Durham Region Transit

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

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

• Public bus transit
• Demand-responsive transit
• Accessible transit services
• Fare payment systems
• Rapid bus transit

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Advertising Revenue: Third-party advertising on bus interiors, bus exteriors, and transit shelters managed by Lamar Advertising Ontario.
3. Government Funding: Operational funding from Durham Regional Council, provincial gas tax funding, and federal infrastructure grants for transit expansion and fleet modernization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MetrolinxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on design of new Oshawa to Bowmanville GO Transit rail extension and integration of DRT transit services with regional rail network.
• Canadian Blood ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for National Blood Donor Day to help make a meaningful impact through community engagement.
• Durham TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to spotlight local attractions served by DRT routes, promoting transit and tourism.
• Ontario Centres of InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WAVE (Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric) shuttle pilot project testing self-driving shuttle along Whitby waterfront.
• Town of WhitbyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot project along six-kilometre waterfront route.
• Ontario Tech UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot and recipient of transit fare programs.
• Durham CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WAVE autonomous shuttle pilot and collaborated on inaugural Hackathon. U-Pass program for students.
• Durham RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRT 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 UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU-Pass program partner for student transit access.
• Lamar Advertising OntariominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages and maintains advertising space on bus interiors, bus exteriors, and transit shelters.
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne 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 TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for integrated energy storage and bus charging technology testing. CUTA Young Leader Summit sponsorship.
• Hidden Disabilities SunflowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal initiative partner for Sunflower program helping individuals with hidden disabilities discreetly signal need for extra assistance on transit.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Broad 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

• Xx.com/Durham_Transit
• Facebookfacebook.com/durhamregiontransit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durham-region-transit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Durham Region Transit