Transit Executive Committee: April service updates; Bus Rapid Transit shelter update; ACCESS Pass shifting to PRESTO

Whitby, Ontario – Members of the Durham Region Transit Executive Committee (TEC) met virtually on April 6 to discuss various Durham Region Transit (DRT) initiatives and updates. Details and highlights include:

• April service updates: On April 4, DRT introduced service updates, including a new route for north Bowmanville on weekdays. Additional trips were added for several routes and extended service was reinstated for other routes. For more details, visit DurhamRegionTransit.com/AprilServiceUpdates.
• Bus Rapid Transit shelters: The Rapid Transit Office and DRT conducted a three-week public review of proposed design options of the median-lane Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) shelters. Approximately 500 people participated in the online survey, providing comments and suggestions to improve the shelter design. Staff will advance the median BRT shelter design based on the preferred options and evaluate opportunities to incorporate comments shared by residents.
• ACCESS Pass moves to PRESTO: Eligible Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works clients currently using a paper DRT ACCESS Pass are encouraged to make the switch to PRESTO. Paper ACCESS Passes will be discontinued in October 2022. The transition to PRESTO will provide riders with added security benefits when they register their card. Those who make the transition to PRESTO by August 15, 2022, will be provided with a free PRESTO card through DRT’s PRESTO points of sale at the Oshawa Centre, Pickering Town Centre, Scugog Municipal Office, Durham Region Headquarters and DRT Customer Service.

Quotes

“The transition of eligible residents to a PRESTO card rather than a paper ACCESS Pass is another way DRT is supporting the Region’s sustainability goals. A PRESTO card protects the resident’s funds stored on the card and provides valuable ridership data for DRT to consider when expanding the transit network. We look forward to supporting ridership through PRESTO as this transition takes place in the coming months.”

-        John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer

“Thank you to everyone who participated in the Bus Rapid Transit shelter survey. Your responses and feedback are valuable, and the team will take that into account as they proceed to future design and construction phases.”

-        Shaun Collier, Mayor of Ajax and Chair of the Transit Executive Committee

“We look forward to supporting increased ridership in the coming months as people begin travelling more across Durham Region. With our April service updates, we have further enhanced access to reliable public transit in the Region. We encourage residents to use public transit and other active mobility modes to enhance communities as we start to increase our travel.”

-        Bill Holmes, General Manager of Durham Region Transit

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For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.