Technology

Automated announcements

All YRT vehicles are equipped with on-board audio equipment. The system will automatically announce next stop information 200 metres ahead of every stop. Coupled with the on-board VMS display, all customers (including those with visual or hearing impairments) will always be aware of upcoming stops during their ride.

Automated fare machines and PRESTO devices

Our Viva Bus Rapid Transit services use a proof-of-payment system to allow for faster boardings. Customers can buy their fares using automated ticket vending machines or PRESTO devices installed at vivastations and terminals. For more information, visit our Proof of Payment and Transfers page.

Automatic Passenger Counters

Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs) are installed above the doors in YRT vehicles. They keep track of the number of customers entering and exiting a vehicle at any given location. This data is used to analyze service use and patterns, and helps in Service Planning.

Complimentary Wi-Fi

York Region now offers complimentary wireless connectivity at the Richmond Hill Centre, Bernard, Newmarket, Cornell, Promenade, Pioneer Village, Vaughan Mills Mall and SmartVMC Terminals.

York Region's public Wi-Fi will allow you to connect to the Internet on your mobile device so you can:

• Follow @YRTViva on Twitter using #YRTAlert major service updates

• Look up real-time and scheduled bus information on our Trip Planner

• Keep connected to friends and family while travelling

Should you encounter any technical issues, please contact Spyders helpdesk at 1-888-855-3555.

Developer Centre

YRT has opened its resources to independent application developers interested in promoting the use of public transit. 

Data available to developers

Real-time and scheduled service data is available in Google Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format. Visit our Open Data page to learn more on download and start using our GTFS data.

Partnership with Google Maps

Since 2008, YRT has been working with Google to provide schedule information to Google Maps for their Google Transit service. In September 2012, we began providing real-time information through Google Maps.

YRT Pay App

The YRT Pay App launched July 1, 2017 and is YRT's first mobile fare payment app. It allows customers to purchase fares anywhere, anytime, through the convenience of their smartphones.

PRESTO 

PRESTO is the electronic fare card system for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Customers tap their PRESTO card on a PRESTO payment device and the appropriate fare is automatically deducted from the card's stored value.

Rapidway vivastations

Rapidways are dedicated lanes in the centre of the road for Viva vehicles only, and allow buses to zip past congested traffic.

Below are some features of Rapidway technology:

• A public announcement (PA) system that has both live and recorded announcements; automatic volume levels adjust based on time of day

• Motion-activated heaters that provide warmth while automated entry doors minimize heat loss

• Emergency call buttons that allow for two-way communication and trigger blue pulsing lights

• Security surveillance and intercom for emergency assistance on platform

Transit App

The Transit App makes it easy for you to get real-time YRT service information, plan your trip and purchase your YRT fare on your mobile device.

The app is available for free on iOS and Android mobile devices in the App Store or Google Play. Visit the Transit App website to learn more.

For information on how to purchase your fare using the Transit App, visit our Transit App page.

Real-time technology

All YRT and Mobility On-Request Paratransit vehicles are equipped with Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD) and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems. It is through this combined system that we are able to offer real-time service information to our customers.

CAD offers comprehensive centralized real-time tracking and dispatching. Data transmitted from our vehicles is processed by the CAD system and provides bus positions, schedule adherence and incident information to the YRT Control Centre.

AVL provides the real-time position of each vehicle using global positioning system (GPS) technology. The location of each vehicle is relayed to the YRT Control Centre.

The combined CAD/AVL system provides benefits such as optimized performance of service, increased reliability and passenger safety. Our field supervisors and inspectors can monitor vehicles wirelessly and respond to any issues. The system allows for continuous communication between vehicles and the YRT Control Centre.

Try our real-time features now!

Online: Enter your route or four-digit bus stop number through the Trip Planner tool to access real-time information.

Email: Send an email to RideNow@york.ca with your four-digit bus stop number as the subject line. Real-time info for the next few buses due at your stop will be emailed back to you.

Phone: Call the YRT Information Line at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978) and use your four-digit bus stop number to hear real-time info for the next few buses due at your stop.

Text: Text “YRT” space and your four-digit bus stop number to 25370 (e.g., YRT 1234).

Mobile app: Download the Transit App to receive next bus information.

Security Cameras

YRT vehicles and properties are equipped with security cameras. There are four to six cameras on-board each bus, and a digital video recorder. Terminal and bus stop cameras allow for remote real-time review and recording to improve safety/security, and to monitor service performance.

Video footage is not archived and is only retrieved from a bus or terminal if requested from police or YRT officials as evidence to a particular event.

Text for next bus times

Know when your next bus will arrive by texting “YRT” and your four-digit bus stop number to 25370 (e.g., YRT 1234). Real-time information for the next few buses due at your stop will be sent back to you.

More details on steps are provided below.

Step 1:

Find your four-digit bus stop number. The number can be found on all bus stop signs and on the Trip Planner.

Step 2:

Text “YRT” and your four-digit bus stop number to 25370 (e.g., YRT 1234). Be sure to add a space after "YRT."

Standard carrier charges for text messaging may apply.

Step 3:

The next departure times will be sent back to you shortly. Here are two examples:

How to read the next bus information:

• If the bus is serviced by more than one route, the text response will contain times for the next five trips
• If the stop is serviced by only one route, the text response will contain times for the next three trips
• If real-time updates are not available for a particular trip, the trip will have an (s) character at the end, which stands for “scheduled” time. See sample below:

• If the bus arrival time is within the next 20 minutes, the time format will be in minutes – like how it’s displayed on next bus screens found at stations and terminals 

• If the bus arrival time is over 20 minutes, the full time will be displayed 

Real-time information is subject to change due to varying traffic conditions. For trip planning assistance, call us at 1-866-668-3978 or Live Chat with us. 

Traffic Signal Priority

The use of Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) facilitates quicker movement of Viva vehicles through busy signalized intersections.

The TSP system on Viva is capable of setting priority levels, making it one of the most sophisticated systems in North America, and is only activated to ensure the Viva service adheres to its scheduled frequency. TSP activation results in a green light signal extension or red light signal hold, depending on the traffic signal cycle.

Variable Message Signs

Our electronic variable message signs (VMS) display valuable information to our travelling customers. These signs are installed on YRT vehicles and at terminals and vivastations, and allow for increased communication with customers.

VMS signs at terminals and vivastations display real-time arrival information for routes servicing that stop. The current time and any additional information that may be valuable to our customers (e.g. service changes and rider alerts) are also displayed.

On-board vehicle displays show destination information when the bus is stationary at a stop or terminal. Once the bus leaves the stop or terminal, next stop information is shown.