No free rides New Year’s Eve among York Region Transit service changes

Schedule and route changes made to adjust for holiday season and changing customer demand

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 21, 2020
Heidi Riedner

York Region Transit schedule and route changes are being made between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3 to adjust for the holiday season and changing customer demand.

That includes no extended or free rides this year on New Year’s Eve due to York Region being in the province's grey lockdown mode until next month.

In support of public health measures and to encourage everyone to celebrate safely at home, YRT will not be offering extended or free service on Dec. 31, a spokeseprerson said.

“Due to the current state of COVID-19 and restrictions on social gatherings, we strongly encourage everyone to follow the advice of Public Health and celebrate the new year only with members of your own household to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help keep everyone safe."

Regular YRT service will still be provided.

On Dec. 20, YRT launched the new Viva bus rapidway route including seven median stations on the Yonge Street corridor in Richmond Hill providing dedicated bus lanes and greater connectivity to other routes across the region and GTA.

In the south, the rapidway connects to Bernard Terminal, Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, regional rail at Langstaff GO Station and bus routes along Hwy. 7 in Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan.

It will also connect to the future Yonge North Subway Extension, which will extend the TTC’s Line 1 subway from Finch Avenue to the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway Urban Growth Centre at Yonge Street and Hwy. 7.

To the north, Viva buses connect to a bus terminal, GO train station and rapidways in Newmarket.

“We’re excited to be working in partnership with York Region Rapid Transit Corporation and their vivaNext project,” said Phil Verster, Metrolinx President and CEO. “This new bus rapid transit project is part of a true regional transit network to get people connected to the things that matter most.”
Seasonal changes include the suspension of “High School Specials” during the holiday break, as well as minor changes to Routes 7 Martin Grove and 165/165F Weston, The Queensway Route 50 bus in Georgina and the 760 Vaughan Mills bus.

Service changes effective Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 include: revised school connections for Routes 32, 81, 82, 83 and 86; various schedule changes for 400-series School Specials due to low ridership and schedule changes to Route 107/107B Keele to meet customer demand.

Viva Bus schedules are available at yrt.ca/schedules and transit users are encouraged to visit yrt.ca/servicechanges to review changes that may affect their travel plans.