York Region Transit


York Region Transit
York Region Transit #582 on the #77 line in Woodbridge, ON.
Company Slogan	York, connected.
Founded	2001
Headquarters	50 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4N7
Locale	York Region
Service Area	All of urbanized York Region. Rapid transit serves primarily Yonge Street and Highway 7 corridors.
Service Type	Public bus transit, bus rapid transit
Routes	66
Stops	Over 4000 stops across York Region
Hubs	Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, Finch Terminal, Vaughan Mills Terminal, Newmarket Terminal, Promenade Terminal, Wonderland Terminal, York University Terminal, Markham Stouffville Hospital Stop
Fleet	357
Fuel type	Diesel
Operator	Miller Transit, Tokmajik Inc., Laidlaw
Website	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.

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

Overview

YRT operates 65 full time, rush hour and limited routes, 35 school services, 5 Viva rapid transit routes and 13 Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) routes that run within York Region's boundaries. TTC passengers that cross Steeles Avenue (the Toronto-York boundary) on a TTC route 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 TTC territory; these buses are generally running to and from TTC subway stations. YRT 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 on Steeles and make a transfer at Yonge).

History

YRT was created by the regional government in 2001 to combine five of the municipally-managed transit authorities in the region:

Vaughan Transit
Markham Transit
Richmond Hill Transit
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 beginning in early 2007, the entire fleet of YRT buses and bus stop signs will have their looks changed to bear the new colours.

Zones

YRT is currently divided into 2 zones (North and South) with the boundary being the Oak Ridges Moraine (between the King Road Vivastation and the Bloomington Road Vivastation); the zone rule is that you need a 1-zone fare if your trip starts or ends within the boundaries and you need a 2-zone fare if your trip passes completely through the boundary.

Service

YRT serves the following communities:

The system is a mix of public and private co-operations. YRT is owned by York Region and operated on their behalf by private operators. For more see York Region Transit operators.

YRT use a mix of grid and non-grid oriented routes. YRT vehicles are stored at facilities owned by private operators. For more see York Region terminals, garages, routes

Bus rapid transit

Viva uses a special fleet of high-end Van Hool buses.

Main article: Viva (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 as early as late 2007, 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

This is an example of a validated and expired VIVA Student Ticket dated on May 4th, 2006

A proposed plan from the Ontario government calls for an integrated fare card system using smart card technologies called Presto card (formerly GTA Farecard), similar to Chicago Card and Hong Kong's Octopus Card. It is expected to be implemented in York Region in 2009.

Effective January 1, 2007, YRT's fares are as follows:

Age group	Individual Fare 1-Zone	Individual Fare 2-Zone	Express	10 Tickets 1-Zone	10 Tickets 2-Zone	Monthly Pass 1-Zone	Monthly Pass 2-Zone
High School Students	$2.75	$3.75	-	$17.00	$27.00	$65.00	$110.00
Adults	$2.75	$3.75	$3.00	$23.00	$33.00	$85.00	$130.00
Children and 65+ Seniors	$.275	$3.75	-	$14.00	$24.00	$42.00	$74.00

10 tickets 1-Zone: Express: $27.50
Zone Upgrade (With Vaild Ticket): $1.00
Ride to GO (With proof that you are riding GO) $0.50
GTA Weekly Pass: $43.00 (Note: Extra fare required for YRT Zone Upgrade, YRT Express and TTC Downtown Express)

Vehicles and fleet rosters

A YRT Bus

YRT has 357 buses (as of March 2007); operated by Miller Transit Ltd. in Markham/Richmond Hill, Tokmakjian (Can-Ar) Inc. in Vaughan, Laidlaw Transit Ltd. in Newmarket.

**Product list and details**
Make/Model	Description	Fleet #	Notes
General Motors T6H-4523N	35' Diesel bus	2006, 7526
General Motors TC40-102N	40' Diesel bus	8301-8302, 8304	*8303 retired
Motor Coach Industries TC40102N	40' Diesel bus	2044-2047
Motor Coach Industries TC40102A	40' Diesel bus	2048-2052
New Flyer Industries D40HF	40' Diesel bus	8912, 8914, 8917, 8918, 8919, 8921-8924	2068-2072, 8911, 8913, 8915, 8916, 8920 retired
New Flyer Industries D40LF	40' Diesel bus	311-335, 401-412, 571-585, 601-609, 610- 618	*610&611 in new YRT lively
Orion Bus Industries 01.502	30' Diesel bus	891, 2020, 8502, 8602, 8503-8504, 8723, 8801, 9001-9002, 9003
Orion Bus Industries 01.507	35' Diesel bus	8722
Orion Bus Industries 01.508	40' Diesel bus	2021-2024, 2027-2030, 2033-2036, 8505-8506, 8710-8721	1 bus damaged in accident
Orion Bus Industries 05.501	40' Diesel bus	001-014, 224-233, 301-310, 526-530, 2053-2054
Orion Bus Industries 05.505	30' Diesel bus	9401
Orion Bus Industries 06.501	40' Diesel bus	1045-1046, 2061-2067, 9701-9704, 9801-9802, 9931-9933
Thomas SLF230	30' Diesel bus	101-112, 113-117, 9901
Thomas SLF235	35' Diesel bus	201-223
ElDorado National EZ Rider II	30' Diesel bus	541-547, 548-556, 557-570, 619-623
Overland Custom Coaches Ford ELF	Wheelchair Accessible Bus	482,593,598,384,385	* These are not all of the overland buses in the YRT fleet
General Motors Astro	Utility Van
Chevrolet Impala	supervisor car

not accessible

For Viva bus fleet, see Viva (bus rapid transit).

Denotes wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Staff

YRT operating staff are employed by their respective contractors.

Uniforms

YRT staff uniform consists of a white shirt with blue pin strips with YRT crest on the left chest and dark pants.

Special Constables

A contingent of Special Constables patrol both YRT and Viva bus rapid transit properties. They have the same powers as the York Regional Police to enforce:

Criminal Code
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of Ontario
Trespass to Property Act of Ontario
Liquor License Act of Ontario
section 17 of the Mental Health Act of Ontario
Regional Municipality of York By-law R-1415-2005-028

Special constables wear distinct uniforms with black jackets and blue shirts with Special Constables identification (blue and black crest on their shoulders).

Fare Media Inspectors are enforcement officers responsible for issues relating to fare violations.

YRT/Viva Constables also drive in the unmarked and marked cruisers.

The constables patrol within areas served by the YRT/Viva.

Terminals

Newmarket Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

44 Upper Canada (formerly called Bristol-London)
52 Holland Landing
55 Davis
56 Gorham-Eagle
57A Mulock
98 Yonge North
520/521 Newmarket Community
Viva Blue

Bernard Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

83 Trench - with off street stop on Bernard Avenue
86 Weldrick-Newkirk
98 Yonge North
99 Yonge South
Viva Blue - with off street stops on Yonge during non-peak weekday service

Vaughan Mills Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

12 Pine Valley
20 Jane-Concord - North and South
85/85B Rutherford-16th Avenue - East and West
360 Maple Express

Promenade Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

3/3B Thornhill-York U
23 Thornhill Woods - North and South
77 Highway 7-Centre - East and West
88 Bathurst - North and South
160 Bathurst North
Viva Purple

Richmond Hill Centre Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

1 Highway 7
83/83A Trench
87 Langstaff-Maple
99 Yonge South - North and South
Viva Blue - North and South
Viva Purple - East and West
Viva Pink - East and South

York University Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

3 Thornhill-York U
10 York U-Woodbridge
20 Jane Concord
Viva Orange
Viva Purple
Greyhound

GO Finch Terminal

Bus routes at this terminal:

2 Miliken
5 Clark
23 Thornhill Woods
77 Highway 7-Centre Street
88 Bathurst
91/91A Bayview South
99 Yonge South
300 Business Express
301 Markham Express
302 Unionville Express
303 Cornell Express
340 Bayview Express (starts September 2006)
Viva Blue
Viva Pink

Canada's Wonderland Terminal

Bus Routes at this terminal:

4 Major Mackenzie
20 Jane-Concord
288 Wonderland Express Mississauga Transit
66 Wonderland Brampton Transit
165D Weston Rd. North Toronto Transit Commission
GO Transit

Routes

denotes routes with accessible buses.

Numbering conventions

2-- GO Transit Shuttle (excluding TTC routes)
3-- Express (extra fare required)
5-- Community Bus (local)

Regular

All routes operate 7 days a week unless otherwise indicated.

1 Highway 7 (Richmond Hill Centre Terminal to Markham-Stouffville Hospital)
2 Milliken (Finch Subway-Markham Road via John Street/Denison Street) On Saturdays and Sundays only, the route is extended from Markham Road to 9th Line.
2A 14th Avenue (Woodbine Avenue to Markham-Stouffville Hospital) Operates Monday to Friday only. During peak periods, this route operates via Rouge Bank Drive and Russell Jarvis Drive. In off-peak periods, it operates via Legacy Drive
3/3B Thornhill-York University (Route 3: York University-Don Mills/Steeles, Route 3B: York University-Don Mills/Steeles via York University GO Station) Route 3B operates Monday to Friday only and services the York University GO Train Station.
(Route 4 only) 4/4A Major Mackenzie (Route 4: Jane-Woodbine, Route 4A: Bathurst-Mount Joy GO Station) During the summer, route 4 diverts into Canada's Wonderland. Route 4A operates only during peak periods.
5 Clark (Glen Shields-Finch Station) Operates from Monday to Saturday. The route loops via Dufferin and Glen Shields at the western end of Clark Avenue. The direction of the loop depends on the time of day.
7 Martin Grove connecting with the westerly Viva Orange Martin Grove Vivastation. Serving the intersection of Hwy 27 and Martin Grove Road, with some service to Steeles and Islington. Weekday service extended south to Woodbine Centre and Humber College North Campus in Toronto.
8 Kennedy links the intersection of Kennedy and Major Mackenzie with Steeles Ave via Unionville (GO Station), and Enterprise vivastations.
9/9A Stouffville--9A to be replaced by 15 September 2, 2007, 9 Becomes 9th Line.
10 York University-Woodbridge--serves areas of Woodbridge not provided by Viva Orange.
11 Woodbridge--Another route serving Woodbridge. During peak hours only, service is extened to Martin Grove Road via Highway 27.
12 Pine Valley links the YRT teminal at Vaughan Mills Mall with the intersection of Islington and Steeles, and does not operate on Sunday.
13 Islington links Napa Valley Road with Islington and Steeles. During peak periods, trips are extended into Kleinburg. Trips into Kleinburg do not operate on weekends. This route does not operate on Sundays.
15 Stouffville Local--begins September 2, 2007, replacing 9A
18 Bur Oak links the Markham-Stouffville Hospital with Angus Glen Community Centre, with no service on Sunday.
20 Jane-Concord. From York University to Teston/Jane via Vaughan Mills.
22 King City links Maple Community Centre with Seneca College King Campus via King City GO Station, and does not operate on Sundays.
23 Thornhill Woods (Finch Station-Rutherford) Operates from Monday to Friday. Travels from Finch Station to Promenade Shopping Center via Yonge, Steeles, Hilda, Clark, Atkinson, and Bathurst (in order). From Promenade, the route heads north along Bathurst to Highway 7, before turning into the Thornhill Woods area. The route winds along Maple Sugar Lane, Pleasant Ridge Road, Summeridge Drive, and Thornhill Woods Drive before travelling east to its end at Bathurst and Rutherford.
27 Highway 27. Limited Service Monday-Saturday to Highway 27 Commercial District between Highways 407 and 7, west of Highway 27.
31 Aurora North
32 Aurora South
33 Wellington Street (started June 2006)
34 Industrial Parkway
40 Unionville Local (Woodbine-Markville Mall) Serves the Unionville area, north of Highway 7.
41 Markham Local. Serves the Cornell area east of McCowan, north of Highway 7.
44 Bristol-London. Starting September 2007, Evening Service, will be a "dial a ride pilot service
50 Queensway Runs in Georgina, in the Keswick area until September 1, 2007, when GO Transit Route 69 will replace such service.
51 Keswick Local Runs in Georgina, in the Keswick area.
52 Holland Landing. Runs between Newmarket and Holland Landing, and serves East Gwillimbury GO Train station.
54 Bayview North
55/55B Davis Drive
56 Gorham-Eagle
57/57A Mulock Drive
58 Leslie North
58A Leslie North-Mount Albert (started April 2006)
77 Highway 7/Centre (Bramalea City Centre-Finch Station) On Sundays and holidays, the route is altered to run along Clark Avenue from Yonge to New Westminister, before turning onto New Westminister to access the Promenade Terminal and continue its regular route. This makes up for the 5 Clark bus on Sunday.
82 Valleymede-Spadina
83/83A Trench
84A/84C Oak Ridges
85/85A/85B Rutherford/16th Avenue
86 Weldrick-Newkirk
87 Langstaff-Maple
88 Bathurst
89 Richmond Hill Community Bus
90 Leslie South
91/91A Bayview South (Finch Subway/Richmond Hill) Formerly a GO Transit Route.
98 Yonge North (Yonge/Green Lane-Bernard Terminal) Only YRT bus to cross two fare zones.
99 Yonge South (formerly Yonge 'C' route; previously served by GO Transit and TTC
224B Woodbine Avenue (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
225 Bales Drive Shuttle to be discontinued September 1, 2007
520/521 Newmarket Community Bus
522 Markham Community Bus

Viva

Main article: Viva (bus rapid transit)

Viva Blue operates from Finch Station to Newmarket Terminal with a rush hour branch operating to Bernard in addition to the Newmarket Branch.
Viva Green operates on a route which runs between Don Mills Station and Unionville Station (off-peak periods) or McCowan (peak periods) until September 1, 2007, when this route will be restricted to Peak Service only.
Viva Orange operates between Downsview Station and Martin Grove via York University.
Viva Purple operates between McCowan Road and York University (off-peak periods). Peak period service to Martin Grove ends September 1, 2007
Viva Pink operates during rush hours only between Finch Station and Unionville Station via Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.

TTC routes operating in York Region

17A Birchmount--Monday-Friday peak hour extension north of Steeles to 14th Avenue
24D Victoria Park--Monday-Friday extension north of Steeles to Woodbine and Major Mackenzie Drive.
25D Don Mills-- Extension north of Steeles to 16th Avenue.
35D Jane-- Extension North of Steeles to Vaughan Mills
37D Islington--Monday-Friday Peak Hour Extension north of Steeles to Highway 7 and Weston Road
68B Warden--Extension north of Steeles to Major Mackenzie
102D Markham Road--Extension north of Steeles to Major Mackenzie
105 Dufferin North-- Extension North of Steeles to Major Mackenzie
107B/107C/107D/107F Keele North--Extensions north of Steeles serving Rutherford GO Train Station, Major Mackenzie, and Teston Road
129A McCowan North--Extended North of Steeles to Major Mackenzie
160 Bathurst North--Extended North of Steeles to Prominade Terminal, and north of Centre Street
165D Weston North--Extended north of Steeles to Major Mackenzie; seasonal extensions to Canada's Wonderland
224C/224D Victoria Park North--Monday-Friday Peak Service extensions North of Steeles, 224C into Dennison Avenue Industrial area, 224D north towards Major Mackenzie.

GO Transit shuttles

201 Markham GO Shuttle
202 Unionville GO Shuttle
215 Stouffville GO Shuttle, begins in September 2007.
222 Aurora-Newmarket GO Shuttle
223 Newmarket GO Shuttle
240 Mill Pond GO Shuttle
241 Beverly Acres GO Shutle
242 North Richvale GO Shuttle
243 Redstone GO Shuttle
260 Rutherford GO Shuttleto be discontinued September 1, 2007

Expresses

Unless otherwise indicated, all routes go to/from the Finch Subway Station.

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.
340 Bayview Express--provides service along Bayview Avenue between Subrisco and High Tech Rd--to be discontinued on September 1, 2007.
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-2008, Unionville GO Station to Major Mackenzie/The Bridle Walk during peak periods only.

45 Mingay. Service begins mid-2008, from Markville Mall to Mingay Avenue/Major Mackenzie Drive, peak periods only.

Facilities

Miller Transit Yard, Divisions 1 and 3 - Markham, Ontario
Laidlaw Transit Limited - Division 2 (Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Georgina services)
Can-ar Maintenance Facility - Division 4 - Vaughan, Ontario
Veolia Transportation, Viva services - Newmarket and Vaughan.

External links

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
Transit History...Vaughan
Transit History...Markham
Transit History...Richmond Hill
"vivatalk - York Region's Rapid Transit Update", Economist & Sun/Sun-Tribune: Community, June 11, 2005, p 7.

Mass transit in the Greater Toronto Area
Local bus transit	TTC bus • Brampton Transit • Burlington Transit • Durham Region Transit • Mississauga Transit • Milton Transit • Oakville Transit • York Region Transit
Local rail transit	TTC streetcar • TTC subway/RT
Regional transit	GO Transit • Coach Canada • VIVA
Major Stations	Union Station • Finch Bus Terminal
Governmental Bodies	Greater Toronto Transportation Authority

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York Region Transit

Overview

History

Zones

Service

Bus rapid transit

Fares

Vehicles and fleet rosters

Staff

Uniforms

Special Constables

Terminals

Newmarket Terminal

Bernard Terminal

Vaughan Mills Terminal

Promenade Terminal

Richmond Hill Centre Terminal

York University Terminal

GO Finch Terminal

Canada's Wonderland Terminal

Routes

Numbering conventions

Regular

Viva

TTC routes operating in York Region

GO Transit shuttles

Expresses

Future Routes

Facilities

See also

Defunct transit systems

Current transit systems

Other

External links

References

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