York Region approves plan to buy 34 new buses

Yorkregion.com
March 31, 2014
By Sean Pearce

York Region council has approved a $18-million contract to purchase 34 new low-floor buses to bolster its fleet of transit vehicles.

The 34 buses will be purchased from New Flyer Industries Canada.

This is part of the region’s joint bus procurement agreement with provincial transit agency, Metrolinx, which allows municipalities to reduce the cost per bus and increase purchasing power.

The addition of 34 new buses will help York Region Transit and Viva meet the needs of its growing ridership, transportation committee chairperson and Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Wayne Emmerson said, adding nearly 23 million riders used transit last year and the numbers are projected to grow.

Ongoing investment in transit will ensure residents can get to and from work, school, shopping and entertainment spots via an efficient and state-of-the-art means of transportation, York chairperson and CEO Bill Fisch said.

Currently, there are 339 conventional YRT buses and 116 Viva bus rapid transit vehicles in the region’s fleet.

Delivery of the new 40-foot buses is expected by the end of 2014.