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    1. Bus
    2. Infrastructure

    Metrolinx announces Toronto’s new Union Station Bus Terminal opens door for first time

    Dec. 7, 2020
    The larger terminal officers greater safety, comfort and better transit connections.
    Metrolinx/Matt Llewellyn
    A GO bus arrives inside the facility.
    A GO bus arrives inside the facility.

    Toronto’s new Union Station Bus Terminal (USBT) officially opened Dec. 5, allowing customers to experience the new, state-of-the-art facility located on the northeast corner of Bay St. and Lake Shore Blvd.

    The new terminal is an upgrade from the old one, which had more than 100 million customers travel through it since it first opened in 2003. With 14 bus bays – double the capacity of the previous terminal – 270 bike parking spaces, and convenient amenities like washrooms, charging ports and Wi-Fi, the new USBT is a welcome advance for many travelers. It’s also indoors, allowing customers to easily transfer to GO trains, the Toronto Transit Commission, VIA Rail and UP Express.

    "Our government is building accessible, modern transit infrastructure, and making public transit a safe and attractive option," said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. "The opening of the new Union Station Bus Terminal demonstrates our government's promise to bring a better travel experience to the everyday lives of Ontarians."

    The new terminal also changes how customers access buses. Like an airport, there are now zones, and gates within those zones, that open to the bus platforms. The gates stay closed until buses are ready to board or de-board, one of the many safety measures Metrolinx has implemented to ensure customers stay safely away from moving vehicles. When customers arrive, it’s important they check the departure boards – there are 68 across the terminal – which will direct them to the relevant zone on the first or second level.

    "The Union Station Bus Terminal is an integral part of our GO bus network and an important step forward in the overall enhancement of Union Station," said Phil Verster, Metrolinx President and CEO. "The larger and more comfortable space will offer an even better experience for customers who are catching a bus at the terminal or connecting to the other parts of the city or the region. We can't wait to welcome our customers into the new home of the GO bus."

    While it’s a big change, Metrolinx says it has ensured there are staff on site to help navigate through what the transit agency is calling a better and safer way to catch the bus. The new USBT was built in partnership between Metrolinx, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines. It is part of the larger connected CIBC SQUARE development that includes two office towers at 81 and 141 Bay Street.

    "This bus terminal provides a harmonious connection between work and home for all CIBC SQUARE building occupants, eliminating stress from the workday commute," said David Hoffman, general manager, CIBC SQUARE.

    Now that the new station is open, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines will begin construction of their second CIBC SQUARE tower at the old terminal location at 141 Bay Street.