Union Station a symbol of our political paralysis

This article deals with the revamp and reconstruction of Union Station. The idea to build Union Station came about in 1904 and was actually built in 1930, nearly three decades later. On average more then 200,000 people travel through Union Station daily and is more heavily trafficked then Pearson International Airport. Since so many people travel into and out of Union Station and is usually the first place people see when arriving into Toronto, it is no wonder why redevelopment talks have arisen. As one of the focal points in out downtown core, it is important for Union Station to look its best and if that means re-development then so be it. The article compares other major cities that have redeveloped their stations. New York’s Grand Central Station did a successful revitalization of their subway station. San Pancras Station in London re-opened after an 850 million pound re-make. The Reno was part of a $12.1 billion high-speed rail line that allowed for people to travel to London and Paris in 2 hours and 15 minutes. So if all these cities are improving their conditions, why not Toronto? We have the money and the resources to make Toronto a notable place on the map. There does not need to be a complete re-make of the station but improvements can be made. Improving the building and making it more appealing and attractive so it can be noticeable.

The Toronto Star
Christopher Hume


http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/295248