Aurora Transit
Encyclopedia
Aurora Transit operated public transit within the town of Aurora
, Ontario
, Canada
, from 1973 to 1999. Service in the town is now provided by the current York Region Transit
system.
Aurora's public transit system began operations in 1973. Like Newmarket
, Aurora was much smaller in size and population, than other southern York Region municipaliites, which benefited from connections to GO Transit
and Toronto Transit Commission
. Aurora Transit provided feeder service to GO Transit
commuter trains and buses as well as community bus service to town's major destinations.
A fare arrangement between Aurora Transit and GO Transit
allowed passengers to use Aurora Transit tickets on GO Transit
'route B' buses that provided local service on Yonge Street, provided the entire trip was within Aurora city limits (GO Transit
zone 63). Passengers travelling to the neighboring Oak Ridges
or Newmarket
or (Zones 62 or 64) could still use Aurora Transit tickets with a cash supplement.
On August 30, 1998 Aurora Transit restructured its services into a single route with service in the southern part of the town provided by Richmond Hill Transit
. At the same time Newmarket Transit
route 77/11 was extended south on Bayview Avenue to connect with Aurora Transit's only route at Bayview Shopping Centre. Aurora Transit ended its operations on September 4, 1999, when the transit service in the town was transferred to Newmarket Transit
. The latter became part of the York Region Transit
on January 1, 2001 when the four regional transit systems were merged.
, as well as the key Yonge Street
corridor was part of the GO Transit
Yonge Street B routing.
A school bus adjusted for mass transit (Laidlaw 90230) was used briefly in the spring of 1999.
:
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, from 1973 to 1999. Service in the town is now provided by the current York Region Transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
system.
History
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, Aurora was much smaller in size and population, than other southern York Region municipaliites, which benefited from connections to GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
and Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
. Aurora Transit provided feeder service to GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
commuter trains and buses as well as community bus service to town's major destinations.
A fare arrangement between Aurora Transit and GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
allowed passengers to use Aurora Transit tickets on GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
'route B' buses that provided local service on Yonge Street, provided the entire trip was within Aurora city limits (GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
zone 63). Passengers travelling to the neighboring Oak Ridges
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
or Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
or (Zones 62 or 64) could still use Aurora Transit tickets with a cash supplement.
On August 30, 1998 Aurora Transit restructured its services into a single route with service in the southern part of the town provided by Richmond Hill Transit
Richmond Hill Transit
Richmond Hill Transit was created in 1960 to provide public transit service in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It was initially operated by Trailways of Canada Limited, then Travelways starting in 1976 and Laidlaw in the 1980s...
. At the same time Newmarket Transit
Newmarket Transit
Newmarket Transit was the most northerly transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. While the town of Newmarket was considerably smaller than any of the three cities in the "southern" part of the York region , the city did have a quality transit service...
route 77/11 was extended south on Bayview Avenue to connect with Aurora Transit's only route at Bayview Shopping Centre. Aurora Transit ended its operations on September 4, 1999, when the transit service in the town was transferred to Newmarket Transit
Newmarket Transit
Newmarket Transit was the most northerly transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. While the town of Newmarket was considerably smaller than any of the three cities in the "southern" part of the York region , the city did have a quality transit service...
. The latter became part of the York Region Transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
on January 1, 2001 when the four regional transit systems were merged.
Fleet
Aurora's fleet was small due to the size and usage of public transit north of TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, as well as the key Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
corridor was part of the GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
Yonge Street B routing.
- 781 - Ontario Bus Industries 1978 Orion I 01.501 (Retired by 1998)
- 891 - Ontario Bus Industries 1989 Orion I 01.502 (Operated by York Region TransitYork Region TransitYork Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
as of mid-2006http://www.transitstop.net/YRT%20Gallery/YRT%20891%20Laidlaw%20Garage.jpg)
A school bus adjusted for mass transit (Laidlaw 90230) was used briefly in the spring of 1999.
See also
Other agencies merged into York Region Transit and Viva (bus rapid transit)Viva (bus rapid transit)
Viva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
:
- Markham TransitMarkham TransitMarkham Transit was a transit system for the Town of Markham, Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1973 and operated by Travelways and Miller Transit Limited on behalf of the Town...
- Vaughan TransitVaughan TransitVaughan Transit was the transit provider in the town of Vaughan, in southwest York Region, Ontario, Canada. The service operated from 1973 until 2001, when it was merged into York Region Transit.-Route:...
- Richmond Hill TransitRichmond Hill TransitRichmond Hill Transit was created in 1960 to provide public transit service in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It was initially operated by Trailways of Canada Limited, then Travelways starting in 1976 and Laidlaw in the 1980s...
- Newmarket TransitNewmarket TransitNewmarket Transit was the most northerly transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. While the town of Newmarket was considerably smaller than any of the three cities in the "southern" part of the York region , the city did have a quality transit service...
- York Region TransitYork Region TransitYork Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....