The doors to the new Union Station GO Bus Terminal were officially thrown open on the weekend.

Under construction for three years, the new two-level, indoor terminal located on the north-east corner of Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard opened to the public on December 5. The facility will provide riders travelling in and out of the Greater Toronto Area with more direct connections to GO trains, the TTC, VIA Rail and UP Express.

"Our government is building accessible, modern transit infrastructure, and making public transit a safe and attractive option," said Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney. "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 was built in partnership with Metrolinx, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines, and is part of the larger connected CIBC SQUARE development that includes two office towers at 81 and 141 Bay Street. The facility provides a larger indoor, climate-controlled space of more than 23,000 square feet, which will enable travellers to wait for their buses inside the building. Additional safety measures include controlled access to platform gates.

"This milestone is part of our government's broader vision to deliver better, safer and more reliable travel options for the people of Ontario," said Kinga Surma, Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA). "By making significant investments and building historic transit projects now, we are ensuring that future generations have access to a world class public transit system."

Amenities at the terminal include more than 200 indoor seats for customers, 270 bike parking spaces, charging ports and Wi-Fi. As well, an indoor glass pedestrian bridge built above Bay Street connects the terminal to Scotiabank Arena, the PATH and Union Station.

"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."