Durham Region Transit
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWhitby, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Durham Region Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Durham Region Transit
- Legal name
- Durham Region Transit
- Website
- https://durhamregiontransit.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Durham Region Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transportation
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door) (TLAFAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- First/Last-Mile Connector DRT to Transit Hubs (THAIAHAH), Rural & Community Demand-Responsive Transit (THAIAHAD), Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAE), School & Student Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAF)
Keywords
Where Durham Region Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Whitby
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Durham Region Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Transit Fares: DRT generates revenue through passenger fares collected via PRESTO cards, E-Tickets, and cash. Fares vary by passenger category (adult, senior, youth, children) and payment method.
- Advertising Revenue: Third-party advertising on bus interiors, bus exteriors, and transit shelters managed by Lamar Advertising Ontario.
- Government Funding: Operational funding from Durham Regional Council, provincial gas tax funding, and federal infrastructure grants for transit expansion and fleet modernization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Single Ride |
| Subscription | Monthly | Youth (Ages 13-19) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Children |
| Subscription | Monthly | PRESTO Monthly Pass |
| Subscription | Monthly | TAP Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Durham Region Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Durham Region Transit (DRT) operates a multi-modal public transit system serving Durham Region, Ontario, including scheduled fixed-route bus service across 36 routes in eight municipalities, On Demand demand-responsive transit for areas without scheduled service, and Specialized Services for passengers unable to use fixed-route buses. The system is integrated with the PRESTO fare payment network across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and is supported by a fleet of over 240 vehicles including battery-electric buses.
Product overview
Durham Region Transit (DRT) operates as a unified multi-service transit platform serving eight municipalities across Durham Region. The core offering consists of scheduled bus service across approximately 36 fixed routes, supplemented by On Demand demand-responsive service for areas without fixed routes, and Specialized Services providing accessible transit for customers unable to use scheduled service. Fare collection is managed through PRESTO smartcard and E-Tickets systems, with PULSE branded rapid transit operating on high-frequency corridors. The Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit project represents future infrastructure expansion. DRT also offers trip planning tools, mobile booking applications, and community programs including a High School Ambassador Program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- E-Mission Zero: DRT's environmental initiative program focused on achieving zero-emission transit fleet by 2045.
- On Demand
- PULSE
Products and services
- Scheduled Bus Service
- On Demand Service
- Specialized Services
- PULSE Rapid Transit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 11 million riders transported annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Durham Region Transit
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Durham Region Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Durham Region Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MetrolinxcoreCollaboration on design of new Oshawa to Bowmanville GO Transit rail extension and integration of DRT transit services with regional rail network.
- Canadian Blood ServicesminorPartnership for National Blood Donor Day to help make a meaningful impact through community engagement.
- Durham TourismminorPartnership to spotlight local attractions served by DRT routes, promoting transit and tourism.
- Ontario Centres of InnovationminorPartner in WAVE (Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric) shuttle pilot project testing self-driving shuttle along Whitby waterfront.
- Town of WhitbyminorPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot project along six-kilometre waterfront route.
- Ontario Tech UniversityminorPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot and recipient of transit fare programs.
- Durham CollegeminorPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot and collaborated on inaugural Hackathon. U-Pass program for students.
- Durham RegioncoreDRT is a department of Durham Region. Partnership on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, Community Growth and Economic Development, Social Services, and Paramedic Service partnerships.
- Trent UniversityminorU-Pass program partner for student transit access.
- Lamar Advertising OntariominorManages and maintains advertising space on bus interiors, bus exteriors, and transit shelters.
- Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)coreOne Fare program eliminating double fares for PRESTO users transferring between DRT and TTC. TTC loaned DRT 10 buses after fire to help maintain service.
- GO TransitcoreCo-fare agreements allowing DRT customers to travel fare-free on DRT when connecting to/from GO Transit. Integration planning for GO rail extension.
- Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)minorFunding partner for integrated energy storage and bus charging technology testing. CUTA Young Leader Summit sponsorship.
- Hidden Disabilities SunflowerminorGlobal initiative partner for Sunflower program helping individuals with hidden disabilities discreetly signal need for extra assistance on transit.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Durham Region Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Société de transport de Montréal (STM): STM operates bus and metro transit across the Island of Montreal. It is a broad incumbent peer as a much larger Canadian municipal transit authority with overlapping service categories (bus, paratransit, BRT) but operating in a different province and metro market.
- GO Transit (Metrolinx): GO Transit is the regional commuter rail and bus service across the Greater Golden Horseshoe operated by Metrolinx. It is a broad incumbent peer because DRT integrates with GO Transit via co-fare agreements and is collaborating on the Bowmanville rail extension — overlapping in serving the same regional commuters.
- OC Transpo (Ottawa): OC Transpo operates bus and light rail transit across Ottawa. It is a broad incumbent peer as another Canadian municipal transit operator of larger scale, providing a comparable multi-modal service model with PRESTO-equivalent fare systems and dedicated bus rapid transit corridors.
Direct peers
- Hamilton Street Railway (HSR): HSR is the public transit operator for the City of Hamilton, providing bus service and the BLAST network of high-frequency routes. It is a direct peer as a mid-sized Ontario municipal transit authority with comparable fixed-route and specialized transit offerings.
- Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): The TTC is the largest urban transit operator in Canada serving Toronto with bus, subway, and streetcar networks. It is a direct peer as DRT's primary regional integration partner, sharing PRESTO fare integration, One Fare program, and co-fare agreements — operating in the same GTHA market with overlapping customer bases.
- MiWay (Mississauga Transit): MiWay operates scheduled bus and On Demand transit for the City of Mississauga. It is a direct peer as a GTHA municipal transit operator with comparable On Demand service, PRESTO integration, and even a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program co-launched with DRT.
- Brampton Transit: Brampton Transit operates bus service in the City of Brampton with a mix of Züm BRT routes and conventional service. It is a direct peer as another GTHA municipal transit operator of comparable size with PRESTO integration and growing ridership.
- York Region Transit (YRT): YRT provides transit across York Region's nine municipalities with a comparable mix of fixed-route and Mobility On-Request paratransit. It is a direct peer as a neighboring GTHA regional transit operator with similar suburban service model and PRESTO integration.
- Oakville Transit: Oakville Transit operates bus service within the Town of Oakville, including On Demand service in select areas. It is a direct peer as a smaller GTHA municipal transit operator offering the same mix of fixed-route and On Demand services with PRESTO integration.
Others
- Spare Technology: Spare is the technology provider that powers DRT's On Demand service with dynamic routing and booking. It is included as an adjacent ecosystem participant because DRT was awarded the METRO Magazine Innovative Solutions Award specifically for the Spare-powered On Demand launch, making it the closest enabling technology peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Durham Region Transit social profiles
Digital presenceDurham Region Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Durham Region Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Durham Region Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Durham Region Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Durham Region Transit
What does Durham Region Transit do?
Durham Region Transit (DRT) operates a multi-modal public transit system serving Durham Region, Ontario, including scheduled fixed-route bus service across 36 routes in eight municipalities, On Demand demand-responsive transit for areas without scheduled service, and Specialized Services for passengers unable to use fixed-route buses. The system is integrated with the PRESTO fare payment network across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and is supported by a fleet of over 240 vehicles including battery-electric buses.
Is Durham Region Transit a public or private company?
Durham Region Transit is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Durham Region Transit founded?
Durham Region Transit was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Durham Region Transit based?
Durham Region Transit is headquartered in Whitby, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Durham Region Transit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transit Fares are the primary driver. The others are advertising Revenue and government Funding.
Who are Durham Region Transit's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Société de transport de Montréal (STM), GO Transit (Metrolinx) and OC Transpo (Ottawa). Direct peers are Hamilton Street Railway (HSR), Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), MiWay (Mississauga Transit), Brampton Transit, York Region Transit (YRT) and Oakville Transit. Spare Technology is listed as an others.
Does Durham Region Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Durham Region Transit.
What industry is Durham Region Transit in?
Durham Region Transit's product category is Public Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAJAB, On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door), with a secondary code of THAIAHAH, First/Last-Mile Connector DRT to Transit Hubs. Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.