St. Catharines GO Transit Station Secondary Plan
All Niagara Region projects

About the Project

The announcement of expanded GO Rail service to St. Catharines by 2023 by the Province of Ontario is a significant infrastructure investment that will have considerable benefit to the community.

Niagara Region has partnered with the City of St. Catharines to develop a Secondary Plan which provides a 20-year vision and planning framework to guide transit-supportive development around the GO station, located at the existing VIA Rail station on Great Western St.

Final Approved Secondary Plan

The final approved St. Catharines GO Transit Station Secondary Plan has been inserted into the City of St. Catharines Official Plan (The Garden City Plan) in Section 15.3.

The Secondary Plan contains policies and guidelines for development and redevelopment which is complimentary to the existing community. The plan also identifies capital infrastructure improvements necessary to provide residents and commuters with safe and efficient access to the GO station.

Secondary Plan Objectives

• Support mixed use intensification throughout the Secondary Plan area
• Balance modes of movement and improving pedestrian to the station
• Create a well-designed and physically integrated GO Transit station and hub
• Protect existing stable neighbourhoods
• Attract and accommodate a variety of employment uses
• Maintain and leverage the iconic presence of Ridley College and VIA station buildings

Identified Capital Improvements

The Secondary Plan process identified and recommended phasing for capital improvements necessary to enable safe and efficient access to the GO station.

The Region and City will undertake studies, such as the St. Paul St. West - CN Rail Bridge Replacement to assist with determining specific design details and elements that will be included as part of each improvement.

Capital improvements identified within the Secondary Plan include:

• Streetscape and Roadway Improvements
  • Traffic Calming Study (for the residential area bounded by Ridley Rd., Ambrose St., St. Paul St. West, and Henrietta St.)
  • Ridley Rd. (major streetscape between Louth St. and Ambrose St.)
  • Ridley Rd. (minor streetscape between Ambrose St. and Henrietta St.)
  • Louth St. (major streetscape between Ridley Rd. and Benfield Dr.)
  • New public road access connecting Ridley Rd. to the GO Station
  • St. Paul St. West (major streetscape between Louth St. and Henrietta St.)
  • St. Paul St. West Bridge (redesign and reconstruction)
  • St. Paul St. West at Pelham Rd. (intersection reconfiguration)
  • St. Paul St. West widening (between Louth St. and First St. Louth)
• Bike Routes / Lanes Improvements
  • St. Paul St. West (between First St. Louth and Burgoyne Bridge)
  • Ridley Rd. (between Henrietta St. and Louth St.)
  • Ridley Rd. West (between Ridley Rd. West and Louth St., and end of Ridley Rd. West)
  • Louth St. (between Crestcombe St. and St. Paul St. West)
  • Fourth Ave.
  • Pelham Rd.
  • Henrietta St.
  • St. Paul Cres.
• Multi-use Trail Improvements
  • Transit Station Trail (connecting St. Paul St. West via Great Western St. with Ridley Rd.)
  • Ridley Rd. West Trail (connecting Ridley Rd. West with Louth St. via the south side of the CN Rail corridor)
• Public Space Improvements
  • New public space at Fourth Ave. and Louth St.
  • Public space improvement at Ambrose St. and Great Western St.
  • Public space improvement west of Louth St. between St. Paul St. West and Ridley Rd. West
  • Public space improvement at St. Paul Cres. by Twelve Mile Creek
• Gateway Features
  • Ridley Rd. at Louth St. (major gateway)
  • St. Paul St. West at Louth St. (major gateway)
  • St. Paul St. West at Henrietta St. (minor gateway)
  • Crestcombe St. at Louth St. (minor gateway)

Project Timeline