When Marika Yakubiw moved near the Six Points interchange around Etobicoke’s Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street West to be closer to her job, she suddenly faced less stress in her commuting life.

Work will soon ramp up on a Metrolinx mobility hub near her that, when the project is complete, give her – along with her neighbours and those travelling around the area – even more reason to find a sense of transit Zen.

The Kipling GO ‘mobility hub’ – a name given to developments that create, within a short walk, a central point for the meeting of two or more major transit options – will include direct transit connections with TTC, MiWay and GO buses and trains. This will allow for the easy extension of transit services in communities that require it the most.

As well as the central mobility hub, the City of Toronto is completely reconstructing the Six Points interchange, which includes the intersections of Kipling Avenue, Dundas and Bloor Street West to support a community-centric, transit-oriented neighbourhood.

Now, the Metrolinx project is preparing to be ramped up for a critical phase.

Beginning in February, construction crews at the station will set the stage to erect a brand new bus terminal and lift – in an engineering feat – a pedestrian bridge. Due to the proximity of the railway track, a lot of preliminary work is required, such as relocating the emergency and maintenance crossing that personnel use. Once it’s given the green light on safety, a pedestrian bridge will be lifted in place, connecting the rail platform and the brand new bus terminal. This will mark a milestone for the project the community has been eagerly watching take place.

Today, there are construction equipment and vehicles parked on almost every surrounding street in the area, along with the steady sights and sounds of crews at work. However, while disruptive during the construction phase, Metrolinx has fielded few complaints.

As a new resident, Yakubiw is among those who are looking forward to using the transit hub. A regular TTC and GO user, she recently moved to a condominium nearby out of convenience, as her job requires her to be in downtown Toronto as early as 8 a.m.

“By the time I got into my car, sat in traffic and found parking, I was so stressed for the rest of the day,” she recalls.

But since moving into the area, her commute has gotten much better – she hops on a GO train and arrives right at Union Station within 20 minutes. Yakubiw expects her commute and travels for leisure will get even better when all of the work is done.

“I’m very much looking forward to positive developments when it comes to transit and the area,” he says. “It will make getting around easier and so much quicker.”

Yakubiw also frequently visits family in Mississauga and is looking forward to more transit options and connections so they can also come visit her.

Local residents and riders will have to wait until 2020 to use their new home base.

Until then, Yakubiw will relax and anticipate an even smoother ride in the future.