Who's Not Been Serving Us Lately? Part 8

from:		TM
to:		"cj@thiscrazytrain.com"
date:		Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 4:37 PM
subject:		Fwd: Update: Burlington GO Parking Lot Construction

well into year four by the time it is ready...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GO Transit <no-reply@gotransit.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Subject: Update: Burlington GO Parking Lot Construction

Burlington Passengers: We want to provide you with an update for the construction occurring at your station.  Hydro is now installed at the new Burlington Station.  This means work can now progress inside the station building and the bus loop.  Later this summer, we will be closing the east tunnel and opening the west tunnel to the south lot. More information will follow closer to that time. At this time, we expect to partially open the new station building sometime in late fall with full completion expected in 2016.  We apologize for the unexpected delays encountered over the course of this project and we are working as quickly as possible to open your new station.

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Previous installments of this Web Series are archived here

by Ali Gator

In this installment of Who’s Not Been Serving Us Lately?, I visit Burlington GO station, yet again, to check on “progress”.  Prior coverage of this Bondfield Construction boondoggle can be found here and here.  Other screw-ups by Bondfield were documented by The Toronto Star and CTV News.

Whilst waiting for the 15:16 train, I noticed there was actually life at the construction site, so I captured the following “Kodak moments”.  I’m not sure what the fellow was looking for in his pickup truck, but he futzed about for 10 minutes before the train arrived and blocked my view.  I hope he found what he was looking for.

The following photo captures the new antenna on the roof and the contrast in work effort at our construction site versus the new condos being built in the background.

As @raat_raat noted on Twitter:

Victoria may be onto something.  Previously, in the construction notice posted by GO Transit, the opening of the station was rescheduled for “spring 2015”.  Bondfield Construction changed their project completion date to June 2015 (it was December 2013 originally).  And what is the latest “promise” from Metrolinx?  A visit to their Project Map tells us the following:

Let’s remember that this facility was supposed to be completed in time for the Pan Am & Parapan American Games in July.

The latest scuttlebutt around the station is that it won’t be opened until January or February 2016.  Apparently, the additional delay is due to no work on the project during the games, because that will be aesthetically unpleasant to games’ spectators passing through Burlington.

I don’t know about you, but I want a front row seat at the photo-op when whoever cuts the ribbon at the station’s grand re-opening.  Does anyone want to join me?  I’ll bring the popcorn.

Mr. Minister of Transportation and Metrolinx, when can Ontario Ombudsman, André Marin, pay you a visit?  Apparently, he has a notion “you got some 'splainin' to do!"