Durham Region Transit

Durham Region Transit

Bus 8172 waits at the Ajax GO Station.
Slogan Make Life Easy!
Founded January 1, 2006
Headquarters Whitby, Ontario
Service area All of Durham Region
Service type Public transit
Hubs Pickering GO Stn, Pickering Town Centre, Ajax GO Stn, Ajax Plaza, Whitby GO Stn, Oshawa GO Stn, Oshawa Centre, Durham College/UOIT, Downtown Oshawa, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Fuel type Diesel
Operator Durham Region, Trentway-Wagar (Whitby)
Website www.durhamregiontransit.com

Durham Region Transit (DRT) is the regional public transit operator in Durham Region, east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are at 605 Rossland Rd East in Whitby, Ontario, and there are regional centres in Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa. It was formed with the merger of Ajax/Pickering Transit, Whitby Transit, Oshawa Transit, and Clarington Transit.

Overview

DRT's operation is overseen by the Durham Region Transit Commission, consisting of the members of Durham Region Council. In April 2007, a new Durham Region Transit Executive Committee was created to take over day-to-day oversight responsibilities, with the full Commission meeting on a limited basis as needed. The Executive Committee consists of the Regional Chair and one councilor from each of the eight Durham Region municipalities as appointed by the Mayor of each municipality.

DRT is organized into operating divisions mirroring its predecessor systems:

Most of DRT's operational and maintenance services are provided by regional staff who are members of Canadian Auto Workers Local 222.

Whitby initially operated under the terms of an existing Whitby Transit contract with Trentway-Wagar. A new contract that combined Brock, Scugog & Uxbridge operations with Whitby operations was awarded to Trentway-Wagar in 2011. The drivers and maintenance staff are therefore employees of Trentway-Wagar. This contract ends on June 30, 2016.[1]

Routes

Route numbering

Route changes coming as of May 4th please visit http://www.durhamregiontransit.com/Maps/Pages/May-2015-Route-Maps.aspx for new service changes.

As of July 28, 2008, DRT has introduced a unified route number system using a three digit format, with the first digit indicating the municipality the route operates in:

Brock, Uxbridge, and Scugog Community Bus service is not numbered

Route list

Routes are in effect as of 2 September 2014.[2]

REGIONAL ROUTES
Name Operating times
900
900A 		drt PULSE
(Bus Rapid Transit) 		Daily
910 Campus Connect Daily
915 Taunton Daily
916
916B 		Rossland 916: Mon – Sat
916B: Eve – Sun – Hol
922 Bloor/ Victoria Weekday AM/PM rush
923 Bayly Daily
950 Uxbridge/ Port Perry
DC UOIT 		Weekdays
WEST ROUTES (Pickering – Ajax)
Name Operating times
101 Industrial Mon – Sat
103 Amberlea Mon – Sat
105 West Shore Mon – Sat
106 Bay Ridges Mon – Sat
107 South Rosebank Mon - Sat
109 Rouge Hill Shuttle Weekday AM/ PM rush – Sat
110
110A 		Central Pickering Daily
112 Brock Weekday – Sat
114
114B 		Dixie 114: Weekday AM/ PM rush
114B: Weekday Midday – Sat
116 Sheppard Mon – Sat
117 Valley Farm Weekday AM/ PM rush
193A
193B 		Pickering Community Bus Mon - Sat
101D Industrial/ Bay Ridges Eve – Sun – Hol
103D Amberlea Eve – Sun – Hol
105D West Shore/ South Rosebank Eve – Sun – Hol
112D Brock/ Valley Farm Eve – Sun – Hol
114D Dixie/ Sheppard Eve – Sun – Hol
Claremont Community Bus Fri limited
218 Beach Mon – Sat
219 Ravenscroft Mon – Sat
221 Central Ajax Mon – Sat
222 Audley South Daily
224 Harwood Mon – Sat
225 Audley North Daily
225A Audley North Ajax Mon - Fri
226 Duffins Mon - Sat
232 Village Mon - Sat
291
292 		Ajax Community Bus 291: Daily limited
292: Mon – Sat limited
218D Beach/ Audley South Eve – Sun – Hol
219D Ravenscroft/ Village Eve – Sun – Hol
221D Central Ajax/ Monarch Eve – Sun – Hol
224D Harwood/ Lake Driveway Eve – Sun – Hol
225D Audley North Eve – Sun – Hol
CENTRAL ROUTES (Whitby – Oshawa)
Name Operating times
301 West Lynde/ Otter Creek Weekday
302 Brock/ Brooklin Daily
303 Garden Weekday
304 Anderson Daily
305 Thickson/ Garrard Daily
308 Whitby Shores Weekday
312 Whitby Community Bus Daily
318 Otter Creek/ Garden
Whitby Shores 		Eve – Sat – Sun – Hol
401
401B 		Simcoe 401: Daily
401B: Weekdays
402 King Daily
403
403A
403B 		Park 403/403A: Daily
403B: Mon – Sat Eve
405
405B 		Central Park 405: Weekday AM/ PM rush
405B: Saturdays
406
406B 		Dean 406: Mon – Sat
406B: Mon – Sat Eve/ Sun/ Hol
407
407B 		Ritson 407: Mon – Sat
407B: Mon – Sat Eve/ Sun/ Hol
408 Stevenson Daily
409 Thornton Daily
410 Olive/ Harmony Daily
411 Grandview Daily
412 Adelaide Daily
414 Oshawa Community Bus Weekday midday
421
421A 		Townline 421: Weekday
421A: Weekday AM only
EAST AND NORTH ROUTES (CLARINGTON/ BROCK/ UXBRIDGE/ PORT PERRY)
Name Operating times
501 Aspen Springs Daily
502 Liberty Daily
503 Wilmot Creek Mon/ Wed/ Fri limited
504 Orono/ Newcastle Tues/ Thur limited
Brock Community Bus Weekday limited
Uxbridge Community Bus Tues/ Fri limited
Port Perry Community Bus Mon/ Wed/ Fri limited

Service changes

In its first year of operation in 2006, DRT implemented a number of service changes:

In 2007, the following new services were introduced:

As a consequence of an operational budget shortfall, DRT implemented service cutbacks in December 2007 and March 2008, including cancellation of midday services, reduction in service hours and frequencies, and elimination of its 10 Ajax route.[3]

Rapid transit

DRT Pulse
Parent Durham Region Transit
Founded June 29, 2013
Service type bus rapid transit
Destinations Downtown Oshawa to University of Toronto Scarborough

There has been some discussion of the possibility of creating a rapid transit line along the Durham Highway 2 corridor. The Durham Region Long Term Transit plan identifies Highway 2 and Taunton Road as higher order corridors where transit services would be especially fast, frequent and include elements such as right-of-way separation, transit priority, and potential for different vehicle technology including light rail.

On June 15, 2007, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced a $17 billion transit plan called MoveOntario 2020. One component of the plan was a bus rapid transit line on Highway 2 between Pickering and Oshawa.[4]

In November 2007, Metrolinx recommended[5] a funding package of $82.3 million for a "Quick Win" implementation of a bus rapid transit line along Highway 2. This funding package was approved in full as part of the 2008 provincial budget, and a preliminary BRT implementation is expected to be running within three years.

The BRT is expected to operate using new hybrid buses running on 7.5 minute headways during rush hour and 15 minute headways during off-peak hours. Buses will utilize transit signal priority to save travel time. The initial phase will be similar to the first phase of Viva, with buses running in existing lanes, while the full implementation will provide dedicated transit/High-occupancy vehicle lane lanes. Connections to Toronto Transit Commission services in Scarborough are expected.

The BRT would be complemented by improved service along Taunton Road, Rossland Road, Bayly/Bloor/Victoria Streets, and Simcoe Street.

A further advancement of rapid transit is now in the proposal stage; the Highway 2 BRT would eventually be replaced with light rail transit all the way east to Courtice Road in Clarington, and west into Scarborough in Toronto. It would be complemented by two further LRT lines: on Simcoe Street in Oshawa (from Bloor to Highway 407), and on Taunton Road (from Simcoe Street in Oshawa to Whites Road in Pickering). This would be augmented by further BRT on Whites Road and Brock Road in Pickering; Harwood Avenue and Salem Road in Ajax; Brock Street and Baldwin Street in Whitby; Highway 7 from the western Pickering border to Simcoe Street in Oshawa; and Taunton Road westerly beyond Whites Road into Toronto on Steeles Avenue.[6]

Durham Region Transit launched its DRT Pulse bus rapid transit service June 29, 2013. DRT Pulse will operate on the Ontario Highway 2 corridor between Downtown Oshawa and the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. See map.

Fares

The following table shows DRT's fare structure as of July 1, 2014:[7]

Age group Cash Fare 10 Rides Monthly Pass Presto Card
Adults $3.25 $28.50 $106.00 $2.85
GO Transit co-fare $0.70 $0.70
Seniors (65+) $2.10 $19.50 $42.75 $1.95
Student $3.25 $26.40 $86.50 $2.64
Child (5-12) $2.10 $19.50 $62.00 $1.95
Child (under 5) Free
ODSP (Disability card) $42.75
Access Pass (Special Eligibility Requirements) $42.75
Specialized Service $3.25

The provincial Minister of Transportation has announced plans to introduce a unified smartcard-based payment system for the entire Greater Toronto Area called "Presto card". DRT will be a participant in this system beginning in winter 2011.

DRT fares on GO Transit buses

As of May 1, 2015: GO Routes 88 and 91 will no longer be eligible for One Fare Anywhere.
GO Route 90 is your Oshawa to Clarington connection using One Fare Anywhere.

DRT tickets, passes, and transfers are accepted on GO buses operating within Durham Region, allowing riders to freely transfer between DRT and GO buses to complete a trip within the region. Full details about this program are available at the DRT site. The following restrictions are of specific interest:

On June 29, 2013, with the launch of DRT's bus rapid transit - "drt PULSE",
the following GO buses won't accept DRT tickets, pass and transfers within the Durham Region:

Although, the following GO buses will still accept DRT tickets, passes and transfers within the Durham Region:

Vehicles

Current Conventional Fleet List
Fleet Numbers Year Make/Model Engine/Transmission Fleet size Original Operator
8001-8008 1999 Orion VI Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Allison B400R 8 Pickering Transit
8009-8011 1999 Orion VI Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Allison B400R 3 Ajax Transit
8012-8013 1994 Orion V Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Voith D863.3 2 Ajax Transit
8014-8015 1994 Orion V Cummins L10 / Voith D863.3 2 Pickering Transit
8016-8017 1992 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Voith D863.3 2 Ajax Transit
8018-8019 1992 Orion V Cummins L10 / Voith D863.3 2 Pickering Transit
8050-8055 2003 Orion V Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Voith D863.3E 6 Ajax Pickering Transit Authority
8060-8061 1990 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Allison HTB-748 2 Ajax Pickering Transit Authority, Ex. Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority 1002- and 1014
8062-8065 1992 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Allison HT-748 4 Ajax Pickering Transit Authority, ex-Port Authority of Allegheny County 2227, 2216, 2253, 2228
8066 1994 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Allison HT-748 1 ex-Lynx (Central Florida Regional Transit Authority) 415
8129-8132 1990 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Voith D863.3 4 Oshawa Transit
8133-8136 1991 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Voith D863.3 4 Oshawa Transit
8137-8145 1992 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Voith D863.3 9 Oshawa Transit
8151-8152 2001 Nova LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 / Allison B400R 2 Oshawa Transit
8153-8160 2002 Nova LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 / Allison B400R 8 Oshawa Transit
8161-8168 2004 Nova LFS Cummins ISL / ZF 5HP552C 8 Oshawa Transit
8169-8170 2005 Nova LFS Cummins ISL / ZF 6HP552C 2 Oshawa Transit
8171 2006 Nova LFS Cummins ISL / ZF 6HP552C 1 DRT
8172-8173 2005, arrived 2006 Nova LFS Cummins ISL / ZF 6HP552C 2 Originally ordered by Oshawa Transit
8174-8180 1999 Nova LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 / Allison B400R 7 ex-Philadelphia International Airport Parking Shuttle service operated by First Transit (1999), arrived 2007
8318 1994 Orion V Detroit Diesel 6V92TA / Voith D863.3 1 Whitby Transit
8321-8322 1998 Orion VI Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Allison B400R 2 Whitby Transit
8324-8329 2004 Nova LFS Cummins ISL / Allison B400R 6 Whitby Transit
8330-8332 1997 Orion V Detroit Diesel Series 50 / Allison B400R 3 Whitby Transit
8401-8430 2007 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL / Voith D864.3E 30 DRT
8431-8445 2007, arrived late 2007-2008 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL-07 / Voith D864.5 15 DRT
8446-8459 2008 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL-07 / Voith D864.5 14 DRT
8460-8473 2009, arrived late 2009-2010 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL-07 / Voith D864.5 11 DRT
8501-8535 2012 New Flyer XD40 Cummins ISL9 / Voith D864.5 35 DRT

Note: denotes wheelchair accessible

Current Community Bus Fleet List
Fleet Numbers Year Make/Model Engine/Transmission Fleet size Original Operator
8975-8978 2009-2010 ElDorado National E-Z Rider II MAX 30 foot Cummins ISB or ISB6.7 / Allison B300R 4 DRT
8979-8981 2012, 2014 ElDorado National E-Z Rider II BRT Cummins ISB6.7 / Allison B300R 3 DRT

The 4 Overland Custom Coach ELF 125 and 128 (Ford E450) acquired by Ajax Pickering Transit in 2000-2001 are all retired (2008-2009) and replaced by the E-Z Rider II.

Facilities

DRT uses the following maintenance and operational facilities:[8]

Raleigh Division:

Address: 710 Raleigh Avenue, Oshawa
Coordinates: 43°52′57″N 78°49′43″W / 43.88250°N 78.82861°W
Opened: 1965 (original) 1980 (GO Transit expansion)
Facilities: bus storage, maintenance and servicing for DRT (GO Transit no longer operates out of this location 2012-13)

Whitby Works Satellite Division - Trentway-Wagar:

Address: 1559 Victoria Street East, Whitby
Coordinates: 43°51′51.7″N 78°54′21″W / 43.864361°N 78.90583°W
Facilities: bus storage, maintenance and repairs

Westney Division:

Address: 110 Westney Road South, Ajax
Coordinates: 43°50′43″N 79°02′28″W / 43.84528°N 79.04111°W
Opened: 1988
Facilities: bus storage, maintenance and repairs

Pickering Works Satellite Division (Discontinued Late Aug 2014)

Address: 2570 Tillings Road, Pickering
Coordinates: 43°52′26″N 79°05′33″W / 43.87389°N 79.09250°W
Facilities: Previously used for bus storage only. DRT discontinued their use of space at this location Late August 2014; buses were transferred to Westney and/or Raleigh divisions to compensate.

History

DRT was formed in January 2006 through an amalgamation of existing municipal transit systems in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, and Clarington (Bowmanville). The systems were transferred to the regional government along with the legal authority to operate public transit in the local municipalities. This required approval by both Durham Region Council as well as four out of eight local municipal councils consisting of at least 50% of the population of the Region. The approval process took several years, with final approval for the amalgamation given by Durham Region Council on February 9, 2005. The remainder of 2005 was spent preparing for the merger. DRT assumed its responsibilities and inherited the equipment and facilities of its predecessor systems effective January 1, 2006.

On October 5, 2006, members of Local 222 began a legal strike action against DRT. All services were suspended other than those operated by Trentway-Wagar in Whitby. Limited specialized service continued via the use of contracted taxis. On October 29, a tentative settlement was announced, and full service resumed on November 3.

Previous systems

Public transit service in Durham Region has a long history prior to the creation of DRT, dating back to the 19th century. The list below shows predecessor transit systems in each municipality:

Pickering

Ajax

Whitby

Oshawa

Clarington

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Durham Region Transit March 2011 meeting". Durham Region Transit. 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  2. ↑ DRT Bus Schedule
  3. ↑ "Durham Region Transit Identifies Low Performing Routes for Service Adjustments". Durham Region Transit. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  4. ↑ Premier of Ontario Background - MoveOntario 2020 Projects
  5. ↑ Metrolinx 2nd Win Quick Win Projects
  6. ↑ http://www.durhamlongtermtransitstrategy.ca/img/DRT_LTSnewsletter4_web_final2.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.durhamregiontransit.com/Fares/Pages/Fares.aspx
  8. ↑ Durham Region Transit Service Strategy

External links

Media related to Durham Region Transit at Wikimedia Commons