The bottom line.
A new technology provider is unifying fixed route, on-demand, and specialized transit in a vast suburban and rural region east of Toronto. Riders simply request a trip, and the Via algorithm does the rest, referring riders to the most convenient option that meets their accessibility needs.
Tell me more.
DRT’s upgraded transit network consists of two layers: fixed-route bus lines serving the urban centres of Durham, and a commingled on-demand and specialized transit service that serves the entire region with 40+ vehicles — the largest commingled fleet in Canada.
The Via-powered rider app serves as a one-stop gateway to this entire network. On the back-end, Mode Preference — Via’s anti-cannibalization feature — makes sure that trips requested in areas with fixed-route coverage only receive on-demand service when a route isn't scheduled to operate. Of course, specialized transit passengers always receive accessible trips across the entire regional service zone.
Via has been a terrific partner to support our ambitious service goals and complex service design needs that will enable DRT to delivery equitable public transit services to residents and visitors across the vast Region of Durham.
— Bill Holmes, General Manager, Durham Region Transit
Via's Mode Preference features allows transit agencies like DRT to prevent cannibalization of fixed-route services by microtransit without relying multiple discrete service zones.
Additional resources.
Curious to learn more?
- Watch our webinar to hear directly from DRT leaders about the success of unified, integrated transit in the region.
- Check out our Paratransit Solutions page to learn more about Via's paratransit product.
