Back to school, back on the bus: Service updates make commuting smarter

Durham Region Transit (DRT) rolled out a fresh wave of service updates in September—just in time for the school bells and morning rush.

Whether you’re heading to class, catching a train, or commuting to work, these service updates are designed to make your ride smoother and smarter.

New routes

From Bowmanville to Pickering, new and expanded routes are helping connect more people to the places they need to be.

• Pickering:  Route 112 has been extended further into Seaton, reaching Alexander Knox Road and Peter Matthews Drive.
• Whitby:  Commuters gained a new travel option with Route 315, a peak-period service between Whitby Station and Port Whitby.
• Oshawa:  Route 403B was reinstated to provide weekday service along Stevenson Road, a key employment corridor.
• Bowmanville:  Say hello to the new Route 505, a peak-period link from the downtown core to Port Darlington.

Finding the route to more efficient travel

Various route adjustments were also made as part of the September service updates. Route 917 now skips its loop through Durham College’s Whitby campus to Stellar Drive, with new stops added to maintain access for students and improve service for nearby businesses. The updated routing reduces turns and helps buses stay on schedule, saving customers time on their trip.

Goodbye to summer service

Seasonal services wrapped up at the same time, including Ajax’s waterfront route, trips to the Toronto Zoo, and weekend runs to Pickering’s lakefront. Several stops along Taunton Road, Rossland Road, and King Street were also moved to help buses stay on time.

Why these updates matter

Transit isn’t just about buses, it’s about people. Transit agencies typically make updates several times a year to keep pace with seasonal ridership levels, new housing developments, employment areas, and changing commuter habits. For our customers, it means service is better aligned with where people live, work, and study. For DRT, it means routes that are safer and more efficient to drive, helping keep the system reliable for the thousands of daily trips around Durham Region.

“Every September DRT takes the time to review, refine, and improve bus service across Durham”, said Anthony Pezzetti, Deputy General Manager of Operations for DRT. “Throughout the spring and summer, our team analyzes ridership patterns, route performance, travel times, on-time performance, and safety data to identify opportunities for change. The result is a refresh of existing routes, the introduction of new ones, and a chance to test innovative approaches, while remaining efficient within our budget. It’s about making transit work better for everyone.”

Plan your next trip

Full route maps and schedules are available on DurhamRegionTransit.com and through the Transit App (available on iOS and Android).