DRT Pulse: Difference between revisions
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*Acquisition for conversion of XD40's to conventional services | *Acquisition for conversion of XD40's to conventional services | ||
*First Articulated buses in fleet | *First Articulated buses in fleet | ||
*To be exclusively used on [[DRT Pulse|PULSE Highway 2]]. | *To be exclusively used on [[DRT Pulse|PULSE Highway 2]]. | ||
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Revision as of 13:45, 26 May 2020
PULSE 900 Highway 2
| ||
Number of Branches | 2 | |
Types of buses used | New Flyer XD40 Nova Bus LFS | |
Division | Raleigh | |
Related routes | 915 |
DRT Pulse (route 900) is Durham Region Transit's (DRT) branded bus service, and precursor to bus rapid transit, along Ontario Highway 2. Pulse operates between downtown Oshawa at Richmond/Ontario and Centennial Circle and the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus at Military Trail and Ellesmere Road. It serves the intermediate municipalities of Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering. Pulse currently runs in mixed traffic with sections of curb-side bus lanes with 10 minute headways or better on weekdays during peak periods and midday. DRT will implement "conditional" transit signal priority and automatic vehicle locating systems for the BRT system.
Branches
This route has two branches
- PULSE 900 Highway 2 Richmond and Ontario (Oshawa) - Centennial Circle and UTSC (Scarborough) (All Times)
- PULSE 900B Highway 2 Richmond and Ontario (Oshawa) - Glenanna Road (Pickering Town Centre) (Weekday early morning and Sunday daytime)
Frequency
Branch | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday | ||||||||
AM Peak | Midday | PM Peak | Early Evening | Late Evening | Early AM | Day | Evening | Early AM | Day | Evening | |
900 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
900B | 3 Trips | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 | N/A |
History
Since 2007, DRT identified Highway 2 as an important corridor for rapid transit and prepared a business case for BRT along the route. On June 15, 2007, the government of Ontario announced their MoveOntario 2020 plan which committed $11.5 billion in funding 52 rapid transit projects in the GTHA. Metrolinx developed the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which became known as The Big Move, and approved it in November 2008. The Highway 2 rapid transit project was identified as a Top 15 Priority Project in The Big Move.
The Region has solicited the public input for starting the BRT project. This included open houses and a formation of a committee to discuss the Long Term Transit Strategy. This long term study identified other main corridors in the region that would support rapid transit by the year 2031. Highway 2 is estimated to reach ridership and development which would warrant an upgraded to light rail transit.
In April 2011, the Region initiated an environmental assessment. More public open houses are to take place, and a vote is being held on what to name the service. DRT unveiled four proposed names for the BRT service and four distinct logos and livery. The names to choose from are: DRT Plus, DRT MAX, DRT Rapid, and DRT Pulse. From April 4 to November 14, passengers could vote on the website. And on November 30, the Executive Committee approved the name with the most votes: DRT Pulse.
A soft launch took place on June 29, 2013. The service operates much like the GO Transit route 94 that it replaced. It makes all local stops along Highway 2 with added stops at Altona Road and Sheppard Avenue. Unlike the route 94, the route does not serve any GO stations or terminals and terminates at the University of Toronto.
- In September 2013, construction began on dedicated bus lanes along Highway 2 in Ajax between Salem Road and Harwood Avenue. The westbound lane was completed by December, and the eastbound lane was completed by the summer of 2014. Construction soon followed for dedicated bus lanes in Pickering between Glenanna Road and Liverpool Road. They were completed by the end of 2015. Buffered bicycle lanes compliment all of the bus lanes.
- In 2015 frequencies in weeday midday were increased from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes or better.
- Mid-2016 brought the construction of bus only lanes between (West of) Brock Road and (East of) Bainbridge Drive in Pickering complimented by buffered bicycle lanes.
- 2016 brought improved frequency in the early morning periods on weedays as well as Saturday.
- In spring of 2017 construction began on the final two sections of the phase one dedicated bus lanes. Construction begins at (East of Rotherglen Road to (East of) Westney Road in Ajax. Progress is also underway in Pickering between (West of) Steeple Hill to (East of) Delta Blvd. Each of these projects are scheduled to be complete by end of year 2017 and offer improved landscaping as well as safer pedestrian crossings at these busy intersections. Buffered bicycle lanes will also be added across each of the sections.
- Due to a strike with constriction workers employed by AECOM Construction, dedicated bus only lanes in Pickering between Brock Road and Bainbridge Drive, were unable to be completed by summer of 2017. Once the strike has concluded, final paving on bus lanes will take place and be operational in the following weeks.
- On September 4th 2017 route 900 was given improved weekday evening service as well as 30 minute minimum frequencies 7 days a week. The route was added to the new Durham Region Transit High Frequency Network
- In September 2018, construction began for a new section of bus lanes linking the Westney Road section to the Harwood Avenue section.
- In October 2018, construction ramped up for dedicated bus lanes along Highway 2 between Wesntey Road bus Lanes to the Harwood Avenue Bus lanes. once completed in Fall 2019, there will be a continuous length of bus lanes between Westney Road and Salem Road.
- On January 7th 2019, route 900 will see a route change. The new western terminus of the route 900 will be Centennial Circle. This decision was decided upon following a lengthy detour around University of Toronto Scarborough, and the plan is to better serve more areas of the campus.
- On February 27th, the Region of Durham started design work for the next segments of bus lanes that extend upon and connect the bus lanes that were already built. These extensions include, Delta Boulevard to East of Fairport Road in Pickering, West of Dixie Road to Glendale Drive in Pickering, Glenanna Road to Brock Road in Pickering, and Salem Road to Galea Drive in Ajax.
- On June 5th DRT announced the order for six Nova Bus LFS Artics, marking the first articulated buses to join the DRT fleet in 2020 and enter service in 2021. [[1]]
- On September 3rd, 2019, Route 900 Sunday service increased from every 30 Minutes to every 15 Minutes on the new 900B branch that operates between Richmond and Ontario to Glenanna Road and the Pickering Town Centre.
- On September 6th, 2019, 7100-7103 entered service
Fleet
At launch Pulse was operated with 26 specially branded and appointed buses that are stored at the upgraded Westney facility in Ajax. DRT purchased the buses through the 2012 option of the Metrolinx Transit Purchasing Co-operative which would allow for delivery of the buses in the summer of 2012. These buses were moved to Raleigh Division following the upgrades and construction of a new maintenance building there. In 2018 the Pulse fleet was expanded for the first time, seeing delivery of four new Nova Bus LFS Vehicles to run along the route, these buses were purchased to allow for conversion of XD40s to conventional service. In 2020 6 Nova Bus LFS Artics are expected to be delivered to convert 6 more XD40s, this will be the first order of articulated buses for Durham Region Transit.
Current Fleet
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Seating | Division | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7100-7103 | 2018 | Nova Bus | LFS |
Cummins L9 | ZF 6AP1400B | Luminator Horizon SMT | 35 4ONE Aries | Raleigh | ||
8601-8626 | 2013 | NFI | XD40 |
Cummins ISL9 | Voith D864.5 | Luminator Horizon | 36 4ONE Aries | Raleigh | ||
9100-9105 | 2019 | Nova Bus | LFS Artic |
Cummins L9 | ZF 6AP1700B | Luminator Horizon SMT | 54 4ONE Aries | Raleigh |
|
Stops
Pulse services a number of local stops in each direction.
Here is a list of all stops along the route from the west at UTSC to the east in Downtown Oshawa
Stop | Street | Cross-street | Direction | Routes served | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Centennial Circle Loop | Military Trail | Pan Am Drive | East | Walking connection to GO Transit 51, 12D, TTC 116A and TTC 905 at street | ||
Military Trail | Ellesmere Road | Military Trail | East/West | 95 116A | Pick up eastbound and Drop off westbound. Connections at West Side Stops for 12D, 38, 95 116A, 905, and 995 | |
Meadowvale | Ellesmere Road | Meadowvale Road | East/West | 95 | Pick up eastbound and Drop off westbound | |
Sheppard | Kingston Road | Sheppard Avenue East | West | 92 | Drop off only | |
Port Union | Kingston Road | Port Union Road | East | 92 103 | Pick up only | |
Altona | Kingston Road | Altona Road | East/West | 110B | 110B only stops on westbound side | |
Rougemount | Kingston Road | Rougemount Drive | East/West | 92 193 110B | 110B only stops on westbound side | |
Rosebank | Kingston Road | Rosebank Road | East/West | 193 110B | 110B only stops on westbound side | |
Steeple Hill | Kingston Road | Steeple Hill | East/West | 193 110B | 110B only stops on westbound side | |
Whites | Kingston Road | Whites Road | East/West | 92 193 110B | 110B only stops on westbound side | |
Delta | Kingston Road | Delta Boulevard | West | 193 | ||
780 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | N/A | West | 193 | ||
817 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | N/A | East | 193 | ||
Fairport | Kingston Road | Fairport Road | East/West | 51 92 193 | ||
Dixie | Kingston Road | Dixie Road | East/West | 193 111A | 111A only stops on westbound side | |
Walnut | Kingston Road | Walnut Lane | East/West | 51 92 193 111/111A | ||
Liverpool | Kingston Road | Liverpool Road | East/West | 193 223 111/111A 916 | 916 and 223 only stops on Eastbound side | |
Glenanna | Kingston Road | Glenanna Road | East/West | 92 291 603 916 | 603, 916 and 291 only stops on eastbound side | |
Valley Farm | Kingston Road | Valley Farm Road | East/West | 603 291 916 | Accessible only on westbound side | |
Brock Road | Kingston Road | Brock Road | East/West | 92 111/111A 291 916 | ||
Bainbridge | Kingston Road | Bainbridge Drive | East/West | 291 | ||
Notion | Kingston Road | Notion Road | East/West | 291 | ||
Elizabeth | Kingston Road | Elizabeth Street | East/West | 291 | ||
Church | Kingston Road | Church Street | East/West | 92 291 | Stop labeled as "625 Kingston Road" while travelling east | |
Mill | Kingston Road | Mill Street | East/West | |||
Westney | Kingston Road | Westney Road | East/West | 92 291 | Important transfer to route 915 Taunton | |
Ritchie | Kingston Road | Ritchie Road/Chapman Drive | East | 291 | ||
Chapman | Kingston Road | Ritchie Road/Chapman Drive | West | 291 | ||
132 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | N/A | West | 291 | ||
113 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | N/A | East | 291 | ||
Harwood | Kingston Road | Harwood Avenue | East/West | 92 291 | ||
84 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | Durham Centre | West | |||
69 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | Durham Centre | East | 291 | ||
Salem | Kingston Road | Salem Road | East/West | 92 291 | ||
257 Kingston Road | Kingston Road | N/A | East | |||
Wicks | Kingston Road | Wicks Drive | East/West | |||
Alexanders Crossing | Kingston Road | Alexanders Crossing | East/West | |||
Audley | Kingston Road | Audley Road North | East/West | |||
Lake Ridge | Kingston Road | Lake Ridge Road | East/West | |||
Halls | Dundas Street | Halls Road | East/West | 92 | Connection to Dundas Street/Highway 412 Park and Ride. | |
White Oaks | Dundas Street | White Oaks Court | East/West | 92 | Some trips will short turn at this stop | |
Jeffery | Dundas Street | Jeffery Street | East | |||
McQuay | Dundas Street | McQuay Boulevard | West | |||
Wellington | Dundas Street | Wellington Street | East/West | |||
Cochrane | Dundas Street | Cochrane Street | West | 312 | ||
Annes | Dundas Street | Annes Street | East | |||
Euclid | Dundas Street | Euclid Street | West | 312 | ||
King | Dundas Street | King Street | East | |||
Brock Street | Dundas Street | Brock Street | East/West | 92 312 | Important connection to route 302 Brock/Brooklin | |
Hickory | Dundas Street | Hickory Street | East | |||
Pine | Dundas Street | Pine Street | West | 312 | ||
Garden | Dundas Street | Garden Street | West | 92 312 | ||
Lupin | Dundas Street | Lupin Drive | West | 92 | ||
Craydon | Dundas Street | Craydon Road | East/West | 304 312 | 312 only stops on westbound side | |
Hopkins | Dundas Street | Hopkins Street | East | 92 | ||
Anderson | Dundas Street | Anderson Street | West | 92 312 | ||
Bowman | Dundas Street | Bowman Avenue | West | 312 | ||
Glen Hill | Dundas Street | Glen Hill Drive | East | 312 | ||
Thickson | Dundas Street | Thickson Road | East/West | 92 | Important connection to route 305 Thickson/Garrard | |
Kathleen | Dundas Street | Kathleen Street | East/West | |||
Kendalwood | Dundas Street | Kendalwood Road | East | |||
Garrard | Dundas Street | Garrard Street | West | |||
Thornton | King Street | Thornton Road | East/West | Important connection to route 910 Campus Connect | ||
Waverly | King Street | Waverly Road | East/West | |||
Stevenson | King Street/Bond Street | Stevenson Road | East/West | 90 92 | GO 90 only stops eastbound on King Street | |
Gibbons | King Street/Bond Street | Gibbons Street | East/West | |||
Park | Bond Street | Park Street North | West | 90 92 | ||
Warren | King Street | Warren Avenue | East | 90 92 402 405 | ||
Midtown | King Street | Midtown Drive | East | 402 405 | ||
Arena | Bond Street | Arena Street | West | 402 405 | ||
Centre | King Street/Bond Street | Centre Street | East/West | 90 92 402 405 | ||
Simcoe | Bond Street | Simcoe Street | West | 90 402 405 407 | ||
Bond | Simcoe Street | Bond Street | North | 401 422 | Temporary stop on detour due to construction at Mary and Bond. | |
Ontario | Richmond Street | Ontario Street | East | temporary terminus due to construction at Mary and Bond. |
Durham Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit
DRT PULSE plays a key role in bridging the needs for a future Bus Rapid Transit service on the Highway 2 corridor between Scarborough, and Oshawa. Identified by Metrolinx in 2008's "Big Move" Regional Transportation Plan, and 2018's "2041 Regional Transportation Plan". In 2013, PULSE launched as a "Soft Launch" precurser for a future BRT. Since then, works have begun by the Region of Durham on constructing curbside bus lanes in key areas along Highway 2 in Pickering and Ajax. During this time, Metrolinx has continued planning and design work for the future BRT service. The brief history of the DSBRT is detailed below, a more detailed history of DRT PULSE is above.
Phase One
Phase one of the BRT was paid for in part by Metrolinx. They commited $76,000,000 for the construction of the initial bus lanes. Phase one identified six key intersections within Ajax and Pickering along Highway 2 to receive Bus Only and Bike lanes. Construction started at Harwood Avenue in November 2013, and bus lanes were officially open between 132 Kingston Road and 257 Kingston Road (Harwood - Salem) in Mid 2014. Currently, Bus-only lanes are open between Glendale Drive and East of Glenanna Road as well as 132 Kingston Road and 257 Kingston Road (Harwood to Salem). Construction is currently progressing between Guild Road and Southview Drive. (Brock Road) This segment is scheduled to be completed by November 2016 with Construction at Westney Road between Ritchie Road and Rotherglen Road and the portion of Whites road between (West of) Steeple Hill to Delta Court to be completed by December 2016. In 2018 construction began for a retaining wall over a hill east of Chapman Drive. This wall is the first step for expanding the roadway to link the bus lanes from Westney Road section to the Harwood section. Once complete in September 2018, continuous bus lanes from west of Westney road to east of Salem Rod would be complete.
Funding
During a Metrolinx press conference in 2017 at Liverpool and Kingston Road, it was announced that $10,000,000 would be allocated to the design work and planning of the DSBRT. The project when in delivery will require funding from all levels of government, including the Region of Durham, and the City of Toronto, in addition to the provincial and the federal governments.
Public Consultation
In March of 2018, Metrolinx joined Durham Region Transit at their annual public information centres. Metrolinx provided the public some updates regarding their progress on the planning of the project. Following this, the Initial Business Case was published on the website. In late spring 2019, public information centres were held to gain public opinion in the findings of the IBC, at the time all four of these sessions were held in Durham, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. In September 2019, Metrolinx will hold the same PICs at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. A link to the display boards and project information can be found here. [2].
Next Steps
After public consultations conclude, Metrolinx will progress with the design work, including selecting a preferred design for the BRT. Potential designs include full centre lane BRT, curb-side bus lanes, or operation in mixed traffic with transit priority initiatives. Following will be reports the preliminary design and transit project assessment, this process will be complete in 2020. Once complete a full environmental assessment can commence and procurement can occur. Finally delivery of the project can commence with the chosen design from the beginning.
References
- Durham-Scarborough BRT Benefits Case (Report). Metrolinx. Retreived on 2011-05-01
- Durham-Scarborough BRT 2018 Initial Benefits Case (Report). Metrolinx. Retreived on 2018-07-11