Growing Rapid Transit in Durham Region
Browse this page to learn more about current and future rapid transit services in Durham Region.
Durham Region is home to more than 750,000 people today and is expected to grow to 1.3 million by 2051. To support our continued growth and prosperity, Durham has been making significant strides to improve transit and rapid transit options, creating a stronger integrated transit network across the region and beyond.
What is rapid transit?
Rapid transit is a form of transit service with a dedicated space for transit vehicles to operate. It can allows us to move more people on busy routes.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is designed to deliver fast, efficient, and reliable service through dedicated bus lanes traffic system signals. These are separate from general traffic.
Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit
The Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit (DSBRT) is a project that spans approximately 36-kilometre through Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Scarborough. It would provide:
- Two-way service every five minutes.
- Dedicated bus lanes and priority signals.
- Time savings of 20 minutes for transit trips along the corridor.
The DSBRT project was assessed under the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08. The project aims to create seamless connections with local transit networks across Durham Region and into the City of Toronto. It will provide more flexibility in transit options.
For more information visit Metrolinx for a project overview and updates.
Highway 2 Bus Rapid Transit Construction
Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Regional Municipality of Durham will be constructing Phase 1 of DSBRT segments through Pickering, Ajax and Whitby.
List of Durham Region Led Projects:
- Kingston Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Steeple Hill to Merritton Road
- Kingston Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Merritton Road to Dixie Road
- Kingston Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Dixie Road to Bainbridge Drive
- Kingston Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Rotherglen Road to Harwood Avenue
- Kingston Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Harwood Avenue to Wicks Drive
- Dundas Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Lake Ridge Road intersection Widening.
GO Lakeshore East Extension to Bowmanville
The GO Lakeshore East Extension will help meet the needs of our growing communities and our thriving innovation ecosystem.
The GO Lakeshore East Extension will help to:
- Reduce congestion, increase housing supply, and create jobs and economic development by creating transit-oriented communities.
- Direct transit investment to planned growth areas, which reflect provincial and local planning policy.
- Allow for higher productivity and more efficient movement of people.
- Encourage private-sector housing construction; aligning closely with the province’s commitment to increasing housing supply.
- Support significant provincial investment in three post-secondary institutions: Durham College, Ontario Tech University and Trent University Durham GTA.
The Province of Ontario passed Bill 131, which enables the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023. This significant milestone introduced an innovative revenue tool that will enable municipalities to support the building of new stations along GO train routes.
The plan to build four new GO stations for the Lakeshore East GO Extension will provide frequent, reliable and accessible transit. It will open opportunities to new and existing residents and visitors to explore all that Durham has to offer.
Metrolinx partnership
Durham Region is working with Metrolinx to develop the GO rail line that will connect residents; and offer travellers more frequent services, with the freedom to travel in and out of Durham when they want.
Metrolinx released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Bowmanville Extension project and on June 15, 2023. Metrolinx awarded the RFP to Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) contract to Bowmanville Construction Partners.
Visit Metrolinx for a project overview and subscribe to updates.
Simcoe Street Rapid Transit
The Simcoe Street Rapid Transit Visioning Study looked at ways to assess rapid transit investments, based on evolving best practices. It helped us learn how to improve mobility and quality of life for existing residents, while preparing the corridor to attract and support future growth. A copy of the Visioning Study can be found on the Simcoe Street Rapid Transit Study website.
A series of public consultations from September 2022 to October 2023 took place across the City of Oshawa. This was an opportunity for community members to engage with Region staff and be involved with the study progression. The goal was to achieve meaningful engagement, while gathering valuable feedback from community members. Based on the public consultations, the south study limit was extended on Simcoe Street from the proposed Central Oshawa Go Station to Lakeview Park.
A Feasibility Study and Initial Business Case Study (IBC) is in progress to assess the preferred rapid transit technology along Simcoe Street. Following the completion of the Feasibility Study and IBC, the Region will undertake a further assessment of the recommended technology through the Transit and Rail Project Assessment Process (TRPAP), in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08.
For more information, visit Simcoe Street Rapid Transit Study.
Durham Region Transit Bus Rapid Transit
In May 2013, Durham Region Transit introduced 26 bus rapid transit (BRT) vehicles that operate as the DRT PULSE service. The rapid transit service provides high frequency service with convenient transfers along Highway 2—from the University of Toronto campus on Military Trail in Scarborough to downtown Oshawa—seven days a week.
Visit durhamregiontransit.com for DRT PULSE route and schedule information.
Additional Resources
Durham Region Construction and Your Business – Construction and Your Business - Region of Durham
Durham Region Public Works Project Website - Public Works Projects (durham.ca)
Metrolinx DSBRT EA Website - Metrolinx - Durham-Scarborough BRT
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