York Region Transit route 1 'Highway 7'


	1 Highway 7
Number of Branches		1
Types of buses used		New Flyer D40LF /R , New Flyer XD40 , Nova Bus LFS , E-Z Rider II/BRT/MAX
Division		Southeast (Markham)
Related routes		Viva Purple, Viva Pink

1 Highway 7 is a base route operated by YRT in Richmond Hill and Markham, ON.

Route Details

The current routing of route 1.

Route 1 mainly serves Highway 7 between Bayview Ave. and Donald Cousens Pkwy., and High Tech Rd.

This route serves the Langstaff, Buttonville, Unionville, Bullock, Markham Village, Cornell, and Cedar Grove communities. It also serves the Town of Richmond Hill Municipal Offices, Seneca College Markham Campus, Unionville High School, Markham Civic Centre, Bill Crothers Secondary School, Markville Mall, and Cornell Community Centre.

Route 1 shares much of its length with Viva Purple, and also Viva Pink and Viva Green during peak periods. It connects to Viva Blue at Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.

Branches

This route has 1 branch:

1 Richmond Hill Centre Terminal - Copper Creek Drive via Markham-Stouffville Hospital
- The first eastbound trips everyday start at Cochrane Dr. @ Highway 7.
- The first westbound trips everyday start at Woodbine Ave. @ Highway 7.

Historical Branches

1 Finch Terminal - Markham-Stouffville Hospital via Yonge Street (end 2006)
1 Finch Terminal - Markham-Stouffville Hospital via Bayview Avenue (end 2006)

History

Route 1 was first operated by Markham Transit as it's North Trunk route. Buses ran to Finch Station, alternating between Yonge and Bayview. This was because service along these streets were provided by GO Transit at the time, and residents wanted a regular-fare service. Service looped in the east end along Main St. Markham, Robinson St., Joseph St., Maple St., Church St. and 9th Line. When Markham-Stouffville Hospital opened, service was extended the short distance into the hospital. The routing along Church Street remained, however.

2001 - When Markham Transit was amalgamated into YRT in 2001, it remained in mostly the same form, but with the route name changed to 1 Highway 7.

October 9, 2001 - The western portion of the route along Highway 7 connecting to Yonge Street was adjusted to serve High Tech Road via Red Maple Drive.

2003 - YRT took over operations of the Bayview and Yonge 'C' GO buses, replacing them with routes 91 and 99 respectively. This reduced the need for route 1's service on these roads, although it remained to provide extra service south of Highway 7.

September 2005 -Viva was introduced along the Highway 7 corridor, with additional extensions opening in October and January 2006. Although replaced by Viva Blue down Yonge St., route 1 still ran via both Yonge and Bayview into Finch Station, with the Yonge branch diverting into the newly-opened Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.

April 2006 - Major restructuring for route 1, with the Yonge and Bayview legs being eliminated and all service terminating at Richmond Hill Centre.

April 2008 - A pedestrian bridge from Richmond Hill Centre to Langstaff GO Station was opened, eliminating diversions into the GO station to meet trains. Rush hour service was removed from Church St., providing two-way service along Highway 7. Off-peak service was temporarily removed in July 2012 due to construction on Main St. Markham, although the 2013 Annual Service Plan made this a permanent fix.

December 2012 - Route 1 was declared fully accessible.

June 30, 2013 - With the successful lobbying from the Cornell Rate Payers Association to minimize transit routes serving the hospital vicinity, route 1 was extended east to serve the Box Grove Smart!Centres.

2020 - Westbound service is adjusted to start via 9th Line to Highway 7, then eastbound back to the previous routing along Bur Oak.

Vehicles

Route 1 is primarily a 40ft route, and uses New Flyer D40LF/D40LFR, New Flyer XD40, and Nova Bus LFS. Rarely, 30ft BRT/MAX may be found during early weekday evenings.

Previous route maps

November 2019 temporary route diversion
July 2013 - 2020
July 2012 - June 2013
April 2008 - June 2012
December 2003
September 2002

Summary

Major Stops

Major Stop	Branches	Notes
Richmond Hill Centre Terminal	1	Serves Bay 5. Connections to Viva Blue, Viva Pink, Viva Purple, and routes 83, 86, 87, 91B, 99, 760. Further connections to Langstaff GO Station on the GO Transit Richmond Hill line via pedestrian bridge.
Highway 7 @ Leslie St.	1	Connections to Viva Pink, Viva Purple, and routes 90/90B, 244, 300.
Highway 7 @ Woodbine Ave.	1	Connections to Viva Pink, Viva Purple, and routes 24D/24B/224D, 300.
Highway 7 @ Warden Ave.	1	Connection to routes 40, 68B, 302.
Highway 7 @ Kennedy Rd.	1	Connections to Viva Green, Viva Purple, and routes 8, 304.
Highway 7 @ McCowan Rd.	1	Connections to Viva Green, Viva Purple, and routes 40, 41, 42, 45, 129A, 301, 304.
Highway 7 @ Main St. Markham	1	Connections to Viva Purple and routes 102D, 522.
Markham-Stouffville Hospital	1	Connections to Viva Purple and routes 9, 16, 18, 25, 201, 303, 522.
Donald Cousens Pkwy @ Copper Creek Dr. SmartCentres Markham Boxgrove	1	Eastern terminus. Connection to route 2, 14.

Service Summary

Period	Branch	Weekdays					Saturday			Sunday
Period	Branch	AM Peak	Midday	PM Peak	Early Evening	Late Evening	Early AM	Day	Evening	Early AM	Day	Evening
2020	1	26	40	28	36	45-48	50	40	50	52	57	52
2019	1
2018	1
2017	1	25-35	40	35	36	47	55	45	51	52	64	52
2016	1
2015	1	25-31	40	28	36	45	50	40	50	52	57	52
2014	1	22	35	23	37	48	51	41	50	52	57	52
2013	1	22	33	22	36	48	51	41	50	52	57	52
2012	1	22	27	20	20	30-40	45	36	45	45	50	45
2011	1	22	31	21	21	31	38	32	38	45	50	45
2010	1
2009	1
2008	1
2007	1	15-20	30	15	30	25-35	30	30	60	60	60	60
2006	1	15	30	15	20-30	30-35	30	30	60	60	60	60
2005	1	15	20-30	10	30-50	60	30	30	60	60	60	60
2004	1	15	30	10	30-50	60	30	30	60	60	60	60
2003	1	15	30	10	30-50	60	30	30	60	60	60	60
2002	1	15	30	10	30	60	30	30	60	60	60	60
2001	1	15	30	10	30	60	30	30	60	60	60	60