YRT operates 65 full-time, rush hour and limited routes, 35 school services, and six Vivabus rapid transit routes. Five contracted Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus routes run within York Region's boundaries (one in Vaughan and four in Markham). Passengers who cross Steeles Avenue (the Toronto–York boundary) on these routes must pay an additional fare (the YRT or TTC fare) to continue their trip(s).
Some YRT routes operate within the City of Toronto; these buses generally run to and from TTC subway stations. YRT northbound buses are allowed to pick up passengers south of Steeles Avenue if they are heading into York Region (but passengers must flag the bus from a designated TTC or YRT stop). YRT buses heading to a TTC subway station can similarly drop off passengers at designated stops south of Steeles Avenue, but are not permitted to pick up passengers from these stops. As the majority of passengers are assumed to be transferring to and from TTC services, no extra fare is charged for riders boarding or disembarking YRT buses within Toronto.
Ridership
In the fourth quarter of 2022, average weekday ridership was approximately 64,800 on buses and 1,200 on MobilityPlus, a service for people with disabilities.[4] 22.8 million riders used YRT in 2016, a 1.4% increase over 2015.[1]
In mid-2006, the YRT logo was modified to bear closer resemblance to the Viva logo and, by the end of the year most of the YRT fleet and bus stop signs had their looks changed to bear the new colours.
Before 1973, several private transit operators provided services around York Region:[5]
Maple Leaf – Markham Coach Lines: routes taken over by Gray Coach in 1929
Travelways: operated briefly in Markham in 1973
Newmarket Bus Lines: 1948–1958
Newmarket Town Bus: 1958–1960s
Aurora Bus Lines: operated until 1972
Operations
Transit services in York Region are divided into four divisions and are provided by private operators under contract.[6]
Viva BRT Division
The bus rapid transit (BRT) division operates the six Viva Rapid Transit bus routes and uses the 196-bus garage near Leslie Street and 16th Avenue in Richmond Hill.[7] In 2015, TOK Transit began a seven-year contract, replacing Veolia Transportation (Transdev) as operator.[6]
In response to escalating congestion on the region's roads, York Region's transit plan included a provision for a bus rapid transit system along the Yonge Street and Highway 7 arterial corridors. This service, known as Viva, was launched in September 2005.
Fares
Fares for riding YRT can be paid by exact cash (change not provided), Presto card, the mobile YRT Pay app or Transit pay app. Customers can also pay the equivalent of the YRT adult cash fare prices by tapping a contactless credit or debit card on the YRT Presto fare readers. YRT discontinued the sale and use of monthly passes from January 2024 onwards. They were replaced by a monthly fare capping system only available on the Presto card.[9]
As of 1 January 2024[update], YRT fares are as follows:[10]
Three separate methods of payments are used by transit routes serving York Region:
"Pay as you board" on conventional YRT and TTC-operated bus routes heading southbound towards Toronto
"Pay as you leave" on TTC bus routes heading northbound into and within York Region (north of Steeles Avenue)
"Proof of payment" basis on all Viva routes (customers may board or disembark at any door)
York Region's rapid transit bus service, Viva operates on a "pre-paid proof-of-payment (POP)" system, meaning passengers in possession of POP can board these buses at any door. Unlike conventional YRT buses, Viva buses are not equipped with onboard fareboxes, which means passengers are required to purchase single-ride tickets from curbside fare vending machines, tap a Presto card or contactless credit or debit card on the YRT Presto fare readers located beside the fare vending machines, or activate their mobile ticket or pass at the platforms prior to boarding. A single-ride ticket has the date and expiry time printed on it at the time of purchase and so it does not need to be validated.
Paper POP tickets and transfers are not issued to Presto, credit and debit card holders or YRT Pay app users since these payment methods act as POP. Time-based fares and transfers allow for unlimited travel within York Region on a single fare for two hours (including transfers to and from Brampton Transit, Züm, as well as TTC-operated bus routes in York Region north of Steeles Avenue only).[11]
YRT's old-style Presto tap machines at Vivastations (2011–2020)
YRT's current Presto tap machines at Vivastations (2020–present)
Former fare zones
On July 1, 2017, YRT removed fare zones allowing customers to travel within the region with only one fare.[12] Previously, the YRT/Viva service area was divided into three fare zones. Zone 3 was defined as the portion of York Region north of Ravenshoe Road, and Zones 1 and 2 were divided by Bloomington Road for northbound passengers, just south of King Road for southbound passengers. Passengers crossing a zone boundary had to pay a zone fare supplement in addition to the regular fares.
GO Transit co-fares
As with many other transit agencies within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), YRT offers free transfers between YRT or Viva buses and GO Transit under its "Ride to GO" program.[13] Passengers may transfer from a GO Transit route to a YRT bus route or TTC-operated bus routes in York Region (north of Steeles Avenue) and receive free admission onto YRT so long as the passenger provides the GO Transit proof of payment ticket. Since Viva is operated on a proof-of-purchase system and single Viva fares are paid or purchased at curbside fare vending machines, riders must use a Presto card when transferring between Viva and GO Transit services in order to access the Ride to GO co-fare discount.
The GO Transit co-fare discount is available to all passengers who pay single YRT bus fares on their stored Presto card balance: passengers will automatically be assessed the co-fare (and any YRT or Viva fare supplements, if necessary) when transferring from GO Transit to YRT/Viva services regardless of where the passenger boards the YRT bus. Similarly, passengers transferring from YRT/Viva to GO Transit services will also be reimbursed the difference between the YRT fare and the co-fare upon disembarking from GO Transit (effectively, the YRT portion of the journey is paid with a co-fare).[14]
TTC services in York Region
Buses
Some TTC bus routes travel into York Region and operate on behalf of YRT. This allows passengers to board a TTC bus in York Region and disembark in the City of Toronto and vice versa. Passengers crossing the Toronto–York boundary at Steeles Avenue on a TTC bus must pay an additional fare: a YRT fare is required for travel north of Steeles Avenue and a regular TTC fare for travel south of it.[15]
Certain YRT routes enter Toronto, but City of Toronto regulations mean that passengers may not board inbound (towards Toronto) or disembark on outbound (away from Toronto) YRT routes in Toronto. No extra fare is charged for travel solely on YRT vehicles in Toronto.
Since August 26, 2019, riders have been able to use their Presto card to pay both their YRT and TTC fares on TTC-operated bus routes that travel between York Region and Toronto.[16] While single-use TTC-only paper Presto tickets can be used to pay a TTC fare for the subway (whether in York Region or Toronto) or TTC surface routes in Toronto, they cannot be used to pay a YRT fare on TTC-operated bus routes in York Region.
Subway
On December 17, 2017, the western branch of Line 1 was extended into York Region. Coinciding with that opening, YRT took over the operation of four TTC-operated routes in Vaughan. Unlike the policy with TTC-operated bus routes north of Steeles, no extra fare is charged when boarding or disembarking at Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations in Vaughan, due to the impracticality of a payment-on-exit system.[17] However, an additional fare is required when transferring between YRT bus routes and the TTC subway at these stations, as it is at stations located in or bordering Toronto, such as Finch or Pioneer Village as well as with other TTC bus routes operating south of Steeles Avenue in Toronto including those aforementioned subway stations where TTC buses connect with.
An agreement between YRT and Brampton Transit means passengers boarding Züm Queen east of Highway 50 (which largely duplicates service with Viva Orange while in York Region) will be assessed YRT fares even if they intend to disembark in Brampton. As a Brampton Transit route, Brampton Transit fare media (including those loaded onto a Presto card) may be used to board without any additional fares being assessed. However, despite the fare integration, passengers boarding with YRT passes will not be issued transfers for connecting to Brampton Transit routes in Brampton, and passengers boarding with Brampton Transit passes will not be issued transfers for connecting to YRT routes in York Region.
Brampton Transit and YRT have cooperated on routes connecting Brampton and Toronto via York Region, and for a time, certain YRT routes were jointly operated by YRT and Brampton Transit buses, where both agencies' fare media were accepted. The introduction of Züm Queen has ended operation of YRT route 77 to Bramalea City Centre. The acceptance of YRT fares on Brampton Transit routes in York Region are the last vestiges of such cooperation.
Vehicles and fleet rosters
2007 New Flyer D40LF #707, running south of Steeles Avenue on the Route 99 Yonge2015 Nova Bus LFS #1502 on Route 224B Woodbine
YRT has 123 Viva bus rapid transit vehicles, 406 YRT buses, and 97 Mobility Plus vehicles.[1] The initial fleet consisted of buses from previous York Region operators, but has since been expanded with YRT-bought vehicles.
Fleet colours
YRT old fleet colours 2001–2006
YRT current fleet colours 2007–present
YRT's first fleet (2001–2006) was painted with a white base with blue and gold stripes. During the early years many buses still had their pre-2000 colours from the previous operators with "YRT" painted on the front and sides. The livery was changed in 2007 to a white and several tones of blue. Only the Viva fleet is all-blue, but one Orion I YRT (#2028) was painted all-blue for a colour demo.[18] During the transition to the second colour theme some buses were all white with the old "YRT" label remaining.
Fare Inspectors and Special Constables patrol the entire YRT transit system for the safety and security of passengers and to ensure compliance with the proof-of-payment system used on Viva buses. They do random spot checks on board Viva buses to ensure the proper use of tickets, transfers and Presto cards. There is a time limit to be riding while paying one fare, and passengers without valid fares (even those whose two-hour travel window expires while on board a vehicle) are subject to a warning, fine, or a criminal charge.
CCTV cameras
In 2006, YRT began installing 150 cameras on YRT (including Viva and Mobility Plus) buses. By the end of 2008, there were to be 210 more cameras added to the system's vehicles.[19] CCTV cameras are also installed in some of the Vivastations in Richmond Hill.
Garages used to store buses are owned by contractors.
2011–2012 labour strike
Starting on October 24, 2011, bus drivers and workers contracted by Miller Transit, First Student and York BRT Services (Veolia) started striking, protesting over wages and benefits for three months.[20] Over 60 percent of YRT bus routes in York region and all Viva routes did not operate. YRT and Viva workers started picketing on December 5, 2011, at Finch-GO Terminal, YRT headquarters, South-West Division Garage, and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. 96% of all YRT/Viva routes returned to service on February 4, 2012, and 98% of services were operational on Monday, February 6, 2012. Full YRT/Viva service resumed on February 27, 2012. To compensate riders for the three months of service disruptions, York Region Transit provided two months of free service, using the money saved by not having to pay striking workers.[21]
Officers
In December 2014, the executive of YRT consisted of:
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