public feedback that found some people who live within a short distance of GO stations are choosing not to walk or cycle due to a lack of comfortable, safe and direct routes from their houses to the GO station. This is especially true during bad weather.

woman and man riding on bike — GO Transit is improving walking and cycling routes and equipment, including getting to bike shelters. (Photo by Nubia Navarro on Pexel.com)

Since GO can’t control the weather, a ‘Five Station Blitz’ project was started by Metrolinx Planning and Stations Operations to make it safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access GO stations. The focus was on quick win solutions that could be quickly implemented to connect cycling and walking routes through the station.

“The Five Station Blitz was a great collaboration by several teams at Metrolinx to quickly deliver small but important safety improvements for our customers who are walking and cycling to our stations,” said Allen Hand, Metrolinx project manager for Program Management Delivery.

THE FIVE GO STATIONS

Oakville, Ajax, Mount Pleasant, Aurora and, Long Branch GO Stations were chosen based on existing ridership levels, all day train service, connectivity and safety risks, as well as the number of customers currently walking and cycling to the station. Ensuring a geographic distribution also played a role.

Not that changes and advances will end with these stations. GO Transit is spreading out improvements for cyclists and those who walk to their trains and buses, right across the network.

At the five stations, improvements included updating and implementing pavement markings for walkways and bike routes, installing bollards to create protected pathways, placing dome mirrors at low visibility corners, and installing additional way finding signage.

“While small in scale, these upgrades can make a big difference for the experience and safety of customers walking through our parking lots to reach their train,” said Hand.

The chosen stations are highlighted in the map below.

Station Blitz Map – 20210617 Download

And here are some examples of the improvements made during the Five Station Blitz.

Image shows a bike shelter. — A reconfigured walkway at Long Branch to provide proper access to the bike shelter and safer crossing conditions on station. (Metrolinx photo)

Image shows painted lines on a parking lot. — Freshly painted pavement markings at Mount Pleasant GO Station creating a safer walking route through the parking lot to the station platform. (Randy Bui photo)

Image shows painting on a parking lot. — Freshly painted crosswalk at Oakville GO Station providing a safer walking path through the parking lot. (Metrolinx photo)

Image shows a bike rack — Bike racks relocated to at the Ajax GO Station to provide easier access and increased shelter. (Metrolinx photo)

As customers return to their GO Transit habits, as well as make new ones, they will find more choices for safe walking and cycling routes to and from their stations.

Want more information on getting to GO Transit? Just go here.

Story by Jamie Unwin, Metrolinx program coordinator, Station Planning.