Durham Region Transit’s (DRT) five-year service strategy will guide transit service expansion and investments over the next five years and beyond.

The plan focuses on making transit easier, and the preferred transportation choice for more people, while continuing to meet the needs of current customers.

The strategy is guided by five initiatives:

  • Filling gaps in existing service. 
  • Keeping up with growth. 
  • Building community connections. 
  • Building a more frequent and available network. 
  • Building On Demand. 

The service changes outlined here reflect DRT’s vision for the next five years. These are proposals for discussion and may be adjusted before they are finalized.

Thanks to everyone who provided meaningful feedback through our survey. All responses are being reviewed as we consider the future of public transit in Durham Region.

 Filling gaps

The five-year service strategy addresses gaps in existing service.

Improvements will focus on:

  • Introducing more two-way service where large one-way loops operate. 
  • Improving service frequency on routes in urban areas that do not currently operate every 30 minutes.
  • Operating the same routing seven days a week. 

 

These improvements will ensure DRT is operating a transit system that offers consistency, is easier to understand, and meets the needs of current and new customers. 
Keeping up with growth

Durham Region is growing, and the five-Year service strategy proposes expanding scheduled service to new areas in Seaton, west Whitby, north Oshawa, and Bowmanville. 

 

Please review service proposals for different areas of Durham Region below:

 

Seaton

The five-year service strategy proposes new transit routes:

  • Five routes connecting Seaton with the rest of Durham Region along main north–south and east–west corridors.
  • Service seven days a week on Routes 112, 118, and 912, from early morning to late night, every 30 minutes.
  • Service on Routes 114 and 903 during weekday morning and afternoon peak periods, every 30 minutes.

 

 Seaton draft service concept map

 Map of proposed Seaton service in year 2030

 

Help us prioritize improvements in Seaton

By participating in the survey, you can tell DRT where you would like to see service operate to.

 
 Ajax and Pickering

The five-year service strategy proposes the following service changes in Ajax and Pickering:

 

  • Route 101
    • Extend service in the east to Ajax Station via Church Street, and west to Pickering Parkway Terminal.
    • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

  • Route 211
    • Extend service to Taunton Road.
    • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

  • Route 224
    • Introduce new weekday morning and afternoon peak service via Audley Road.
      • Operate service every 15 minutes during weekday morning and afternoon peak periods on the common portion of the route.


Ajax - Pickering draft service concept mapMap of service extensions in Ajax and Pickering.
 Oshawa and Whitby

The five-year service strategy proposes the following service changes in Oshawa and Whitby:

 

West Whitby proposed changes
 
Route 301
  • Extend service to Micklefield Avenue, north of Taunton Road.
  • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

 

Route 306

  • Extend service to Taunton Road.
  • Expand service to operate Monday to Friday, all day.

 

Route 319

  • Extend service to Promenade Drive, north of Taunton Road.
  • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

 

West Whitby draft service concept map - local routesMap of west Whitby route extensions
 North Oshawa proposed changes
NEW Route 408
  • New service along Stevenson Road and Thornton Road between Oshawa Centre Terminal and Conlin Road.
    • Providing access to employment areas north of Taunton Road.
    • Service is proposed to operate seven days a week.

 

Route 410

  • Extend service to Simcoe Street and Windfields Farm Drive via the Kedron growth area.
  • Service on the extension is proposed to operate Monday to Friday. 

 

Route 419

  • Extend service via Britannia Avenue and Townline Road.

 

Route 423

  • Extend service to Nancy Diamond Boulevard, with a potential extension to Simcoe Street and Windfields Farm Drive. 
  • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

 

North Oshawa draft service concept mapMap of north Oshawa route extensions.

 

 
 Bowmanville

The five-year service strategy proposes the following service changes in Bowmanville to improve travel times and expand service availability:

 

Route 502

  • Service modified to operate in north Bowmanville only.  

 

Route 505

  • Extend service to cover portions of southwest Bowmanville currently served by Route 502.
  • Expand service to operate seven days a week.

 

 

Bowmanville draft service concept map

Map showing concept Bowmanville network.

 

 
Building community connections

The five-year service strategy proposes introducing Community Connector routes to help residents access shopping centres and healthcare facilities with a one-seat ride.

 

These routes are designed to aid customers with mobility challenges by providing a one-seat ride to shopping centres and healthcare facilities. Based on resident feedback, two Community Connector routes are proposed in Ajax and Pickering, and Oshawa and Whitby.

 

Community Connector routes are proposed to operate weekdays, during midday hours.

 

Draft Community Connector concept map

Map of community connector routes

 
Building a more frequent and available network

The five-year service strategy proposes investments in more frequent service that operates longer hours along main regional travel corridors.

 

  •  Improvements would be made to Routes 216, 302, 902, 905, 915, 916, and 917.
    • Providing a grid of frequent service across the urban area of Durham, from Pickering to Bowmanville.

 

Proposed service improvements on frequent network routes include:
• Daytime service, seven days a week, every 15 to 20 minutes on most routes.
• Service that operates later into the evening, seven days a week.
 

 

Help us prioritize changes

Share your feedback in the survey and tell us how you would prioritize these proposed improvements.

 

Draft frequent network concept map 

Map of frequent network routes
 Building On Demand

The five-year service strategy proposes adding resources to On Demand service to better meet customer needs.