DRT has posted more details on the 2007 route changes:
- 915 Taunton: Effective June 25, 2007. Monday to Friday 20 minute frequency, weeknight & weekends 30 minute frequency from Pickering GO Station via Bayly, Westney, Taunton and Simcoe to Durham College/UOIT. Integrates the former Campus 101 with increased capacity.
- 916 Rossland : Effective June 25, 2007. Monday to Friday 20 minute frequency, weeknight & weekends 30 minute frequencyfrom Ajax GO Station via Westney, Bayly, Harwood, Rossland, Grandview, Taunton, Ritson, Conlin and Simcoe. Alternate route from Ajax to UOIT/ Durham College.
- 302 Brock/Brooklin -Effective July 3, 2007, expansion of weekday peak service to provide evening and weekend service to Brooklin, the former route 2.
- 308 Whitby Shores – Effective July 3, 2007, service from the Whitby GO Station to Whitby Mental Health Centre, formerly the 2/2B.
- 950 Uxbridge/Port Perry/UOIT – Effective September 4, 2007, weekday service from Uxbridge on Reach and Simcoe via Port Perry to Durham College/UOIT, 2 hour frequency.
- 318 Otter Creek/Garden/Whitby Shores – Effective July 3, 2007, revised weekend service integrates the former 1/2/3 weekend service.
- 20 Westney – Effective June 25, 2007, revised to route via Ravenscroft, Rossland, Bennett, Sullivan, Magill, Coles, Chapman, Ritchie, Westney.
- 40 Applecroft – Effective June 25, 2007, revised to route via Westney, Hwy 2, Harwood, Old Harwood, Fishlock, Harwood, Williamson, Seggar, Rossland.
- 23 Nottingham – discontinued, with service integrated into 20 Westney and 40 Applecroft (note that these changes are due to the new 915 Taunton bus providing baseline service on Westney between Bayly and Taunton)
- 504 Orono/Newcastle – Effective June 25, 2007, rvised Tuesday & Thursday service to include Newcastle.
- Township of Brock – Effective September, 2007 Monday to Friday service.
The route announcements aren’t new, other than the changes to Westney and Applecroft, and the elimination of Nottingham as a separate route, due to the new grid service on Westney provided by route 915. These are all the routes announced after the budget process. Unfortunately, this confirms that much of what was shown at the January public meetings (e.g. the services to Scarborough Town Centre, the reorganization of other Ajax and Pickering routes to avoid long one-way looping routes) seems to have been delayed.
So I’m of mixed emotions. On one hand, the new 915 and 916 routes provide solid, all day and all week connections between the southern Durham municipalities, and they have jumped in and are providing 20 minute service during the day and 30 minute service during the evening and weekends. This could have been implemented as a much more limited service, so it’s good to see a solid commitment of service to these routes. With luck, we’ll see the same commitment to Bayly/Bloor/Victoria in 2008, and that will provide solid east/west connections on all of the major east/west corridors.
Service to Brooklin is improved, as is service to the northern municipalities. These are all good things. It just could have been even better.
I’m also a bit surprised that there appears to be no changes to R10 Ajax, considering that the new 915 route will provide 20 minute service along Bayly between the two GO stations. We’ll therefore have two routes serving this portion of Bayly on an all-day basis. Surely the R10 route could be replaced now, and the resources placed elsewhere?
I also can’t help but wonder why R25 Audley North is being left alone, considering that the portions of the route on Westney and Taunton will also be covered by the new 915 Taunton route. Only the portion of the route on Audley itself will be unique service, but even that portion principally serves a handful of subdivisions that will be within reasonable walking distance of 915 and 916, and those routes will offer a direct connection to Ajax GO station as well as other destinations in Whitby and Oshawa. Will there be any remaining demand for a rush hour-only route that connects to Ajax Plaza on Harwood but not to the GO station? It will be interesting to see whether Audley North survives for long with its current routing.
Filed under: Service
I am surprised with the 916 Rossland routing.
It’s pretty much what was shown at the public meetings back in January. I’m not thrilled with some details of it, but I can understand why it’s being set up this way.
What is your particular concern?
It seems strange that when it leaves the Ajax Go it heads south. Then in the east, it does a big loop to get to UOIT/ Durham College. I realize that it is no different with the present Rossland route using Grandview. I guess the planners have the big picture and I do not.
I know this must seem strange from an employee that should know but does not. As of today, there are no info notices posted at work. I am wonder what will happen to the mid-day Applecroft and Westney. Will they also change?
Also starting today, the Flag Bus has been extended down Church St. to number 92. It is the large high rise on the west side, south of Lincoin Street.
The Saturday conventional schedules have been change to allow connections to the westbound Go Train. As of December 30, 2006, Go Train weekend service was extended to the Oshawa. See the DRT web site for the correct times.
I see what you mean. I think there are a couple of things that came into play:
1) They wanted Rossland to use Harwood rather than Westney so that “grid” service gets established on both streets.
2) In the east end, they wanted Rossland to be an alternative route to UOIT in case of capacity problems on Taunton, so they are running it up to Taunton and back to UOIT.
It’s clear from the descriptions that Taunton is intended to be the primary Campus 101 replacement, although obviously some students who live close to Rossland will take that route.
I agree it’s a bit of a goofy routing, although it is exactly what was shown by the consultant in the public meetings earlier this year.
In the longer term, I suspect that both Rossland and Taunton routes will head west into Scarborough, with other grid routes providing north/south service on Westney and Harwood. But we’ll see. At some point, when I have some time to put into it, I may sketch out some ideas of my own. It’s a tricky problem unless you start creating routes that don’t connect to the GO stations.
I *think* that all Applecroft and Westney service will change, but we’ll have to wait until the schedules are out to be sure. In fairness, this change is over a month away so I’m sure that full route maps and schedules will be available before implementation.
I had a question asked at the Library tonight. The new service on Rossland and Taunton is 2 way right? If you want to head east you will go the south side of the street ? I said yes as this not a great big huge loop right?
He sees it as an alternative to get to Whitby for school in the morning.
French Immersion high school students in Ajax go to All Saints– they get school bus but I guess if you have a late start due to a spare or something you can get their by this new transit now.
I’m 100% sure that they are two way rather than a loop.
If you ever want to read a reader’s feedback
, I rate this article for four from five. Detailed info, but I just have to go to that damn yahoo to find the missed bits. Thanks, anyway!