York Region Transit route 301 'Markham Express'

	301 Markham Express
Number of Branches		1
Types of buses used		New Flyer D40LF, D40LFR, XD40; Nova Bus LFS
Division		Southeast (Miller Transit)
Related routes		MOR Markham Local

301 Markham Express is an express bus route operated by York Region Transit in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Route Details

Route 301 serves mainly McCowan Road, Raymerville Drive, Parkway Avenue, and Larkin Avenue.

This route serves the Mount Joy, Greensborough, and Markham Village communities. It provides service to Finch in the morning and to Mount Joy in the afternoon.

Branches

This route has 1 branch:

• 301 Mount Joy GO Station - Finch Terminal (Weekday rush hours only, directional)

History

D40LF #936 on route 301.

Markham Transit started operating a similar unnumbered route (simply 'Markham Express') in 1999, when Highway 407 first opened. It meant a faster trip from the Markham area was available along this route to the subway. A 'premium fare' was charged, usually $0.25 more than a regular fare. Markham Transit also purchased a number of D40S (Surburban) buses from GO Transit to use on these routes.

• 2001 - When YRT took over operations from Markham Transit in 2001, it numbered these routes in the 3xx series, and expanded service. The premium fare remained, to pay for the tolls to use the 407. YRT purchased 6 Orion V buses for exclusive use on the express series routes in 2003, to replace the ex-Markham D40S express buses. These buses (301-306) had a special 'Express' sticker on them, and have surburban-style seating. However, unlike the D40S buses, the 3xx buses also operated on other 'local' routes, causing some to question the 'Express' stickers on their sides. They have since been removed.

• October 12, 2003 - Due to heavy passenger loads, the 7:05AM trip from Raymerville Drive and Snider Drive will operate directly south on McCowan Road to Highway 407 and the Finch GO Bus Terminal. A new 7:30AM short-turn trip originating at McCowan Road and Bullock Drive will operate via Highway 7 and Kennedy Road to Highway 407.

• May 9, 2004 - Route is assigned the number 301.

• July 1, 2012 - A major realignment of the express routes occurred. Service was removed from Highway 7 and Kennedy (replaced by new route 304), and service was rerouted so PM service followed the reverse routing of the AM. Service was also extended from 16th and Fincham north to Mount Joy GO Station via Williamson Road. Route 301 was also reduced from 8 to 3 trips each direction.

• December 2012 - Route 301 was declared fully accessible.

• March 31, 2014 - Due to operational concerns with the Snider Drive railway crossing, afternoon trips on route 301 were diverted away from Snider Drive via Raymerville Avenue, Stone Mason Drive, 16th Avenue, and Main Street Markham. Morning trips follow the original routing via Snider Drive.

• April 5, 2020 - Route is temporarily suspended due to lower ridership resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• September 6, 2020 - Full service is restored.

• September 3, 2023 - The express fare premium is eliminated for all 300-series routes. Regular fares can now be used on the route.

Vehicles

Route 301 is primarily a 40ft route, and uses New Flyer D40LF, D40LFR, XD40, and Nova Bus LFS buses.

Route Maps

• 
  March 2014 - Present
• 
  July 2012 - March 2014
• 
  May 2004 - July 2012
• 
  October 2003 - May 2004
• 
  2001 - October 2003

Summary

Major Stops

Major Stop	Branches	Notes
	301
Finch GO Bus Terminal	301
McCowan Rd. @ Highway 7	301
Raymerville Dr. @ Snider Dr.	301
Markham GO Station	301
Mount Joy GO Station	301

Historical Stops

Major Stop	Branches	Notes
	301
Finch GO Bus Terminal	301
Kennedy Rd. @ Highway 7	301
McCowan Rd. @ Highway 7	301
Raymerville Dr. @ Snider Dr.	301
Markham GO Station	301

Service Summary

Period

Branch

Weekdays

Saturday

Sunday

AM Peak

Midday

PM Peak

Early Evening

Late Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

2020

301

15-45

N/A

30-40

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2019

301

15-45

N/A

30-40

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2018

301

15-45

N/A

30-40

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2017

301

15-45

N/A

30-40

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2016

301

15-45

N/A

30-40

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2015

301

15-45

N/A

25-45

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2014

301

15-45

N/A

25-45

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2013

301

15-45

N/A

25-45

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2012

301

20-52

N/A

30-45

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2011

301

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2010

301

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2009

301

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2008

301

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2007

301

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2006

301

15

N/A

15-30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2005

301

15

N/A

15-30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2004

301

15-25

N/A

15-30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2003

301

10-25

N/A

20-30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2002

301

15-25

N/A

20-30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2001

301

15-30

N/A

30

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A