Free weekend shuttle service coming this summer to Pickering’s waterfront
Published June 4, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Getting down to Pickering’s busy waterfront is going to be a lot easier (and cheaper) with a free shuttle on weekends and holidays on Durham Transit’s new Route 100.
Pickering will be contributing $10,000 to the venture (included in the 2024 budget), a 40 per cent share of the total cost for the shuttle, which will operate from the Canada Day weekend beginning June 29 to the Labour Day weekend ending September 2. The Region of Durham will be taking care of the rest of the bill.
The service will also run on the August 5 holiday.
Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner said he tried to get the service in place last year but the fire at the Durham Transit depot in Oshawa which destroyed a good chunk of the fleet made it difficult finding enough vehicles for the initiative.
“This year we’re good to go,” Brenner said, adding that the service found its way to the 2024 calendar of events.
Route 100 will operate between Finch / Liverpool, the Pickering Parkway Terminal and the Pickering Waterfront at Liverpool Road and Annland Street, with service every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day of operation.
Transit users will have free access to the amenities at the city’s waterfront, including the Frenchman’s Bay beaches, Alex Robertson Park, the Waterfront Trail and the Nautical Village shopping area.
Pickering will operate the service much like a charter and Brenner said it is “important” for residents to use the shuttle as often as possible to justify keeping it going for future years.
“We want to make our waterfront much more accessible to the public.”
Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe said the City is proud to partner with Durham Region Transit in launching the shuttle service. “This service will provide convenient and direct transportation for residents and visitors to our waterfront, allowing them to experience and enjoy the shimmering jewel of our city without needing to drive and find available parking at this extremely popular summer destination.”
A full schedule and route map is available at pickering.ca/waterfrontshuttle
