York Region Transit ridership continues to climb

NEWMARKET – York Region Transit (YRT) continues to attract riders in significant numbers, having posted a year-over-year gain of 11.6 per cent as of July 2004.

 

Overall transit ridership in York Region has risen to 7.8 million passengers this year, thanks in part to additional riders coming from the Yonge and Bayview routes acquired from GO Transit in 2003.

 

“The transfer of the Yonge and Bayview routes from GO have increased our ridership over 40 per cent,” said York Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch.  “However, the real success lies in the consistent growth in our other routes.  These ridership numbers demonstrate a continual demand for transit in our Region and prove that when we offer a viable alternative to cars, people will use that alternative.”

YRT is on track for a fourth consecutive year of transit increases of 10 per cent or greater since the service was created in 2001.

 

“These ridership increases show that we have made the right choices when it comes to transit funding,” said Markham Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Chair of the Region’s Transit Committee.  “The Region has aggressively invested in expanding both transit routes and infrastructure, and it is becoming increasingly clear that our residents are finding value with our service.  However, we need to make sure that more resources are put into place to ensure full access to transit across our Region.”

 

The commitment to build a comprehensive transit network is a key element of York Region’s Combating Traffic Congestion Plan, designed to keep people and goods moving throughout our Region.

 

Earlier in September, YRT implemented several route changes and enhancements in the Newmarket area to concentrate resources on more heavily used routes, and expand service to other areas. A similar re-alignment of routes was successfully undertaken in the Richmond Hill area earlier this year in May, and a new route was recently added to service Stouffville.

 

YRT continues to post ridership increases that are among the highest in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

 

For more information on York Region Transit, including fares, routes and other services, please call

1-866-MOVE YRT, or visit the YRT Web site at www.yorkregiontransit.com

 

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, the services we offer and links to our nine area municipalities, please visit our Web site at: www.region.york.on.ca

 

 

 

Contact:            Michael Kemp, Corporate Communications, York Region

- (905) 830-4444 or 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1232

- Email: michael.kemp@region.york.on.ca