Blue Jays grand return home means a busier Union Station

The Toronto Blue Jays are making a return to Toronto’s Rogers Centre, which is another sign Ontario is hopefully in the latter stages of the pandemic. Here’s how riders can plan ahead for the July 30 game.

Union Station is expected to see an increase in ridership as baseball fans make a return to Rogers Centre – and just as baseball is making a comeback in Toronto, so are transit riders.

white baseball — Baseball returns to Toronto, and GO and UP will help fans get to and from the games. (Photo by Anastasia Zhenina on Pexels.com)

It’s been nearly two years since the Blue Jays last played in Toronto, but the ball club is making a comeback for a three game homestand against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre on July 30.

The building is allowing 15,000 fans in the ballpark, per game, for the first 10 home games from July 30 to August 8. The Jays haven’t played at Rogers Centre since Sept. 29, 2019.

The return of baseball also means a return of ridership and Metrolinx will be there to get fans to and from the game.

Image is of a bus. — The new Union Station Bus Terminal will get a workout this weekend, thanks to Jays fans and other weekend travellers. (Matt Llewellyn photo)

The agency is planning for two extra GO trains on standby, in addition to its regularly scheduled hourly service. Trains are also being upsized to accommodate the increased ridership.

During the weekend games there will be regularly scheduled 30-minute service along the Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines.

UNION STATION REVITALIZATION

Riders might notice some changes since their last trip downtown, as Union Station has undergone a massive facelift. Starting with the Union Station Bay Concourse (USBC) renovations over the past six years.

The USBC now has nearly three times the amount of waiting area inside Union Station: from roughly 40,000 sq. ft. – to now more than 123,000 sq. ft when you combine the York and Bay Concourses.

New stairwells have been built along the entire length of the platforms and elevators are now accessible on the east ends of the platforms.

Image shows transit signs and an escalator — The new Bay Concourse offers plenty of transit options for those getting to downtown games or any other mission. (Nitish Bissonauth photo)

The Union Station Bus Terminal has also been relocated to a new, state-of-art facility at the northeast corner of Bay St. and Lake Shore Blvd, an area south of the existing station and of the rail corridor.

Built with enhanced safety measures the station ensures riders will have a comfortable, accessible transit experience.

Metrolinx is taking every step to ensure rider safety is a top priority. That includes mandatory masks – even if passengers are fully vaccinated. There are clear plastic barriers between seats on trans and busses, and hand sanitizer dispensers on vehicles and in stations.

Riders are also encouraged to purchase prepaid tickets and activate them through our e-ticket portal.

For those needing help, here’s GO Transit’s Trip Planner page.

Story by Ross Andersen, Metrolinx senior Advisor for Media Relations and Issues