| |
 The
Transit and Rapid Transit Committees are dedicated to providing
quality public transit services which support the economic vitality,
environmental sustainability and health of the York Region community.
York
Region operates two public transit services, the conventional York
Region Transit (YRT) service and the recently launched Viva bus
rapid transit service. Combined, these services form a single integrated
transit system. YRT also operates the door-to-door Mobility Plus
service for individuals with disabilities.
rapid
transit
GOAL:
Implement
the first phase of rapid transit in York Region along four key corridors.
achievements:
| • |
The
Viva bus rapid transit service was launched in September with
the deployment of 85 state-of-the-art vehicles, 109 stations,
a new terminal in the Town of Richmond Hill, 127 off-board fare
vending machines, queue jump lanes, a traffic signal priority
system, real-time bus arrival information at all stations and
many other technological features |
ridership
growth
GOAL:
Shape
public attitude about transit and grow ridership and mode share through
the introduction of innovative and attractive service offerings.
achievements:
| • |
Introduced
daily live updates of YRT and Viva service on A-Channel News |
| • |
Combined
ridership on YRT and Viva reached 15.2 million for the year,
a
10.3 per cent increase over 2004 |
| • |
Prepared
a new Five Year Service Plan laying out service enhancement
priorities |
| • |
Prepared
a new operations and maintenance contract for the Viva service
and negotiated three other contract extensions for YRT services |
| • |
Created
a Fare Enforcement Group to enforce the off-board fare payment
system |
| • |
Established
a Transit Management Systems section to ensure the proper functioning
of the off-board fare vending machines, the intelligent transportation
system technologies and to oversee the introduction of new technologies
elsewhere in the transit system |
 specialized
service
GOAL:
Provide
convenient specialized public transit service for those unable to
use conventional transit and enable them to fully participate in community
life.
achievements:
| • |
Developed
a new service delivery model and new performance based contracts
for the delivery of all bus, minivan and sedan services |
| • |
Implemented
cost mitigation strategies while maintaining service levels;
Mobility Plus has a trip accommodation rate approaching 100
per cent |
| • |
261,000
trips were accommodated in 2005, a 3.8 per cent increase over
2004; this translates to some 900 trips on an average weekday |
| • |
Developed
upgrades for the computerized scheduling and information system
enabling more efficient vehicle utilization |
increased
customer service
GOAL:
Improve
public transit’s image through increased customer service.
achievements:
| • |
Implemented
a new waste collection and recycling program for all YRT and
Viva stops, shelters and terminals |
| • |
Implemented
transit control centre for monitoring of transit services |
| • |
Reviewed
service quality through the use of minimum standards, improved
response times and follow-up to Transportation and Works’
Customer Action Response System requests from riders and new
service introduction, including improved service frequencies |
| • |
Increased
customer communication over the previous year, including over
173,500 customer calls handled by the YRT call centre, an increase
of 35 per cent, and over 1,664,000 visits logged to the YRT
Web site, an increase of 79 per cent |
improvement
projects
GOAL:
Continuously
engage in improvement projects..
achievements:
| • |
Facilitated
continuous improvement through annual Customer Satisfaction
Survey, performance-based contract audits and contractor performance
measurement |
| • |
Provided
employees with career development programs, including performance
appraisals, goal setting and targeted learning |
| • |
Reviewed
and continuously improved YRT processes, practices and policies |
|
|
Print 
