Durham Region Transit

[Ultimate]

Spotted one if the (idk the name for em) “wheel trans”? One of their retired buses is being used as a shed/mini house in a field just outside of Newtonville, spotted it yesterday just off of Highway 2

[newflyerinvero]

Thought the 916 would be PULSE-D in 2023? Guessing the expected ridership has exceeded expectations?

Or, what criteria, if any, did they look at to determine the 916 to be a Pulse route ahead of schedule?

Nice to see the area around Garden and Anderson get service back.

Wouldn't it have been better to have a 410A ir B/C instead of a new route number entirely?

Lastly, the scheme for the hybrids is underwhelming.

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

21 hours ago, newflyerinvero said:

 

Nice to see the area around Garden and Anderson get service back.

That's what some of the Whitby residents would be pleased of. 

Sadly, for us North Ajax folks - we've been left out because of the sudden (and indefinite) hiatus of one of my favourite bus routes: the 225.

I would really wish that DRT should expand their On-Demand service to replace the bus routes being lost. 

Aside from that, I wished that there should be a bus route that serves the "Food Truck Corral" in North Oshawa. The nearest bus route would be the 905 (but sadly there isn't a stop on Simcoe and Winchester(?) that serves near the locale). 

Just my food for thought (pun intended). 

[Gil]

23 hours ago, Gamer Studios said:

So DRT is planning to add some new routes with some being reinstated (like the 409) in September.

916 Rossland is being converted into PULSE apparently and N2 will be extended to run till 5:30AM the next day (basically providing Simcoe St with 24 hour service.

Is DRT doing away with route names?  None of these schedules looks to have one on them and I've seen the few DRT detour notices on Transit Toronto where they simply list the route(s) affected by their number "Route ###".  YRT runs into the issue of having routes with the same name but different number (their Bayview, Leslie and Major Mackenzie, the first two don't overlap, while the Major Mackenzie ones do). 

DRT for the most part, given how currently compact the service network is doesn't have to worry about north/sout or east/west segments of the same corridor.  All of the cross-regional routes run the full (developed) length, and while they may have to deal with multiple names in some cases (which could be simplified by using the first and last segment, with the middle ones implied to avoid multiple hyphenation) I find route names are easier to convey the area served rather than just a route number.

[sdgta2008]

I was looking at the roster for OnDemand vehicles...  I'm sure that with the expansion of OnDemand during the pandemic that DRT has more than 5 ProMasters, no..?

[sdgta2008]

32 minutes ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

No. DRT only has 5 promasters 

Aboute 70% of OnDemand operations is contracted out to Voyago.

Interesting..... Are they using mini/micro buses or minivans.... and cars?

[G.A]

1 hour ago, sdgta2008 said:

Interesting..... Are they using mini/micro buses or minivans.... and cars?

Minivans, wheelchair accessible vans and cars. They actually have a pretty interesting Fleet lineup.

[Shaun]

On 8/29/2022 at 12:56 PM, J. Hollingsworth said:

In addition to DRT ProMasters,

there are:

- Ford Fusion Hybrids

- Toyota Corollas 

- Toyota Camry Hybrids

- Toyota Sienna (WC)

- Dodge Grand Carravans (WC)

So are those vehicles outfitted with Presto readers?

[John Oke]

34 minutes ago, Gamer Studios said:

Really reminds you of OC Transpo...like DRT taking a page from OC Transpo

GRT as well to an extent also

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

ICAMI (In Case Anyone Missed It) and to coincide with the recent change to the display signs that some had discussed here, there's recently some announcements in which when the DRT bus routes that serve the GO Statiotn is about to arrive, it sounds like that, "Connection to GO Trains. Please leave through the back doors" (or something like that).

[Chris W]

13 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

How is programming a sign to make it harder to read an "improvement". Setting aside the fact that they look ugly and uneven (a DRT trademark before they went with the more effective stacked signs), there was nothing wrong with the sign program they had before. Then again, at least you don't have PR signs that are visible longer than the route exposure (looking at you York Region and Kingston).

Also why change them at all when there's still service that's still yet to be reinstated (looking at you majority of Whitby)? 

[Ultimate]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:10 AM, J. Hollingsworth said:

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

Ive noticed the 900’s while they are in Scarborough say EXPRESS TO PICKERING 

[Orion VI]

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[Tunnelrat]

I have noticed alot of Pulse branded buses being used on no pulse routes and vice versa. Is Durham doing aways with the branding of Pulse? 

[Tunnelrat]

4 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

They’re not doing away with the branding by any means, they’ve expanded the pulse brand to include the 915 and 916, whosever a limited number of paddles on route 916 interline with routes 103/110 and 120 in Pickering.

Additionally, PULSE buses are used as spares for the rest of the fleet.

That makes more sense if they interline. The new destination sign doesn't say pulse anymore hopefully they bring it back to distinguish the routes

[Gil]

On 9/9/2022 at 11:07 PM, Gamer Studios said:

That's what I'm saying. The old "Route Number Route Name Destination" approach is much better. Now it sort of feels like they went backwards a bit.

You have a handful of routes which have the same start and end points but using different ways of getting there: the 110/120 and 405/410, which require a passenger pay extra attention to the route number as that's the only thing distinguishing the displays for the two routes.  My experience with OC Transpo predates the opening of their LRT, but only having the route number meant having to consult the map or ask the driver if the route went along a certain road.  Granted, on routes that travel on several roads naming can be problematic.  Naming them after neighbourhoods seems to make the most sense.  MiWay in their infinite wisdom decided to rename a few routes after one of the endpoints.  Which seems counter-intuitive when the route is travelling AWAY from that endpoint! 

Also, DRT re-released their System Map, one dated September 6, 2022 and the other dated September 19, 2022.  I haven't had time to pore over the two maps, but what's the difference between the two that they needed to update it 2 weeks later and why have both available if only one is the most up-to-date? 

[patrickst]

1 hour ago, Gil said:

You have a handful of routes which have the same start and end points but using different ways of getting there: the 110/120 and 405/410, which require a passenger pay extra attention to the route number as that's the only thing distinguishing the displays for the two routes.  My experience with OC Transpo predates the opening of their LRT, but only having the route number meant having to consult the map or ask the driver if the route went along a certain road.  Granted, on routes that travel on several roads naming can be problematic.  Naming them after neighbourhoods seems to make the most sense.  MiWay in their infinite wisdom decided to rename a few routes after one of the endpoints.  Which seems counter-intuitive when the route is travelling AWAY from that endpoint! 

Also, DRT re-released their System Map, one dated September 6, 2022 and the other dated September 19, 2022.  I haven't had time to pore over the two maps, but what's the difference between the two that they needed to update it 2 weeks later and why have both available if only one is the most up-to-date? 

On September 19th they made some changes to the night routes: the N1 runs via Harmony instead of Simcoe, which is shown on the newest map.

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

When I rode one of the DRT buses not long ago (as I wrote this), one of the PRESTO Card readers interface has been updated to show the credit card (and mobile wallet) logos alongside the PRESTO Card and QR code symbol.

If I recall, the bus was in the 71xx series running the 216. 

I have a feeling that the PRESTO Card software update is belling rolled and (hopefully) DRT can finally accept open payments! Any further insights/thoughts?

[Coolibop]

Wasn't DRT part of the open payment pilot?

 

On another side note, I don't understand why they would charge full adult fare versus presto fare like other agencies. I'm looking forward to ditch presto card altogether and use open payment with my mobile devices; 1 less reason to carry my wallet.

[Articulated]

1 hour ago, Coolibop said:

On another side note, I don't understand why they would charge full adult fare versus presto fare like other agencies. I'm looking forward to ditch presto card altogether and use open payment with my mobile devices; 1 less reason to carry my wallet.

The full adult fare presumably would be to recoup some of the costs that get charged to the retailer whenever their cards are used. Visa and Mastercard usually charge a couple percent of the value of the transaction, depending on the level of the card and the volume of transactions each merchant has.

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

2 hours ago, Coolibop said:

Wasn't DRT part of the open payment pilot?

 

Regrettably, DRT was never in fact part of it. The UP Express was part of that pilot.

[2044]

Noticed the 917 desto just says “PICKERING” now instead of “PICKERING PARKWAY”, which seems too vague. Come to think of it, the destinations for the 900 are also pretty vague.

[Coolibop]

On 9/25/2022 at 11:09 PM, Articulated said:

The full adult fare presumably would be to recoup some of the costs that get charged to the retailer whenever their cards are used. Visa and Mastercard usually charge a couple percent of the value of the transaction, depending on the level of the card and the volume of transactions each merchant has.

But wouldn't that apply regardless? If I load my (Presto) card using credit/debit card, aren't they still incurring cost (is this a drt v presto cost)? It's frustrating that all other gta systems are planning to adopt using presto discounts except DRT? Seems to inconvenience users in the eastern region.

[Coolibop]

On 9/25/2022 at 11:40 PM, FutureHeartsJunkie said:

Regrettably, DRT was never in fact part of it. The UP Express was part of that pilot.

OK not the pilot, but weren't they part if the first agencies to launch (I tweeted about this at the beginning of June)? I remember tweeting about why drt seemed to be the only ones without presto discount when using debit/credit, did they pull out last minute? I can't seem to find the original post on way back, but I definitely did tweet about it. Anyways, suprised regardless.

[2044]

14 hours ago, Gamer Studios said:

It's part of the new system wide rollout of a new destination code program. Now routes would say "915 Harmony" or "915 Ajax Station". Essentially the route number and route name with a P/R sign (i.e. "We're Hiring")

I realise that. However the first time they changed the signs, it read Pickering Parkway. Now it just says Pickering which I think is worse from a wayfinding perspective.