Free YRT/Viva service on the way for riders; details to be announced next week

NEWMARKET - The Regional Municipality of York is pleased to advise residents details regarding free YRT/Viva service on all routes will be announced next week.

 

Operators and mechanics employed by Miller Transit, operator of 51 transit routes in York Region’s Southeast Division, voted today to accept a new five-year collective agreement with their employer.

 

Reintroduction of YRT/Viva routes affected by the labour disruption will begin Saturday, February 4.

 

“Today’s ratification brings an end to a prolonged strike that has affected our commuters and residents, but we are now moving forward to restore transit service throughout York Region,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “York Regional Council has already committed to provide a minimum one month of free service across our transit system, and details now being finalized and will be available next week.”

 

Today’s vote, accepted by 80 per cent of Miller Transit employees, represents the final contract required to restore full transit service. On Thursday, employees of York BRT Services ratified their agreement with Veolia Transportation while York Regional Council awarded a new operations and maintenance contract to TOK Transit Limited for the operation of YRT/Viva’s North Division.

 

Vehicle maintenance has commenced and a driver re-training program will begin immediately.  The re-training program is a contractual obligation within YRT/Viva, ensuring good safety and customer service practices remain consistent with other transit organizations in the GTA.

 

Routes affected by the transit strike will be phased in, beginning Saturday, February 4 and contractors will work toward resumption of the majority of service over the coming weeks.

 

Details of service resumption plans will also be released next week.
 
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca  and www.york.ca Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion

 

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Media Contact: Barbara Moss, Corporate Communications, York Region
 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1237 • Cell: 905-505-5775 • barbara.moss@york.ca