Newmarket Bus Terminal Explained

Newmarket Bus Terminal
Style:YRT
Address:320 Eagle Street West
Newmarket, Ontario
Country:Canada
Coordinates:44.0528°N -79.4865°W
Bus Operators: / York Region Transit / Viva
GO Transit bus services
Structure:Waiting room and public washrooms
Platform:11
Parking:447 spaces
Bicycle:Yes
Opened:8 September 1970
Accessible:Yes
Owned:York Region Transit
Zone:64

Newmarket Terminal is a bus terminal in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada operated by York Region Transit (YRT). It is located at 320 Eagle Street West at the intersection of Eagle Street West and Davis Drive. The facility has 447 parking spaces.[1] The Newmarket GO Train Station is located at Davis Drive about two kilometres to the east.

The Newmarket Terminal includes a convenience store in its interior facility providing various amenities for transit riders.

History

In 1969, planning for commuter services resulted in the establishment of a bus terminal in Newmarket in 1970, from which commuters would be taken to the Richmond Hill GO Station to commute to Toronto.[2] It was one of four terminals in the "GO North" commuter services expansion of GO Transit, the other three being located in Barrie, Aurora, and Richmond Hill.[3] In May 1970, the government of Ontario announced that the terminal would provide bus service only, instead of the commuter rail service originally planned for "GO North" service.

It was originally built by GO Transit as the northern terminal for its "B" service on Yonge Street, and as the southern terminal of its services to Barrie. On 22 April 1970, GO Transit announced that the intersection of Yonge Street and Davis Drive would be the site of the terminal.[4] That site would use the original auto dealership as its headquarters, and GO Transit began operations at the site on 8 September 1970.[5]

The terminal was moved to its present location in the 1980s. The building and grounds were upgraded in 2005 and 2006, and are now shared by GO Transit and YRT/Viva.

The first bus service picked up commuters at various stops in Newmarket before departing southbound from the terminal, and made stops in Aurora, Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill.[6] In Toronto, passengers could disembark at the Eglinton TTC subway station, the Toronto Coach Terminal, or Union Station.

In March 1971, GO Transit began operating a "Shopper's Special" bus on weekdays and Saturdays, leaving the terminal in the morning and making stops in Aurora, King City, Maple, and by passenger request at other locations, with two final stops at the Toronto Coach Terminal and Union Station.[7] For the afternoon return trip, passengers were required to board at the Toronto Coach Terminal or Union Station.

On November 20, 2005, Viva Blue was added to this terminal as part of the northern extension of the line during Viva Phase 3 and the north terminus. On November 29, 2015, Viva Yellow was implemented making this terminal the west terminus of the line.

YRT took ownership of the terminal from Metrolinx on February 1, 2020.[8]

Bus service

York Region Transit (YRT), Viva, and GO Transit routes connect to this terminal.

Platform assignments

All routes are YRT and Viva.

Source:[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Newmarket GO Bus Terminal— BUS TERMINAL. GO Transit. 1 November 2012.
  2. Web site: Authority wants buses off Main St., terminal may move out to plaza. The Era. 3 December 1969. 28 April 2015.
  3. News: GO buses—but no trains. The Era. 6 May 1970. 29 April 2015.
  4. News: News highlights of the year 1970. The Era. 30 December 1970.
  5. News: GO Transit bus unveiled. The Era. 12 August 1970. 29 April 2015.
  6. News: GO grows . The Era. 7 October 1970. 29 April 2015.
  7. News: Shopper's Special. The Era. 10 March 1971. 29 April 2015.
  8. Web site: UPGRADES COMING TO NEWMARKET TERMINAL. 31 January 2020. 5 March 2020.
  9. Web site: Newmarket Terminal Map. York Region Transit. November 5, 2023.