a few tidbits from the Q/A from the municipalities:
City staff inquired whether e-buses are operating
along specific routes only
· YRT staff noted that e-buses are deployed on routes
operating out of the garage in Newmarket. Between
2024 and 2026, a total of 180 new e-buses are
planned to be procured and infrastructure updates
will continue to be made at all garages through a
combination of grants and loans
TLDR: new e buses soon!!! a lot more!!
City staff inquired if YRT’s ridership recovery is
comparable to the TTC
· YRT staff advised the TTC is experiencing slower
growth and the growth YRT is experiencing is more
comparable with Durham Region Transit (DRT).
Other agencies in the GTHA, such as MiWay and
Brampton Transit, have experienced faster recovery
largely due to their industrial and international
student markets
TLDR: we can thank hybrid and WFH for the slower recovery
and more white collared workers live in YR
City staff inquired if there will be enough capacity to
operate the large increase of electric buses expected
to be procured between 2023 and 2026
· YRT staff explained that the grant provided by
Infrastructure Canada will be used to update
infrastructure requirements and chargers at bus
depots to support electric buses
> City staff inquired if YRT piloted the use of electric buses
to understand maintenance and long-term impacts
· YRT staff confirmed the pilot of six battery-electric
buses starting July 2019. During the pilot phase,
YRT monitored battery usage and charging times.
Moving forward, YRT will be purchasing e-buses
with greater capacity levels to support operations
on longer routes
Environmental sustainability and transit fleet
electrification
> YRT staff noted purchasing long range e-buses
moving forward and focusing on in-depot charging,
with only one on-street Pantograph charger available
at Newmarket Terminal
TLDR: chargers will be installed at all bus garages
City staff expressed recent concerns raised by local
politicians regarding rapid transit on Highway 7
· YRT staff noted that Viva orange ridership has
surpassed pre-pandemic levels
TLDR: hopefully this triggers Orange service increase in future schedule updates
> Metrolinx staff are not surprised with YRT’s ridership
decline at GO stations considering parking availability.
Moving forward, Metrolinx is not anticipating extensive
parking expansions at GO stations
TLDR: More car mausoleums