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Durham Region Transit Executive Committee Meeting Highlights - September 2024

Justin Barber

— 1 min read

Whitby, Ontario – On Wednesday, September 4, members of the Durham Region Transit Executive Committee (TEC) met to discuss various Durham Region Transit (DRT) initiatives and updates. Details and highlights include:

  • September service enhancements: Effective September 3, 2024, DRT introduced new routes, enhanced scheduled service to some areas previously served by On Demand, improved connections to GO Transit, and invested in improving reliability.
  • First battery electric buses: DRT received its first six battery-electric buses as part of its fleet electrification efforts. These buses will be deployed on high-demand routes with plans to collect data for future electrification phases.
  • On Demand service collaboration: DRT partnered with the University of Toronto's Transit Analytics Lab to study On Demand transit services. The research to date highlighted factors that drive ridership.
  • PRESTO Apple Wallet launch: On July 16, 2024, PRESTO launched in Apple Wallet across several transit agencies, including DRT. Customers can now tap and ride transit with their iPhone or Apple Watch, offering benefits similar to the classic card with additional features like real-time updates and instant fund loading.
  • July 2024 ridership milestone: DRT reported a 20 percent growth in year-to-date ridership through July 2024 compared to 2019 and a 29 percent increase over 2023. DRT is focused on recruiting and training new staff to deliver the additional service hours approved in the 2024 budget.

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