Markham Transit

Markham 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 after 1984 on behalf of the then Town of Markham. The service was merged into York Region Transit in 2001.

Markham Transit
Founded1973
Defunct2001
LocaleMarkham, Ontario
Service typeBus service
Routes14
Fleet58 (2000)
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorTravelways (1973–1984)
and Miller Transit Limited (1984–2001)

Routes

Regular service
  • 1 North Trunk – ran along Highway 7
  • 2A – ran along 14th Avenue
  • 2 South Trunk – ran along Yonge Street, Doncaster Avenue, Henderson Avenue, John Street, Esna Park Drive, Denison Street, Elson Street, Middlefield Road (did not have stops from Finch Station to Steeles Avenue)
  • 3 Thornhill Local (Merged with Vaughan Transit route 8 to form existing YRT route 3 in 2002)
  • 4 Unionville/Markham Local (now YRT route 40 & 41)
  • 5 Buttonville North (merged with route 4 in 1998)
  • 7 16th Avenue (1998–1999, merged with Richmond Hill Transit Route 5 (now YRT route 16)
  • 8 Kennedy (since 1998)
  • 9 Markham Road (1998–2002, merged with TTC route 102)

Express / rush hour
  • 6 Brimley (rush hour service from Steeles Avenue East to 14th Avenue was cancelled circa 1997; this service was provided by TTC route 128A in the early 1990s)
  • Unionville Express
  • Markham Express
  • Sunday and Holiday Express – ran along Yonge Street, John St, Leslie St. and Highway 7

Contracted routes

There were a number or north-south routes operated for Markham Transit by other operators:

The Toronto Transit Commission's 53 Steeles East was never operated on behalf of Markham Transit and did not require additional fares when the bus ran within Markham. (53B/E used Middlefield Road, Elson Street and Markham Road from 1994–1999; after 1999 the route turned at McCowan Road north of Steeles, along Elson Street to Markham Road.)

Park 'n' ride

This service allowed patrons to park cars at select locations and board buses without paying for parking.

Park 'N Ride Locations included:

  • Markham Village Community Centre
  • Knob Hill Farms- northeast corner of Woodbine and Highway 7
  • Former Fortinos store (now Denison Square Mall) – Denison Street and Kennedy Road
  • Denison Square – Highway 48 and Denison Street
  • Thornhill Community Centre
  • First Markham Place

Additional services

Mobility Bus Service

Transit for the disabled was similar to the TTC WheelTrans. Separate wheelchair accessible vehicles were operated for this service. It also included Taxi Scrip, service for unplanned trips using contracted taxi operators.

Request Stop program

Similar services offered by the TTC for female patrons at night. This excluded routes from contractors, who dictated their own Request Stop program.

Faster to Finch

Offered express connection between Markham Transit and GO Transit and 407 ETR to Finch Station.

Transcab

Introduced in 1991s when Markham Transit did not operate night services. The hours of operations was after 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. By the late 1990s, Markham Transit offered evening and weekend services; this has been continued under YRT. Transcab was replaced by school bus shuttles in 1997.

Fleet

Many of Markham Transit's vehicles were second-hand, but more recent buses were new purchases. They were maintained by the contractor.

Current YRT status (2005):

Past fleet
  • GMC Flexette (#505)

Denotes wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Facilities

Markham Transit buses were stored at Miller Transit yard on Miller Avenue (Woodbine Avenue and Highway 407). The buses were stored in an outside area on the east side of Woodbine.

Loops
  • Middlefield Road and Denison Street – shared with the TTC
  • McCowan Road and Steeles Avenue (at Calvary Manor and shared with the TTC)
  • Thornhill Town Centre
  • Brimley Road north of Steeles Avenue East

See also

References
  • Markham Transit 1990 Rider's Guide
  • Markham Transit Fall 1994 Rider's Guide
  • Markham Transit Fall 1999 Rider's Guide
  • Markham Transit 2000 Rider's Guide
  • Transit History...Markham
Preceded by
None		 Public transit in Markham
1973–2001		 Succeeded by
York Region Transit
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