York Region Transit

York Region Transit

20 Jane bus at Pioneer Village station
Founded	2001;23 years ago (2001)
Headquarters	50 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Locale	York Region (with some service into Toronto and Brampton)
Service area	Suburban/semirural areas
Service type	Bus service, bus rapid transit
Alliance	Toronto Transit Commission Brampton Transit
Routes	116 YRT, 6 Viva, 5 TTC-contracted
Stops	4,324
Fleet	406 YRT buses [1] 123 Viva bus rapid transit 97 Mobility Plus vehicles
Daily ridership	77,300 (weekdays, Q4 2023) [2]
Annual ridership	21,523,800 (2023) [3]
Fuel type	Diesel
Operator	see Operations
General Manager	Ann-Marie Carroll
Website	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.

YRT operates 65 full-time, rush hour and limited routes, 35 school services, and six Viva bus rapid transit routes. Five contracted Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus routes run within York Region's boundaries (one in Vaughan and four in Markham). Passengers who cross Steeles Avenue (the Toronto–York boundary) on these routes must pay an additional fare (the YRT or TTC fare) to continue their trip(s).

Some YRT routes operate within the City of Toronto; these buses generally run 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 not permitted to pick up passengers from these stops. As the majority of passengers are assumed to be transferring to and from TTC services, no extra fare is charged for riders boarding or disembarking YRT buses within Toronto.

Ridership

In the fourth quarter of 2022, average weekday ridership was approximately 64,800 on buses and 1,200 on MobilityPlus, a service for people with disabilities. ^[4] 22.8 million riders used YRT in 2016, a 1.4% increase over 2015. ^[1]

History

Richmond Hill Transit

Richmond Hill Transit was created in 1960 to provide public transit service in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It was initially operated by Trailways of Canada Limited, then Travelways starting in 1976 and Laidlaw in the 1980s. ^[5]

Vaughan Transit

Vaughan Transit was the transit provider in the town of Vaughan, in southwest York Region, Ontario, Canada. The service operated from 1973 until 2001, when it was merged into York Region Transit. ^[6]

Markham Transit

Prior to 1973 public transit system were a patchwork of routes by various operators.

In the early 1800s stagecoaches or omnibuses ran along Yonge Street to hotels in Richmond Hill to York (Toronto) beginning from the 1820s. ^[7]

Markham Village also had stagecoaches but from 1871 to 1980 it had passenger rail services by various operators (Toronto and Nipissing Railway, Midland Railway of Canada, Grand Trunk Railway, Canadian National Railway and VIA Rail) before GO Transit began commuter rail service in 1982 as the Stouffville line.

In Thornhill privately owned Metropolitan Street Railway or Metropolitan line ran streetcars on Yonge Street serving Markham on the eastside from 1897 to 1930. Publicly owned (via TTC) North Yonge Railways provided radial electric railway service on Yonge Street from 1930 to 1948. From 1948 to 1977 Toronto Transit Commission (Toronto Transportation Commission before 1954) ran North Yonge (later as 59 North Yonge) bus route on Yonge. From 1977 to 2001, GO Transit 58 Bayview and Yonge C bus routes provided local suburban bus service, with the Yonge B providing express service.

Markham Transit was created in 1973 and operated by Travelways and Miller Transit Limited after 1984 on behalf of the then Town of Markham.

Newmarket Transit

Newmarket Transit began sometime in the early 1970s as a contracted service from the town replacing the Newmarket Town Bus (c. 1958 and renamed from the Newmarket Bus Lines c. 1948).

Aurora Transit

Aurora's public transit system began operations in 1973. Like Newmarket, Aurora was much smaller in size and population than other southern York Region municipalities, which benefited from connections to GO Transit and the Toronto Transit Commission. Aurora Transit provided feeder service to GO Transit commuter trains and buses as well as community bus service to town's major destinations.

A fare arrangement between Aurora Transit and GO Transit allowed passengers to use Aurora Transit tickets on GO Transit 'route B' buses that provided local service on Yonge Street, provided the entire trip was within Aurora city limits (GO Transit zone 63). Passengers travelling to the neighboring Oak Ridges or Newmarket or (Zones 62 or 64) could still use Aurora Transit tickets with a cash supplement.

On August 30, 1998 Aurora Transit restructured its services into a single route with service in the southern part of the town provided by Richmond Hill Transit. At the same time Newmarket Transit route 77/11 was extended south on Bayview Avenue to connect with Aurora Transit's only route at Bayview Shopping Centre. Aurora Transit ended its operations on September 4, 1999, when the transit service in the town was transferred to Newmarket Transit. The latter became part of the York Region Transit on January 1, 2001 when the four regional transit systems were merged.

Creation of YRT

YRT was created by the regional government in 2001 to combine the four municipally-managed transit authorities in the region: Vaughan Transit, Markham Transit, Richmond Hill Transit, and Newmarket Transit (Aurora Transit had merged with Newmarket in 1999).

In mid-2006, the YRT logo was modified to bear closer resemblance to the Viva logo and, by the end of the year most of the YRT fleet and bus stop signs had their looks changed to bear the new colours.

Before 1973, several private transit operators provided services around York Region: ^[8]

• Toronto and York Radial Railway: radial railway along Yonge Street in Vaughan and Markham
• Maple Leaf – Markham Coach Lines: routes taken over by Gray Coach in 1929
• Travelways: operated briefly in Markham in 1973
• Newmarket Bus Lines: 1948–1958
• Newmarket Town Bus: 1958–1960s
• Aurora Bus Lines: operated until 1972

Operations

Transit services in York Region are divided into four divisions and are provided by private operators under contract. ^[9]

Viva BRT Division

The bus rapid transit (BRT) division operates the six Viva Rapid Transit bus routes and uses the 196-bus garage near Leslie Street and 16th Avenue in Richmond Hill. ^[10] In 2015, TOK Transit began a seven-year contract, replacing Veolia Transportation (Transdev) as operator. ^[9]

North Division

The North division includes several bus routes in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township, East Gwillimbury and Georgina. TOK Transit also operates this division and is under contract until April 30, 2021. ^[9]

Southeast Division

The southeast division includes routes in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Stouffville. ^[11] It is operated by Miller Transit who are under contract until October 2023. ^[9]

Southwest Division

Transdev Canada Inc. is under contract of this division until August 1, 2021. ^[9]

Bus rapid transit

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

Main article: Viva 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 system along the Yonge Street and Highway 7 arterial corridors. This service, known as Viva, was launched in September 2005.

Fares

Fares for riding YRT can be paid by exact cash (change not provided), Presto card, the mobile YRT Pay app or Transit pay app. Customers can also pay the equivalent of the YRT adult cash fare prices by tapping a contactless credit or debit card on the YRT Presto fare readers. YRT discontinued the sale and use of monthly passes from January 2024 onwards. They were replaced by a monthly fare capping system only available on the Presto card. ^[12]

As of 1 January 2024 ^[update] , YRT fares are as follows: ^[13]

Fare category	Presto, YRT Pay, or Transit app (single-use fare)	Single-ride cash fare, credit and debit card
Adults (ages 20–64)	$3.88 (free after 40 paid rides in a month)	$4.25
Youth (ages 13–19)	$3.03 (free after 39 rides in a month)	$4.25
Child (ages 6–12) [lower-alpha 1] or senior (ages 65+)	$2.40 (free after 28 rides in a month)	$4.25

Other fares:

Fare category	Price
Ride to GO fare integration discount	Free

Three separate methods of payments are used by transit routes serving York Region:

• "Pay as you board" on conventional YRT and TTC-operated bus routes heading southbound towards Toronto
• "Pay as you leave" on TTC bus routes heading northbound into and within York Region (north of Steeles Avenue)
• "Proof of payment" basis on all Viva routes (customers may board or disembark at any door)

York Region's rapid transit bus service, Viva operates on a "pre-paid proof-of-payment (POP)" system, meaning passengers in possession of POP can board these buses at any door. Unlike conventional YRT buses, Viva buses are not equipped with onboard fareboxes, which means passengers are required to purchase single-ride tickets from curbside fare vending machines, tap a Presto card or contactless credit or debit card on the YRT Presto fare readers located beside the fare vending machines, or activate their mobile ticket or pass at the platforms prior to boarding. A single-ride ticket has the date and expiry time printed on it at the time of purchase and so it does not need to be validated.

Paper POP tickets and transfers are not issued to Presto, credit and debit card holders or YRT Pay app users since these payment methods act as POP. Time-based fares and transfers allow for unlimited travel within York Region on a single fare for two hours (including transfers to and from Brampton Transit, Züm, as well as TTC-operated bus routes in York Region north of Steeles Avenue only). ^[14]

• 
  YRT's old-style Presto tap machines at Vivastations (2011–2020)
• 
  YRT's current Presto tap machines at Vivastations (2020–present)

Former fare zones

On July 1, 2017, YRT removed fare zones allowing customers to travel within the region with only one fare. ^[15] Previously, the YRT/Viva service area was divided into three fare zones. Zone 3 was defined as the portion of York Region north of Ravenshoe Road, and Zones 1 and 2 were divided by Bloomington Road for northbound passengers, just south of King Road for southbound passengers. Passengers crossing a zone boundary had to pay a zone fare supplement in addition to the regular fares.

GO Transit co-fares

As with many other transit agencies within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), YRT offers free transfers between YRT or Viva buses and GO Transit under its "Ride to GO" program. ^[16] Passengers may transfer from a GO Transit route to a YRT bus route or TTC-operated bus routes in York Region (north of Steeles Avenue) and receive free admission onto YRT so long as the passenger provides the GO Transit proof of payment ticket. Since Viva is operated on a proof-of-purchase system and single Viva fares are paid or purchased at curbside fare vending machines, riders must use a Presto card when transferring between Viva and GO Transit services in order to access the Ride to GO co-fare discount.

The GO Transit co-fare discount is available to all passengers who pay single YRT bus fares on their stored Presto card balance: passengers will automatically be assessed the co-fare (and any YRT or Viva fare supplements, if necessary) when transferring from GO Transit to YRT/Viva services regardless of where the passenger boards the YRT bus. Similarly, passengers transferring from YRT/Viva to GO Transit services will also be reimbursed the difference between the YRT fare and the co-fare upon disembarking from GO Transit (effectively, the YRT portion of the journey is paid with a co-fare). ^[17]

TTC services in York Region

Buses

Some TTC bus routes travel into York Region and operate on behalf of YRT. This allows passengers to board a TTC bus in York Region and disembark in the City of Toronto and vice versa. Passengers crossing the Toronto–York boundary at Steeles Avenue on a TTC bus must pay an additional fare: a YRT fare is required for travel north of Steeles Avenue and a regular TTC fare for travel south of it. ^[18]

Certain YRT routes enter Toronto, but City of Toronto regulations mean that passengers may not board inbound (towards Toronto) or disembark on outbound (away from Toronto) YRT routes in Toronto. No extra fare is charged for travel solely on YRT vehicles in Toronto.

Since August 26, 2019, riders have been able to use their Presto card to pay both their YRT and TTC fares on TTC-operated bus routes that travel between York Region and Toronto. ^[19] While single-use TTC-only paper Presto tickets can be used to pay a TTC fare for the subway (whether in York Region or Toronto) or TTC surface routes in Toronto, they cannot be used to pay a YRT fare on TTC-operated bus routes in York Region.

Subway

On December 17, 2017, the western branch of Line 1 was extended into York Region. Coinciding with that opening, YRT took over the operation of four TTC-operated routes in Vaughan. Unlike the policy with TTC-operated bus routes north of Steeles, no extra fare is charged when boarding or disembarking at Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations in Vaughan, due to the impracticality of a payment-on-exit system. ^[20] However, an additional fare is required when transferring between YRT bus routes and the TTC subway at these stations, as it is at stations located in or bordering Toronto, such as Finch or Pioneer Village as well as with other TTC bus routes operating south of Steeles Avenue in Toronto including those aforementioned subway stations where TTC buses connect with.

Brampton Transit fares in York Region

Further information: Züm Queen

An agreement between YRT and Brampton Transit means passengers boarding Züm Queen east of Highway 50 (which largely duplicates service with Viva Orange while in York Region) will be assessed YRT fares even if they intend to disembark in Brampton. As a Brampton Transit route, Brampton Transit fare media (including those loaded onto a Presto card) may be used to board without any additional fares being assessed. However, despite the fare integration, passengers boarding with YRT passes will not be issued transfers for connecting to Brampton Transit routes in Brampton, and passengers boarding with Brampton Transit passes will not be issued transfers for connecting to YRT routes in York Region.

Brampton Transit and YRT have cooperated on routes connecting Brampton and Toronto via York Region, and for a time, certain YRT routes were jointly operated by YRT and Brampton Transit buses, where both agencies' fare media were accepted. The introduction of Züm Queen has ended operation of YRT route 77 to Bramalea City Centre. The acceptance of YRT fares on Brampton Transit routes in York Region are the last vestiges of such cooperation.

Vehicles and fleet rosters

2007 New Flyer D40LF #707, running south of Steeles Avenue on the Route 99 Yonge

2015 Nova Bus LFS #1502 on Route 224B Woodbine

YRT has 123 Viva bus rapid transit vehicles, 406 York Region Transit buses, and 97 Mobility Plus vehicles. ^[1] The initial fleet consisted of buses from previous York Region operators, but has since been expanded with YRT-bought vehicles.

Fleet colours

• 
  YRT old fleet colours 2001–2006
• 
  YRT current fleet colours 2007–present

YRT's first fleet (2001–2006) was painted with a white base with blue and gold stripes. During the early years many buses still had their pre-2000 colours from the previous operators with "YRT" painted on the front and sides. The livery was changed in 2007 to a white and several tones of blue. Only the Viva fleet is all-blue, but one Orion I YRT (#2028) was painted all-blue for a colour demo. ^[21] During the transition to the second colour theme some buses were all white with the old "YRT" label remaining.

Transit enforcement

Main article: YRT Special Constable Services

Fare Inspectors and Special Constables patrol the entire YRT transit system for the safety and security of passengers and to ensure compliance with the proof-of-payment system used on Viva buses. They do random spot checks on board Viva buses to ensure the proper use of tickets, transfers and Presto cards. There is a time limit to be riding while paying one fare, and passengers without valid fares (even those whose two-hour travel window expires while on board a vehicle) are subject to a warning, fine, or a criminal charge.

CCTV cameras

In 2006, YRT began installing 150 cameras on YRT (including Viva and Mobility Plus) buses. By the end of 2008, there were to be 210 more cameras added to the system's vehicles. ^[22] CCTV cameras are also installed in some of the Vivastations in Richmond Hill.

Routes

Main article: List of York Region Transit and Viva bus routes

YRT-operated terminals and facilities

Richmond Hill Centre Terminal

YRT owns a few facilities: many are shared with other transit agencies like the TTC, GO Transit and Brampton Transit.

• Bernard Terminal – driveway and platforms only
• Cornell Terminal - terminal building with platforms
• Major Mackenzie West Terminal - terminal building with platforms
• Pioneer Village Terminal – adjacent to Pioneer Village subway station
• Promenade Terminal – platforms only; no terminal building (shelters only)
• Richmond Hill Centre Terminal – terminal building with platforms; bridge connecting to Langstaff GO train station
• SmartCentresPlace Terminal – adjacent to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station
• Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Vivastation – covered transfer facility at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station
• Vaughan Mills Terminal – platforms only; no terminal building (shelters only)

• Numerous Viva stations along on-street Rapidways

Garages used to store buses are owned by contractors.

2011–2012 labour strike

Starting on October 24, 2011, bus drivers and workers contracted by Miller Transit, First Student and York BRT Services (Veolia) started striking, protesting over wages and benefits for three months. ^[23] Over 60 percent of YRT bus routes in York region and all Viva routes did not operate. YRT and Viva workers started picketing on December 5, 2011, at Finch-GO Terminal, YRT headquarters, South-West Division Garage, and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. 96% of all YRT/Viva routes returned to service on February 4, 2012, and 98% of services were operational on Monday, February 6, 2012. Full YRT/Viva service resumed on February 27, 2012. To compensate riders for the three months of service disruptions, York Region Transit provided two months of free service, using the money saved by not having to pay striking workers. ^[24]

Officers

In December 2014, the executive of YRT consisted of:

• Chair: Wayne Emmerson (as York Region Chair)
• Vice-Chair (Regional Councillor): Dave Barrow

Operational executives are:

• Commissioner of Transportation Services: Daniel Kostopoulos
• General Manager: Ann-Marie Carroll – became GM December 2014 and interim GM from early 2014 to December 2014 ^[25]
• Richard J. Leary served as GM from 2010 to 2014; he had been Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief operating officer and replaced YRT's first head Donald Gordon (2001–2009) ^[26] and left in early 2014 for the Toronto Transit Commission)
• Vice-President of York Region Rapid Transit Corporation: Mary-Frances Turner

See also

• MoveOntario 2020

Notes

1. Children under the age of 5 ride fare-free year-round on YRT.

References

1. "Fast Facts". www.yrt.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
3. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
4. "2016 Transit System Performance Update" (PDF). York Region. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
5. "All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems Ontario Communities (S – Z)". University of Manitoba. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
6. Transit History...Vaughan
7. "Public Transportation: History of Yonge Street: Richmond Hill Public Library Digital Collections".
8. "Transit History of Ontario Communities (S-Z)" . Retrieved February 3, 2016.
9. "Award of York Region Transit West-North Division Operations and Maintenance Contract". York Region. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
10. "Transit Operations and Maintenance Contracts". yrt.com. York Region Transit. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
11. "About Miller Transit – Miller Transit". Miller Transit. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
12. "Fare Capping Program". www.yrt.ca. December 21, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
13. "YRT/Viva Prices". York Region Transit. July 1, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
14. "PRESTO launching in York Region July 18". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
15. "Fare changes coming July 1". York Region Transit/Viva. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
16. "GO Transit's Local Transit Partners". GO Transit. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
17. "Ride to GO". November 5, 2021.
18. "Fare Policies – Fare Media Policies Transfers". York Region Transit/Viva. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
19. "Beginning August 26, Pay with Presto on TTC in York Region". YRT. June 30, 2019. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
20. James Bow. "A Subway to York University and Beyond: North of Finch". Transit Toronto.
21. "York Region Transit (YRT) – Includes former Markham Transit, Vaughan Transit, Richmond Hill Transit and Newmarket Transit". Archived from the original on February 2, 2009.
22. MyTransit Fall 2008
23. Jackson, Emily (October 23, 2011). "York Region bus drivers to strike Monday, GO bus strike averted". Toronto Star.
24. "2 months of free YRT bus service offered after strike". City News. January 31, 2012.
25. "CUTA". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
26. David Fleischer (January 26, 2010). "York looks south for new transit boss". yorkregion.com. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved February 4, 2010.

Works cited

• 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.

External links

• York Region Transit
• YRT fleet roster on CPTDB Wiki
• York Region Transit (Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board)
• The Toronto LRT Information Page (Page has a rendering of what a Viva LRV could look like)
• Drawings and photos of York Region Transit buses