ONroute
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | develop and manage freeway rest areas |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Number of locations | 23 |
| Parent |
HMSHost Kilmer van Nostrand |
| Website | http://onroute.ca |
ONroute is the operating brand name of Host Kilmer Service Centers (HKSC), a Canadian service company which operates highway rest areas along Highway 400 and Highway 401 in the province of Ontario.[1] The company is a joint venture between international hospitality company HMSHost (a subsidiary of Autogrill) and Canadian businessman Larry Tanenbaum's investment company Kilmer van Nostrand.[2]
History
Construction of Ontario Highways 400 and 401 began in the early 1950s, with the last section of 401 completed in 1968. Both roads were intended as bypasses, going around populated areas instead of through them (the highways 11 and 2 which they replaced were Main Street in nearly every served community) and therefore initially had few services. A series of rest stops was constructed as part of the highway in the 1960s in rural areas to provide a full-service restaurant (later replaced with franchised fast food) and a service station (eventually curtailed to fuel only, no repair services). All but a few of these dated from the same era with strong similarity in design; the original 1960s rest stops were demolished in 2010-11 and the sites used to construct new buildings as ONroute, leaving most rest stops out of operation for a year or more.
Prior to 2010, rest areas on the two highways were individually franchised to different companies; however, as many of the companies began during the financial crisis of 2007–2008 to announce that they would not renew their leases, the government of Ontario selected HKSC as the new franchisee for all of its rest areas in 2010.[2] Excepting a few service centres which had already been redeveloped by their previous owners in the 1990s or 2000s, most of the old service centres have since undergone extensive redevelopment to update their architecture and services, with the remaining redevelopment projects slated for completion in 2013.[2] Partners in the redevelopment projects included EllisDon Construction, Quadrangle Architects and Bruce Mau Design.[3] All of the redeveloped locations were designed to meet the LEED certification standards of the Canadian Green Building Council, as well as current standards of accessibility for travellers with disabilities.[3]
The rare exceptions to a pattern of closure, demolition and rebuilding of entire highway rest stops occurred in places such as Newcastle where the original facility was not from the initial 1960s group but was constructed later and therefore permitted to remain in service.
Services
Each ONroute location features a Canadian Tire gas station. While each location offers a different selection of fast food providers, all locations feature some combination of A&W, Big Smoke Burger, Brioche Dorée, Burger King, Cinnabon, Cold Stone Creamery, East Side Mario's Pronto, Extreme Pita, KFC, Taco Bell, Mr. Sub, New York Fries, Pizza Pizza, PurBlendz, Starbucks, Swiss Chalet, Tim Hortons, Wendy's or Yogen Fruz outlets, as well as a Nicholby's Express or The Market convenience store.[4] In addition, the westernmost (Tilbury) and easternmost (Bainsville) locations along Highway 401, serving as "gateway" locations for tourists entering the province from Michigan or Quebec, also feature Ontario Tourist Information Centres.[3]
All ONroute locations also provide wi-fi service.[1]
Locations
As of 2013, ONroute locations are open along Highway 401 in Tilbury (2), West Lorne, Dutton, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Cambridge (2), Newcastle, Port Hope, Trenton (2), Napanee, Odessa, Mallorytown (2), Morrisburg, Ingleside and Bainsville, and along Highway 400 in Vaughan, King City and Barrie. In most locations, individual ONroute service centres are accessible only from one carriageway of the highway, with a separate nearby ONroute location serving the other carriageway; Bainsville is the only current exception, with one location accessible via interchange to serve both carriageways.
One Highway 400 location in Cookstown remains closed since February 1, 2013 for renovation; a re-opening date has not yet been announced.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Douglas Hunter. Double Double: How Tim Hortons Became a Canadian Way of Life, One Cup at a Time. Harper Collins, 2012. ISBN 978-1-443-40675-8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "HMSHost Corporation and Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited Ink 50-Year Agreement to Build 23 World-Class Service Centres on Major Canadian Highways". CNW Group. April 7, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "ONroute in Ontario". Toronto Sun, January 31, 2012.
- ↑ "Ontario Finalizes Plans For Highway Service Centres". Brock News (Brockville: DCE Productions). April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/questions-and-answers.shtml#seven