Request - Best Deal Commuting from Markham, ON to Union Station Toronto

jlawrence01 said: hoosier895 said: I will be needing to do a daily commute taking the GO Train from Markham, Ontario to Union Station in Toronto.

Based on my research, it appears that my best bet would be to park at the Markham station or one the other nearby commuter stations on the line.


Does anyone have personal experience regarding the availability of commuter parking at the Markham station or otherwise offer a more cost effective means of getting downtown and back everyday? The drive downtown is unbearable.

Thanks in advance.

 

Nice to see some research. It is unusual around here.

First, are the GO Trains your only option? In many cases, you can take a bus closer to the hotel to the nearest subway which will also take you into town for about $3.

Also, why stay in Markham and commute downtown? There are closer hotels that you can score deals on Hotwire/Priceline that will be easier to commute from.

I would also ask the hotel if they have a shuttle that will take you back and forth between the hotel and the GO Markham station. It seems to me that I have taken shuttles on occasion.

The first time I stayed in Toronto years ago, my car broke down at Victoria Park and the 401, a full 25 miles NW of town. To get to the CNE which is east of the downtown area, I took a bus, transferred to the subway and then to a streetcar. Made it in 65 minutes. The drive was about two hours.

Good Luck.

Thanks for your response.

Unfortunately, the hotel was chosen for me by the client. The placement was determined by client ownership of a Markham, major hotel franchise.

All of my research indicates that trying to take a bus to the closest TTC subway station would take longer than using the GO system.

Apparently GO runs commuter trains during the rush hour and deluxe buses outside the rush hour, avoiding the miserable rush hour traffic on the 401 and the DVP.

Hotel is still clueless on any help getting downtown .

Still making calls. Somebody at GO must know something!

stevie123 said: If you have a car already, don't worry. I don't know specifically the parking situation of your train stop, but my recollection is that there is almost always a big shopping mall beside a GO stations, so you can park there for the day. (Google map the address to see.)

GO train is more expensive than TTC. however, if you are going to Union station as your final work destination, you get on the train and go to sleep and get off when you get there. No transfers between bus(es) and subway(s) getting from your hotel to Union Station.

The hotels along Highway 7 (Markham and Richmond Hill) is the cheapest in the Toronto area.... I would stay there if I had to pay... That area has the best Chinese food in Toronto, and probably all of North America outside of Vancouver! This is due to the very large "upper-class" Chinese population in this area. The price of Chinese food is also very very cheap.

If your company is paying, just take the GO train.....However, since you are here, so I assume you are paying out of your pocket. My suggestion is that if you have a car, drive to and park it at a TTC subway station and take the subway to Union Station. Not all subway stations have parking! See link.

http://www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Parking/index.jsp

I'm going to guess this is the closest subway station to you: KENNEDY $4/day (~corner of Kennedy Ave and Eglington Ave.) However, you may also be close to the FINCH station $6/day(Finch Ave. and Yonge St.)
Each ride cost $2.75. An unlimited weekly pass is $32.25 per week sold on Thursdays.

http://www3.ttc.ca/Fares_and_passes/Prices/index.jsp

Note that traffic near the 2 locations I mentioned: FINCH and KENNEDY station has heavy rush hour traffic, so be careful.

Good luck, and have fun in Toronto. Its a nice diverse city, but it has all the problems of a big city... traffic being the worst one.

Thanks for taking the time to respond and share your knowledge. My continuing research has found that there is an excess of daily parking at Unionville, where the GO Train stops in rush hour and the GO Bus stops outside of rush hour.

In the past, I had stayed near Yorkdale and parked at Wilson for the TTC subway. Unfortuantely, I had my license plates stolen and I witnessed the remnants of other cars that had been broken into. It's a nice area, not exactly Jane and Finch, but apparently some opportuists have targeted the commuters parking there.

I am told that Unionville is a very nice area and that I should have no problems regarding the safety of my vehicle.

I agree with you about TO traffic. I have had the "joy" of experiencing rush hour on the 401, the DVP, and the QEW. Best option is GO or the TTC.

Thanks for the information on the Chinese cuisine in the Markham area. I had no idea. Any suggestions on personal favorites?

ktlee said: I take the GO downtown everyday from Markham.

Your best bet is to park at Unionville station because they have a big parking lot.
The parking lot at mount joy is pretty big as well.
However, Markham & Centennial Station get full by the 2nd last morning train (before 7:30am).

http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/schedule/pubsched.aspx?ta...

Your alternative option is drive to Fairview mall @ Sheppard & 404 and takes the TTC downtown.
It all depends on your hotel location.

I had previously missed your response.

Thanks for your time and effort in responding!