York Region Transit

Infobox Bus transit
name = York Region Transit

logo_size = 150


image_size =
image_caption =
company_slogan = York, connected.
founded = 2001
headquarters = 50 High Tech Road,
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4N7
locale = York Region
service_area = Urbanized York Region. Rapid transit serves primarily Yonge Street and Highway 7 corridors.
service_type = bus service, bus rapid transit
alliance = Toronto Transit Commission
Brampton Transit
routes = 94, 15 TTC-contracted, 5 Viva
destinations =
stops = over 4000
hubs = Bernard Terminal
Canada's Wonderland
Finch Bus Terminal
Newmarket Bus Terminal
Promenade Terminal
Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
Vaughan Mills Terminal
York University
stations =
lounge =
fleet = Approx. 450 (2008)
ridership =
fuel_type = Diesel, Hybrid-Electric Coming Late 2008
operator = see Operations
ceo =
website = [http://www.yrt.ca http://www.yrt.ca]

York Region Transit (YRT) is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road.

Overview

YRT operates 65 full time, rush hour and limited routes, 35 school services, 5 VIVA rapid transit routes and utilizes 14 Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) routes that run within York Region's boundaries. TTC passengers that cross Steeles Avenue (the Toronto-York boundary) must pay an additional fare (the YRT fare) to continue on that route (in practical sense, the TTC bus becomes a YRT bus when it crosses Steeles Avenue). There is also a joint service on Highway 7, Route 77, that is shared between YRT and Brampton Transit.

Some YRT routes operate within the City of Toronto; these buses are generally running to and from TTC subway stations. YRT northbound buses are allowed to pick up passengers south of Steeles Avenue if they are heading into York Region (but passengers must flag the bus from a designated TTC or YRT stop). YRT buses heading to a TTC subway station can similarly drop off passengers at designated stops south of Steeles Avenue, but are usually not permitted to pick up passengers from these stops (Notable Exception: people who get on at Steeles and make a transfer at Yonge).

History

YRT was created by the regional government in 2001 to combine the five municipally-managed transit authorities in the region:
* Vaughan Transit, since 1973
* Markham Transit, since 1973
* Richmond Hill Transit, since 1960
* Aurora Transit, merged in 1999 with Newmarket Transit
* Newmarket Transit

In mid-2006, the York Region Transit (YRT) logo was modified to bear closer resemblance to the VIVA logo and, by 2010, the entire fleet of YRT buses and bus stop signs will have their looks changed to bear the new colours.

Operations

All transit services in York Region are provided by private operators under contract. [ [http://www.yorkregiontransit.com/whats-ahead/2008_Draft_Service_Plan_Priorities.pdf YRT 2008 Draft Service Plan] ]

Division 1

: Area served: Markham and Stouffville : Operator: Miller Transit Limited: Facility: 8050 Woodbine Ave., Markham: Web site: [http://www.millergroup.ca/transit Miller Transit]

Division 2

: Area served: Newmarket, Aurora, King Township, East Gwillimbury and Georgina: Operator: First Student Canada (formerly Laidlaw Transit Limited): Facility: 534 Kent Dr., Newmarket

Division 3

: Area served: Richmond Hill: Operator: Miller (same information as Div. 1)

Division 4

: Area served: Vaughan: Operator: Can-ar Coach Service (A Division of Tokmakjian Ltd.): Facility: 221 Caldari Rd., Concord : Web site: [http://www.can-arcoach.com/corporate.html#corporate Can-ar]

Division 5

: Services: Off-peak periods on Routes 40 & 27 [ [http://www.york.ca/NR/rdonlyres/76f5ww5aw2tsjfio2odznyioftqfrbjmql6srjt3fewrmbqkfofi2bakfhcmj4nh2uhjlgzrktecmmuslrmgeaf6wd/rpt+3+cls+5.pdf YRT Contract Extension with Stock Transportation] ] : Operator: Stock Transportation

Division 7

: Services: Viva (bus rapid transit): Operator: Veolia Transportation : Facility: 18106 Yonge St., Newmarket - VIVA Blue: Facility: 51 Caldari Rd., Vaughan - VIVA Purple, Orange, Green and Pink: Web site: [http://www.veoliatransportation.com/BRT.aspx Veolia BRT]

Bus rapid transit

In response to escalating congestion on the region's roads, York Region's transit plan included a provision for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system along the Yonge Street and Highway 7 arterial corridors. This service, known as "Viva", was launched in September 2005.

Phase 2 is expected to begin in 2008, and includes the construction of bus only lanes on Yonge Street and eventually to Newmarket. Highway 7 bus lanes will be constructed later on.

Fares

YRT has some of the most expensive fares in the Greater Toronto Area. Effective January 1, 2008, YRT's fares are as follows:

TTC routes in York Region

GO Shuttles

GO Shuttle routes are intended to transport commuters to (in mornings) and from (in afternoons) from GO stations for a cash fare of 50 cents, with proof of GO fare. Prior to the spring of 2007, afternoon GO Shuttle routes could not officially pick up any passengers after leaving the GO station. That policy has been changed and the routes may now pick up other passengers, but the special discounted fare does not apply - such passengers must pay the full fare or show a valid transfer. As these routes provide connections to and from GO stations, they are subject to changes with GO operations and could even be cancelled if there is no GO passenger needing the service. In YRT's words, "Due to this specialized nature of GO Shuttle routes, we do not encourage the use of these routes for regular (daily) local trips and will not be publicizing their availability." Fact|date=October 2008
* 201 Markham GO Shuttle
*202 Unionville GO Shuttle
*215 Stouffville GO Shuttle
*222 Aurora-Newmarket GO Shuttle
*223 Newmarket GO Shuttle
* 240 Mill Pond GO Shuttle
* 241 Beverly Acres GO Shuttle
* 242 North Richvale GO Shuttle
* 243 Redstone GO Shuttle

Express routes

Unless otherwise indicated, all routes go to/from the Finch Bus Terminal.
* 300 Business Express--a reverse express service for the business park in Unionville. Provides service from Finch in the morning and to Finch in the afternoon.
* 301 Markham Express--serves roughly the same area as the Markham Local bus route.
* 302 Unionville Express--serves roughly the same area as the Unionville Local bus route.
* 303 Cornell Express--serves the Cornell area including Bur Oak Av. and some of the Markham Local route. "(to be renamed Bur Oak Express in September 2008)"
* 340 Bayview Express--provides service along Bayview Avenue between Subrisco and High Tech Rd.
* 360 Maple Express--provides service from Yorkdale Subway Station to Vaughan Mills and Maple. Provides reverse peak service (from subway in morning, to subway in afternoon) as far as Major Mackenzie/Vaughan Mills in addition to regular peak service to/from a loop further along the route.

Future routes

* "42 Bridle Walk. Service begins mid-2009, Unionville GO Station to Major Mackenzie/The Bridle Walk during peak periods only."
* "45 Mingay. Service begins mid-2009, from Markville Mall to Mingay Avenue/Major Mackenzie Drive, peak periods only."

Current officers

As of November 2007, the executive of YRT consists of:
* Chair Bill Fisch (York Region Chair)
* Vice-Chair Regional Councillor David Barrow
* General Manager Donald Gordon
* Vice-President of Operations (YRT and Viva) Mary-Frances Turner

ee also

* York Regional Police
* York Region EMS
* MoveOntario 2020

References

* "Markham Transit 1990 Rider's Guide", Town of Markham
* "Markham Transit Fall 1994 Rider's Guide", Town of Markham
* "Markham Transit Fall 1999 Rider's Guide", Town of Markham
* "Markham Transit 2000 Rider's Guide", Town of Markham
* [http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/s2z-on.html#vaughan Transit History...Vaughan]
* [http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/s2z-on.html#markham Transit History...Markham]
* [http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/s2z-on.html#richmondhill Transit History...Richmond Hill]
* "vivatalk - York Region's Rapid Transit Update", "Economist & Sun"/"Sun-Tribune: Community", June 11, 2005, p 7.

External links

* [http://www.yrt.ca York Region Transit]
* [http://www.vivayork.com Viva official site]
* [http://stw.ryerson.ca/~m4yip/transit/yrt/ York Region Transit Fleet Roster]
* [http://lrt.daxack.ca/ The Toronto LRT Information Page] (Page has a rendering of what a VIVA LRV could look like)
* [http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/ontario/yrt/index.htm Drawings and photos of York Region Transit buses]