^ Image: Metrolinx
Metrolinx and its contractors continue a long-term project project to transform Rutherford GO Station by 2022, as part of the GO Expansion Program.
Contractors are also building a grade separation — a bridge to carry GO Transit’s Barrie-line trains over Rutherford Road. This means that motorists will no longer have to wait for a train to pass — improving the safety of everyone near the station. The work zone for the bridge project may change the way you access Rutherford GO Station.
Starting 9 p.m. Friday, October 22, the Region of York is closing
- Rutherford Road [Regional Road 73] between Barrhill Road / Westburne Drive and Peter Rupert Avenue / Confederation Parkway
in the City of Vaughan during the next phase of construction.
York Region Transit is detouring buses along this route, while the street is closed:
- 85 Rutherford.
This phase of construction at Rutherford GO Station and the resulting YRT detours continue until October 25 (4 a.m.)
As part of the grade separation project, crews are building a storm-water pumping station in the work zone for the underpass. During heavy rainfalls, the pumping station will drain and pump out water in the basin of the roadway and redistribute it into the municipal storm-sewer system.
As part of the pump-station construction, Metrolinx contractors are installing a water main and connection. These parts of the project complete water-main service to the new pump station and connect it to the operating water main. Installing the water main requires crews to deeply excavate in the temporary roadway that carries traffic past the work zone.
^ An aerial view of grade-separation construction underway on Rutherford Road near Rutherford GO Station. Image, Metrolinx
Completing this work during a weekend reduces the necessity for further traffic-lane closures Mondays to Fridays. This weekend’s construction doesn’t impact the temporary bus loop or station access. Entry and exit at the Westburne Drive driveway remains available for buses and local traffic accessing the station.
Since Monday, May 10, GO has relocated the bus terminal and the passenger pick-up and drop-off area (or Kiss and Ride) to the northwest section of the parking lot off Westburne Drive. Starting that day, a work zone blocks the permanent bus loop and Kiss and Ride off Rutherford Road.
^ Click to enlarge.
GO buses along these routes operate to and from the temporary terminal:
York Region Transit is detouring buses along these routes to operate to and from the temporary terminal:
^ Click to enlarge.
GO and YRT buses continue to serve passengers at the temporary Rutherford GO Station bus terminal “until January 2022”, meaning as late as until January 31, 2022.
Since Monday, April 26, GO has relocated passenger parking and reserve parking to the lot at #635 Westburne Drive. Accessible parking remains available in the north lot at the station building during construction.
GO also adjusted the walkways on Westburne Drive to accommodate construction. Look for signs that will guide you safely to and from the station.
GO is relocating the parking lots at Rutherford GO Station “until Summer 2021”, meaning as late as until September 30.
Monday, March 29, GO opened a new temporary island platform.
Look for way-finding signs to guide you to the new boarding platform.
This temporarily changes how you get on trains and you may have to adjust where you normally board your train. The doors of some coaches will not open from outside of the train. Spread out along the platform and keep the accessibility coach available for those who need it most.
Since Thursday, June 26, 2020, GO Transit has closed about 130 parking spaces in the main parking lot closest to Westburne Drive. You will still have access to parking spaces closer to the station building.
GO has also changed how you get into and around the station while contractors build a new parking garage:
- Traffic on Rutherford Road detours onto a temporary roadway between Westburn Drive and Peter Rupert Avenue. The four-lane detour road will be in place until crews complete the new railway overpass bridge “in spring 2022” meaning as late as until May 31, 2022.
- The work zone blocks the south entrance to the station from Westburne Drive. Use the north entrance from Westburne Drive to access the main parking lot.
- It’s moved the bike racks to the west side of the station building, close to the Kiss and Ride.
- It’s relocated all reserved and most carpool parking spaces to a temporary parking lot at 635 Westburne Drive until the parking garage opens in 2022.
- It’s also relocated motorcycle and scooter parking to the temporary lot.
- It’s also closed ten regular parking spaces for safety during parking-garage construction.
- It’s relocated all accessible parking spaces to the two lanes west of the Kiss & Ride.
^ Image: Metrolinx
Once contractors have finished the project, Rutherford GO Station will include:
- A new second track and platform to accommodate more frequent Barrie line service in both directions;
- better platforms with canopies to connect to the new parking garage;
- new elevators on both platforms to connect to the pedestrian tunnel;
- the new parking structure with 1,200 more spaces
- a new railway bridge over Rutherford Road to enhance safety and enable 15-minute two-way electrified GO service in the future;
- better pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, including a pedestrian bridge over Rutherford Road, and bike lanes on Rutherford Road;
- 100 new bike parking spots;
- a better bus loop for better connections to York Region Transit and the passenger drop-off and pick-up area or “Kiss ‘n’ Ride”;
- a better station building.
^ Image: Metrolinx
Metrolinx is also working with the City of Vaughan to improve access into and out of the station, which has become challenging as ridership has grown over the last few years.
Metrolinx expects to open the new parking spots and the grade separation in 2022.
^ Image: Metrolinx
You can learn more about the project to improve Rutherford GO Station here and here.
Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Barrie line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).
85 Rutherford
From 9 p.m. Friday, October 22 until 4 a.m. Monday, October 25, eastbound buses operate along their regular route to the temporary bus loop at Rutherford GO Station, then detour:
southward along Westburne;
south- and eastward along Basaltic Drive;
southward along Planchet Road;
eastward along Langstaff Road West;
northward along Staffern Drive; and then
west- and northward along Confederation Parkway to Rutherford,
resuming their regular route eastward along Rutherford.Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Rutherford Road at Confederation Parkway.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Westburne Drive at Moyal Court,
- on Basaltic Road south of Moyal Court, beyond Joseph Keffer Parkway, south of Joseph Keffer Parkway [2 stops] and at Planchet Road,
- on Planchet Road at Langstaff Road West,
- on Langstaff Road West at Connie Crescent and
- on Confederation Parkway across from Scholar Road and Camden Drive and at Ten Oaks Boulevard and Dufferin Hill and Rutherford Roads,
Westbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.
Westbound buses skip their regular stops
on Rutherford Road at Peter Rupert Avenue.
Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Confederation Parkway beyond Rutherford Road and across from Dufferin Hill Road and Ten Oaks Boulevard.
- on Langstaff Road West at Spinnaker Way and Planchet Road,
- on Basaltic Road beyond Planchet Road, north of Planchet Road [2 stops], across from Joseph Keffer Parkway, north of Joseph Keffer Parkway and across from Moyal Court and
- on Westburne Drive north of Moyal Court.