York Region Transit and Viva Rapid Transit Facts

                                                              

• York Region Transit (YRT) was formed in 2001 following amalgamation of local York Region-based transit services, and is now in its sixth year of operation

 

• Viva Rapid Transit was launched in September 2005

 

• In 2005, YRT and Viva Rapid Transit combined to carry 15.2 million passengers – an increase of 10.2% from 2004

 

• 2005 marked the fifth consecutive year of 10% or greater growth in passengers

 

• YRT and Viva operate as a single system

 

• On average, YRT carries 55,000 riders each weekday

 

• York Region has four contracts for Region-wide conventional and rapid transit services:

 

• Miller Transit Ltd. operates 24 YRT transit routes in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville and 22 transit routes in Richmond Hill
 Operates 138 YRT buses and employs 220 contracted bus operators

 

• Laidlaw Transit Ltd. operates 23 YRT transit routes in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township, East Gwillimbury and Georgina
 Operates 43 YRT buses and employs 80 contracted bus operators

 

• Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. operates 20 YRT transit routes in Vaughan
 Operates 87 YRT buses and employs 145 contracted bus operators

 

• Connex Canada LT operates all five Viva transit routes (Viva Blue, Viva Purple, Viva Green, Viva Orange, Viva Pink)
 Operates 85 Viva buses and employs 174 contracted bus operators

 

• YRT contracts 12 Toronto Transit Commission routes that extend service into York Region

 

• YRT Mobility Plus transit service for people with disabilities includes a fleet of more than 60 vehicles operating daily involving bus, minivan and sedan taxi service

 

• YRT also operates four transit terminals (Promenade Mall, Bernard, Vaughan Mills and Richmond Hill Centre) and approximately 3,800 bus stops and 600 shelters throughout York Region.

 

For more information on YRT and Viva transit service, please visit the YRT Web site at www.yrt.ca or the Regional Municipality of York Web site at www.york.ca

 

Route and fare information can also be obtained by calling the YRT Call Centre toll-free at                         1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978), locally at (905) 881-5167 or TTY line at 1-866-276-7478.

 

Live transit updates are available weekday mornings on the A-Channel at 6:35 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 8:35 a.m.

 

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Media Contact: Patrick Casey, Director, Corporate Communications, York Region
 Phone:  (905) 830-4444, Ext. 1235 or Cell (905) 715-8211
 Email: patrick.casey@york.ca