Toronto’s new state-of-the-art Union Station Bus Terminal (USBT) was the staging ground this past weekend for an emergency exercise, meant to test systems as well as the ability for staff to respond during a terrifying disaster.

Producing a dress rehearsal like this takes months of planning, but during a pandemic, there are additional pressures. Officials not only worked to simulate an emergency, but did it within the challenges of an ongoing global crisis.

Ensuring all participants stayed healthy and followed COVID-19 safety protocols throughout the exercise was a priority – that was checked and double-checked throughout the exercise. These protocols included health screenings, wearing face coverings at all times, washing and sanitizing hands regularly and keeping a safe distance from others whenever possible. For safety, this time the agency did not use actual actors as simulated ‘victims,’ but instead used mannequins.

The Nov. 22 emergency exercise is just one of the ways staff are preparing for the first GO bus passengers on Dec. 5. Bus operators are busy training – both virtually and in real-life – to operate double decker and MCI GO buses in the indoor, two-floor station.

The huge new soon-to-be-opened USBT, located just south of the existing bus terminal at the east side of Bay Street and north corner of Lake Shore.  The state-of-the-art bus depot is in the base of the new glass-covered CIBC SQUARE tower.

All GO bus service that is currently in the existing Union Station terminal at 141 Bay Street will operate out of the new facility – a big change for transit customers but a much more comfortable and convenient space with enhanced safety.

The new site will feature a new boarding process – stay tuned for an explainer video to show customers how to get to the station – and a two-floor layout along with many new changes and enhancements to the customer experience.