May 9, 2006 Ratified collective agreement means no YRT service interruptions in Vaughan, Richmond Hi

Agreement reached between Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. and Amalgamated Transit Union

NEWMARKET � Service to York Region Transit (YRT) routes in the City of Vaughan, the Towns of Richmond Hill and Markham and the Township of King will not be affected after members of the Amalgamated Transit Union ratified a new contract with Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. late this afternoon.

Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. is one of three private companies that provide conventional operations and maintenance contracts for YRT. A contract vote, held throughout the day, has ratified the collective agreement, resulting in no service interruptions.

The contract with Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. includes 23 routes operating primarily in the City of Vaughan with some service extending to the Towns of Richmond Hill and Markham and the Township of King. The contract involves 112 YRT buses and 193 contracted bus operators, which carries nearly 11,500 riders of YRT's 55,000 daily weekday passengers and represents about 21 per cent of YRT's overall transit service in York Region.

Please see attached Media Backgrounder for more information on York Region Transit and Viva Rapid Transit.

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 between 6:35 a.m. and 8:35 a.m.

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For more information on the Regional Municipality of York and our services, please visit www.york.ca

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

York Region Transit and Viva 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 per cent from 2004

� 2005 marked the fifth consecutive year of 10 per cent 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:

Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. operates 23 YRT transit routes in Vaughan extending to Markham, Richmond Hill and King Operates 112 YRT buses and employs 193 contracted bus operators
Please note these are the only transit routes affected during the current labour disruption between Canar / Tokmakjian and Amalgamated Transit Union

Miller Transit Ltd. operates 24 YRT transit routes in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville and 19 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

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 TTC 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.

Please see attached Media Fact Sheet for a complete listing of all 23 routes in Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and King affected during the current labour disruption.

For continuing updates on a possible labour disruption affecting YRT, 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 between 6:35 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

Ratified collective agreement means no YRT service interruptions in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham and King Township

Agreement reached between Canar / Tokmakjian Inc. and Amalgamated Transit Union

York Region Transit and Viva facts