New GO bus terminal at Union Station to link to transit hub
Posted September 30, 2014 9:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Metrolinx is teaming up with Montreal-based Ivanhoe Cambridge to build a new, larger GO bus terminal at Union Station, one that will become part of an integrated transport hub at the station.
The regional transit authority said the terminal will move from its current location on the north side at 141 Bay St., to the south side of the train tracks at 45 Bay St.
Construction on the $2-billion project is expected to start in spring 2015 and be completed by 2018.
Upon completion, customers will have access to intercity bus services, GO Transit, Via Rail, TTC, and the Pearson airport express train, in one central location.
“I think it’s primarily capacity, along with the fact that we want to build that seamless one-stop shop opportunity, both from the perspective of economic development from the city, and for the region, but also making the customer experience better for commuters themselves,” Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca explained at a news conference on Tuesday.
“This will link up both the commuters, the customers, people who work in downtown Toronto. It’s a win-win all the way around.”
Metrolinx will sell the current GO terminal to Ivanhoe in exchange for a 99-year lease of the new terminal.
“We are selling our 141 Bay St. site, which is too small, to Ivanhoe Cambridge, and in turn, we’re commiting to build the bus terminal and the bottom floors of the new building at 45 Bay St,” Metrolinx chair Robert Prichard said.
The proposed plan for the complex consists of twin office towers with up to 250,000 square metres of office space, and a sky park to be built over the rail corridor. The complex will eventually connect with the PATH system.
Ivanhoe plans to invest around $2 billion in the project. Metrolinx will spend $106 million for the new terminal, and will receive $30 million minimum for selling the current GO bus terminal to the developer. The net cost to the taxpayer is $76 million.
Union Station is the largest inter-regional hub in Canada, serving twice as many passengers as Pearson airport.
On a typical weekday, GO runs almost 250 train trips and over 2,500 bus trips, carrying about 250,000 passengers. GO carries around 66 million passengers per year.
With files from The Canadian Press
