A vote for transit in Greater Toronto

Photo from the Canadian Public Transportation Discussion Board.

Implementation of a Bus Rapid transit system in the York Region outside of Toronto has increased ridership by about 20%, according to this article, "Long live Viva, transit riders say," from the Toronto Star. From the article:

The region's established public transit — YRT — was so unreliable, Zaiembo would often be late for class or stuck outside waiting to transfer between buses. So — like so many others in the 905 regions — he would often drive. Now, because transit in York Region is revamped, he takes the bus every day. "It's pretty good," says Zaiembo. "It's fast, it's reliable."

Better words were never spoken, as far as Mary Frances Turner is concerned. Turner is the vice president of the York Rapid Transit Corporation — the region-owned entity that's developing the Viva bus service as a precursor to light rail. Together, Viva and YRT comprise the region's transit system. Like a bus feeding a subway, YRT patrols neighbourhoods, delivering commuters to key feeder points along Highway 7 and Yonge St. where Viva promises a bus every 5 to 10 minutes in rush hour, 15 minutes the rest of day.

Early numbers for York Region public transit use are very encouraging, with 19.5 per cent more people riding buses since Viva's debut after Labour Day. In September and October of 2004, 2.8 million people boarded YRT buses. For the same two months in 2005, 3.4 million boarded YRT and Viva buses, 600,000 more boardings. Up to 20 per cent of that 600,000 — 120,000 — may be double-counted by the free transfer between YRT and Viva, leaving 480,000 new boardings attributable to new beefed up bus service, a number in itself 30 per cent higher than Viva officials had hoped for.


Index Keywords: transit