Finding Durhamregiontransit.com

I just did a Google search for “Durham Region Transit”, and was astounded to find that the DRT web site is NOT anywhere in the first page of search results. There are links to the Regions’ web site, GO Transit (where DRT is listed), UOIT’s transit page, and several blogs – but no result specifically [...]

DRT performance in 2006

Durham Region has published their Municipal Performance Measures Report as required by the provincial government. You can see the full report here, but I’d like to point out a few items of interest regarding transit. All items are for 2006.

DRT’s operating costs were $4.87 per passenger trip
There were an average of 13.83 transit [...]

A Barrie Transit Promise

I know, I know, this is the Durham Transit Review, not the Barrie Transit Review.  But I can’t help but comment on the Star’s story that Premier McGuinty is promising train service to Barrie by the end of the year.
Sounds great for those who live in Barrie, right?  What the Star doesn’t tell you is [...]

Durham Smart Commute

Durham Region has launched its Smart Commute program, designed to help Durham-area businesses developer commuter option programs for their employees, including things like carpooling, transit, cycling, walking, and alternative work arrangements (e.g. work from home).
I think this is a terrific idea.  I’m fortunate to work in a position where I can (a) take GO Transit [...]

More on the DRT budget situation

Durham’s Metroland papers have an editorial on the DRT budget situation. Their position is fairly similar to mine: that some of these cost overruns were entirely predictable, and indeed, a result of DRT’s success in those areas. DRT needs to be find ways to be efficient where possible, but slashing routes and cutting [...]

Tory transit promises

The Toronto Star provides a bit more detail on John Tory’s transit promises:

$150 million for province-wide transit funding in the first year (next year)
$800 million a year by 2011
The bulk of this money would go to the Toronto area
The money would apply to both capital and operating costs

This is slightly more detail than was provided [...]

Election, what election?

I’ve been intending to spend some time focusing on transit as an election issue. I’m going to begin with a brief item. The Toronto Star reports that PC leader John Tory is promising “hundreds of millions” for transit in the Toronto area.
Too bad we need billions. The Liberal MoveOntario 2020 program [...]

Budget Problems Everywhere

We’ve all been following the TTC’s budgetary woes, caused by the decision of Toronto Council to postpone a vote on new taxes in Toronto.  Yesterday, the TTC voted to increase ticket and pass fares, but not to cut services.  In addition, service increases that had been postponed during the summer are now being tentatively scheduled [...]

A new look

I’m experimenting with a new look for this blog.  I find that this layout is a cleaner, simpler, and hopefully easier to navigate.  I may do some tweaking over the next few days, so don’t be surprised if things change a bit – and do let me know if you like this look.

DRT Web Site: Understandable route listings

I’ve commented previously that I find the current form of route listings on the DRT web site to be confusing. For reference’s sake, I’m referring to this page:
http://www.durhamregiontransit.com/durham/index_e.aspx?DetailID=397
Note that while I’m referring specifically to the Pickering and Ajax pages, those for Whitby and Oshawa are only little better.
Why is this a bad page?

There are [...]