The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has engaged HOK to design a regional transit centre and passenger processing facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The first phase of the new facility could be in place by the mid-2020s.
The GTAA, which forecasts that Toronto Pearson will grow to handle as many as 85 million passengers annually by 2037 (up from 47 million in 2017), is beginning the planning of the new facility to support this growth. The planning will incorporate a regional transit centre that satisfied the region’s need for better transit connectivity. Toronto Pearson is uniquely able to connect the region due to its location between three municipalities, four major highways and several planned and existing transit lines, and Canada’s second-largest Airport Employment Zone. The GTAA continues to work with all levels of government to advance plans on priority lines connecting into the proposed regional transit centre.
“The success of Toronto Pearson as one of the world’s most significant international airports is a testament to the success of Canada and the Toronto region,” said Howard Eng, president and CEO, GTAA. “We’re pleased to be working with HOK on the design for a new airport passenger processing facility that will enhance the passenger experience. This new facility will not only help to welcome visitors from all over the world to Canada, it will also seamlessly connect them to towns and cities throughout southern Ontario.”
HOK’s work on the passenger processing facility and regional transit centre design will include all facets of phased development of future airport facilities to meet projected passenger growth. The development will provide appropriate passenger facilities, reduce road congestion in the region, and provide better access to jobs and customers for businesses in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The Toronto Pearson regional transit centre represents the marriage of aviation and ground transit. HOK’s team looks forward to collaborating with the GTAA to develop this new vision for a seamless link between the new multimodal transit hub, the airport and the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. This project will be transformational for Toronto Pearson by redefining the ‘front door’ of the airport, optimizing terminal real estate, positioning the airport for the future and improving the passenger experience for millions of travelers.
HOK will lead a design team that includes WSP Engineers and Weston Williamson + Partners, and design work will begin immediately. The process will include engagement with different stakeholder groups including airport partners, government and local community members.