York Region Transit route 51 'Keswick'


	51 Keswick
Number of Branches		1
Types of buses used		New Flyer D40LF, New Flyer XD40, Nova Bus LFS
Division		North (Newmarket)
Related routes		50, 424

51 Keswick is a local bus route operated by York Region Transit in Keswick, Ontario, Canada.

Route Details

The current routing of route 51.

Route 51 mainly serves Metro Road, Woodbine Avenue, Biscayne Boulevard, Glenwoods Avenue, The Queensway, and Ravenshoe Road in a figure-8 routing.

This route serves the Keswick community. It also serves the Georgina Ice Palace, Georgina Public Library, Keswick Marketplace, Keswick High School, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic College School, and the Multi-use Recreation Complex (MURC). Route 51 does not connect to Viva.

Branches

This route has 1 main branch:

51 Clockwise (Three weekday afternoon trips)

History

September 3, 2002 - Service to Keswick started in 2002 when YRT decided to expand service to larger communities in the countryside that were not served prior to amalgamation. Keswick, being the biggest at the time was the first such community to receive service with a pair of routes: 50 Queensway and 51 Keswick Local. Route 50 operated along The Queensway and Metro Road from Glenwoods Avenue to Ferncroft Drive. Route 51 operated from Ravenshoe Road to a large on-street loop via The Queensway, Church Street, Woodbine Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. Limited route 51 trips expanded the southern looping via Lake Drive and Walter Drive, which has since become standard.

August 31, 2003 - Service is expanded in southern Keswick to accommodate students at Keswick-area high schools.

September 2, 2007 - Service was majorly changed. A connection was made available to Newmarket and the rest of the YRT system through a fare agreement on GO Transit route 69, which ran through the middle of Keswick. There was also a plan to extend route 50 down to 404 Town Centre, but the existing GO option was chosen. With GO taking over operations on The Queensway, route 50 was cancelled and changes were made to route 51, including extending it over route 50's old looping via Ferncroft Drive, providing 2-way service along Church Street, Woodbine Avenue, and Biscayne Boulevard, and expanding the southern looping along Lake Drive and Walter Drive.

April 27, 2008 - Limited service is introduced to serve the Keswick Gardens senior's residence on The Queensway north of Church Street. Ten trips throughout the daytime on Monday-Saturdays serve the residence.

September 5, 2010 - A diversion via Glenwoods Avenue to the South Keswick Commuter Parking Lot was introduced.

February 27, 2011 - Service to the South Keswick Commuter Parking Lot is revised. Buses in both directions operate south on Woodbine Avenue to Glenwoods Avenue and loop within the commuter lot before heading north on Woodbine Avenue to Biscayne Boulevard continuing their route. Service no longer operates on Glenwoods Avenue between Lowndes Avenue and the commuter lot.

July 3, 2011 - A diversion into the Keswick Marketplace began, with the diversion to the South Keswick Commuter Parking Lot cancelled.

September 4, 2011 - Midday weekday routing was adjusted to include a stop at the Georgina Learning Centre.

December 2012 - Route 51 was declared fully accessible.

April 21, 2013 - The 2013 Annual Service Plan had route 51 restructured to run between Queensway/Ravenshoe and Metro/Simcoe via Woodbine Ave. Service was discontinued on Joe Dales Drive, Thornlodge Drive, Dovedale Drive, Lowndes Avenue, Biscayne Boulevard, Ferncroft Drive, Highcastle Avenue, Old Homestead Road, and portions of The Queensway and Metro Road. Service to Keswick High School was provided by limited service diversions on Biscayne Boulevard. Midday frequency was improved to every 40 minutes. This service change was implemented, however, objections from passengers caused YRT to reverse its change only a week later.

2014 - The 2014 Annual Service Plan initially had midday, evening, and Saturday service replaced by Dial-a-Ride, but this was cancelled due to increased passenger demand.

January 4, 2015 - Service to the Glenwoods Park 'n' Ride is removed due to its closure and replaced with limited trips serving the Woodbine Avenue & Highway 404 Park & Ride to connect with GO Transit route 67. To avoid duplication of service with route 50, and to avoid backtracking on Woodbine Avenue, service on Woodbine Avenue between Biscayne Boulevard and Glenwoods Avenue is removed. Also, the southern segment of the route south of Glenwoods Avenue is modified to operate via Woodbine Avenue and Ravenshoe Road.

September 3, 2017 - The diversion to the Georgina Learning Centre was discontinued.

September 1, 2019 - Service is reduced to operate during weekday rush hours only. Weekday off-peak and Saturday service is replaced with the new Mobility On-Request Keswick route.

April 5, 2020 - Service on this route is temporarily suspended, with service at all times replaced by the On-Request Keswick service.

September 3, 2023 - Route is permanently discontinued. Service will be redistributed to other routes with growing traveler demand.

March 4, 2024 - Route is reintroduced to provide limited scheduled trips serving the new Multi-use Recreation Complex (MURC). Three weekday afternoon trips will operate the loop-routing at a 75 minute frequency.

Vehicles

Route 51 is primarily a 40ft route and uses New Flyer D40LF, New Flyer XD40, and Nova Bus LFS buses.

Route Maps

January 2015 - September 2023
September 2011 - April 21, 2013
April 28, 2013 - December 2014
September 2007 - April 2008
August 2003 - September 2007
September 2002 - August 2003

Summary

Major Stops

Major Stop	Branches	Notes
Major Stop	51	Notes
Multi-use Recreation Complex (MURC)	51
Ravenshoe Rd. @ The Queensway S.	51
Biscayne Blvd. @ Woodbine Ave.	51
Woodbine Ave. @ Wexford Dr.	51
Simcoe Ave. @ Metro Rd. S.	51
The Queensway S. @ Glenwoods Ave.	51
Glenwoods Ave. @ Woodbine Ave. Walmart Plaza	51

Historical Stops

Major Stop	Branches			Notes
Major Stop	51	51	51	Notes
Thornlodge Dr. @ Ravenshoe Rd.	51	51	51
Ravenshoe Rd. @ Lake Dr. S.		51	51
Woodbine Avenue & Highway 404 Park & Ride			51
The Queensway S. @ Glenwoods Ave.	51	51	51
Ferncroft Dr. @ Metro Rd.	51		51
Metro Rd. S. @ Simcoe Rd.	51	51	51
Church St. @ Woodbine Ave.	51	51	51
Woodbine Ave. @ Riverglen Dr.	51	51	51

Service Summary

Period		Branch	Weekdays					Saturday			Sunday
Period		Branch	AM Peak	Midday	PM Peak	Early Evening	Late Evening	Early AM	Day	Evening	Early AM	Day	Evening
2024	Mar-	51	N/A	N/A	3 Trips	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2024	Jan-Mar	51	Service Suspended - On-Request Service
2023		51
2022		51
2021		51
2020		51
2019		51
2018		51
2017		51
2016		51
2015		51
2014		51
2013		51
2012		51
2011		51
2010		51
2009		51
2008		51
2007		51	25-35	60	20-30	35-60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A
2006		51	25-35	60	20-30	35-60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A
2005		51	25-35	60	20-30	35-60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A
2004		51	15-35	60	30-35	35-60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A
2003		51	15-25	60	20-30	60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A
2002		51	30	60	30	60	N/A	60	60	60	N/A	N/A	N/A