Rutherford GO Station has gotten a substantial upgrade and is now available to customers.

The Barrie Line GO Transit stop is undergoing a lot of changes and making room for new and improved amenities. Metrolinx closed the old station building in Vaughan and have built a new, modern building.

Here’s a look inside – as well as what’s to come.

The 7,000-square-foot building includes customer washrooms, seating, digital displays and people can relax in a waiting area that takes up approximately 2,100 square feet of the building.

Looking for the sun to push back winter’s darkness? The window design also maximizes incoming daylight.

The upgrades at Rutherford GO Station are part of the work already underway to deliver GO Expansion, which will transform the GO Transit rail network, supporting more frequent, all-day, two-way service on core segments of the network.

The station building is fully accessible with ramps, railings, automatic door openers and accessible washroom facilities.

Although construction of the new station building is complete, work will continue at the parking structure, rail corridor, platforms, parking lot and bus loop area as well as the Rutherford Road underpass.

Here are some of the project benefits:

• An entirely new and improved station building
  • The new parking structure will feature approximately 1,200 net new spaces
  • A new railway bridge over Rutherford Road enhancing safety and enabling two-way, all-day GO train service in the future
  • Bike lanes and a pedestrian bridge over the road that provide convenient new ways to reach the station
  • 100 new secure bike parking spots
  • An upgraded bus loop for more seamless connections to York Region Transit and the passenger pick-up and drop-off area (Kiss & Ride)
  • Additional landscaping

The station will also provide a direct connection to the new six-story parking structure that expected to open early next year.

LEED Building Certification

The station building is targeting a Gold level of certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. LEED is a green building certification program used worldwide and Gold is the second highest of four certification levels.

A construction ‘activity pollution prevention plan’ was implemented throughout the construction process. The station’s architectural, mechanical, and electrical systems and equipment have been designed for increased energy efficiency. Light pollution reduction and overall water-use reduction have been improved through careful selection of lighting and plumbing fixtures.

Preparing for the demolition of the existing station building

Now that the new station building is in service, the old structure will require removal. The contractor will follow a safe process to deconstruct and demolish the building and protect the surrounding areas.

As part of GO Expansion, Metrolinx is working to bring customers 15-minute, all-day, two-way service between Bradford GO and Union GO Station. By making improvements today, the Barrie line will allow for faster and quieter trains to get people where they need to go.

To learn more about the many other changes coming to Rutherford GO and to subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter, visit www.metrolinx.com/rutherford here.

Updates are also available by following the projects on Twitter and questions can be sent to YorkRegion@metrolinx.com.