I posted last week that DRT will finally complete their migration to the three-digit route number format at the end of the month. The following note was posted on the “Bus Routes” page at the DRT web site:
Effective July 28, 2008 Durham Region Transit will introduce new three digit route numbers. Routes will not change, the new number series eliminates route number duplication in Durham Region. Existing route numbers are incorporated into the new three digit number. Pickering route numbers will be in a 100 series, Ajax 200, Whitby 300 and Oshawa 400 series. Any existing three digit route numbers in Whitby, Clarington route numbers (500 series) and Cross Boundary Regional route numbers (900 series) already identified with a three digit number will not change.
While I’m glad to see this finally happen after two and a half years of DRT operation, I wish that they had organized the route number system differently. It’s only somewhat useful to be able to determine what municipality a route is in by the number. It would be more useful to be able to list GO shuttle buses, high school specials, flag/community buses, and evening/Sunday buses by different route number sequences. This would be similar to how the TTC structures its routes: night buses are 300 series, community buses are 400 series, and streetcars are 500 series.
But given that they are moving forward with the approach they are using, I do hope that DRT takes the opportunity to deal with some related problems:
- Replace bus stop signs at GO stations and other high traffic locations with new signage incorporating the new route numbers as well as route names. There is some nice signage DRT has used in Oshawa for this, but stops at Ajax GO have a “handyman’s special” aspect to them and do not include the route name.
- Ensure that ALL buses have their electronic signs reprogrammed to include the new numbers. There are still Ajax and Pickering buses that do not carry route numbers, or any routes introduced since amalgamation. I had one of those this morning on Audley South – the sign said “South Ajax”. Sigh.
- Ensure a consistent sign format for all routes, including destinations for all routes. Granted that some routes run on what are effectively loops, but there are still points that are at maximum distance from the route terminus and these can be used. Also, include “via” information where necessary.
- For example: 222 Audley South, To Hoile Dr, Via Bayly
- Update and reprint the terrific DRT system-wide map introduced last year and make it more widely available. This map is one of the best things DRT has done to date, but it is unfortunately hard to find.
Filed under: Communications, Routes
DRT is off to a good start… they are already using the new route numbers on the GFI.
There are still problems that some buses still have rollers and others with luminators that do not not work.
When DRT change the bus stops at the Pickering Go Station from APTA to DRT they missed route names and route numbers. Otherwise, the stops were the generic with no info. This lasted for about two months until a driver (since retired) purchased number stickers at Wal-Mart and stuck them the bus stops. He was only able to do it on few stops because some of them were too high for him to reach. It remained like this for over a year until DRT added route numbers to all stops at the station.
Let’s wait and see what happens this time around.
I forgot to mention that the Puckrin stop at the Ajax Go doesn’t have a sign of any kind so new passengers have to ask where to go.
There’s still plenty of room within the municipal-based route numbering to identify school routes, GO shuttles, flag/community buses and late night routes. The current batch of routes number no more than 20 or so by municipality. If we allot another 10 for growth that leaves us with a pool of 70 numbers to choose from.
Then do what Mississauga Transit did before migrating to 3-digit numbers, allocate blocks of 10 or 20 for each use, and make them consistent across the network. That way whether I see a 172 or 572 I’ll know what kind of route it is.
Gil, you’re absolutely right. In fact, they’ve already done this. the x80 series of routes (e.g. 282) are evening and rush routes in Pickering and Ajax.
It’s more a question of which concepts should be surfaced to the top of the route numbering hierarchy. I’d prefer the top level to be used for “type of route” rather than “location”, since the latter is of limited real world use. It’s a moot point now, though – any change to the numbering nomenclature would be decades away.
You’ve also got the 600s, 700s, and 800s to play with. I assume these will be reserved for routes within Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. It could be years before the three northern municipalities have enough routes to necessitate giving each its own block of numbers. So couldn’t they just assign one block for all three, just separate the routes within the block. Say 600-619 to Uxbridge, 620-639 to Scugog and 640-659 to Brock. The remaining 40 routes can be allocated based on the other route types used in the South. This way they can start numbering the flag routes which operate within Uxbridge and Scugog/Port Perry.
I can’t wait for the new format to come out I’ve been waiting for this for over a year, this is another stepping stone to DRT’s great ridership. I just know that in the near future DRT will be one of the best in the GTA right up there with Mississauga and York Region