Update — Monday, March 15, 8:16 p.m.: In a news release, the City of Brampton has advised that:
“Brampton Transit service will return to the Steeles West Corridor effective from the start of service on Tuesday, March 16.
Temporarily suspending service to the Steeles West Corridor was an operational decision made by Brampton Transit during the active Peel Public Health investigation out of an abundance of caution. Working collaboratively with Peel Public Health in conducting a review, service is returning and there continues to be no additional risk to operators, the public or users of transit beyond the general community transmission risks.
“The following routes will return to regular service:
- “11 Steeles;
- “51 Hereford;
- “511 Züm Steeles.”
Updated — Wednesday, March 10, 7:49 a.m.
Yesterday, Monday, March 8, the City of Brampton and Peel Public Health issued notices warning residents that the public health agency had started investigating a COVID-19 outbreak that could affect Brampton Transit service.
(Updated — Wednesday, March 10, 7:49 a.m.) Brampton Transit is revising the paths for buses along three routes, starting Wednesday, March 10:
Brampton Transit is closing until further notice all stops on:
- Steeles Avenue West west of Financial Drive;
- Argentia Road;
- Hereford Road; and
- Winston Churchill Boulevard.
BT is also cancelling service to and from Lisgar GO Station.
Today, Tuesday, March 9, Brampton mayor Patrick Brown appeared on local television news station CP24 to explain the reason for the notice and how it has affected BT bus services.
A post by CP24 web content writers, Chris Herhalt and Cody Wilson explains:
“Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says a transit route will be temporarily suspended with a large number of bus drivers undergoing COVID-19 testing following a major outbreak at a ‘large logistics business’ in the city.
“A source tells CP24 the outbreak occurred at Amazon Fulfillment Centre YYZ3, located at the corner of Steeles Avenue West and Winston Churchill Boulevard.
“Brown says the 511 route along Steeles Avenue West is temporarily cancelled west of Chinguacousy Road after nine bus operators tested positive for coronavirus infection in the past month.
“He said the route will be diverted [until] sometime in the next week.
“In a statement sent to CP24, Peel Public Health said transit operators have been provided with on-site testing and are required to wear medical masks while on the job.
“‘As self-isolation may be required in some cases, Brampton Transit service levels may be impacted,’ a spokesperson for the public health unit said in an email to CP24.
“‘At this time, there is no broader risk to operators, public, or users of transit beyond the background risk that exists due to ongoing community transmission.’
“CP24 has reached out to Amazon for more details about the nature of the outbreak but has not yet received a response.
“‘No logistics company is more important than the safety and the health of our transit operators,’ Brown told CP24 on Tuesday.
“The City of Brampton is encouraging transit riders to follow all public health recommendations and stay home if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive or have symptoms of COVID-19.
“People are also asked to avoid lowering their masks for eating or drinking while on transit vehicles.
“Operators in the rest of the network will be given medical masks to wear while aboard buses.
“‘An enhanced cleaning and sanitizing schedule remains in effect. It is Brampton Transit’s goal to disinfect all hard surfaces, operator compartments and seats every 48 hours,’ the city said.
“‘The majority of buses are currently sanitized every 24 hours. Facilities and terminals that have hard surfaces are wiped down and sanitized on a daily basis.’
“Brown said that a Brampton transit operator is currently in a coma in hospital due to COVID-19 infection.”
(Updated — Wednesday, March 10, 7:49 a.m.)
51 Hereford
Starting Wednesday, March 10, eastbound buses start their trips on Mississauga Road south of Hallstone Road, then proceed:
eastward along Hallstone; and then
northward along Financial Drive to Steeles Avenue West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Steeles West.Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Hereford Street south of Steeles Avenue West and
- on Steeles Avenue West beyond Hereford Street and Mississauga Road.
BT is temporarily suspending service to these stops.
Instead, eastbound buses pick up passengers at a temporary stop
- on Mississauga Road at Hallstone Road.
Westbound buses operate along their regular route to Mississauga Road and Hereford Street / Hallstone Road, ending their trips.
Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Hereford Street beyond Mississauga Road, beyond Ironstone Road and President’s Choice Circle, between President’s Choice Circle and Edgeware Road, south of Edgeware Road, beyond Edgeware Road, between Edgeware Road and Steeles Avenue West and at Steeles Avenue West.
BT is temporarily suspending service to these stops.
Instead, westbound buses drop off passengers at a temporary stop
- on Mississauga Road at Hallstone Road.
11 Steeles
Starting Wednesday, March 10, eastbound buses start their trips westbound on Steeles Avenue West beyond Chinguacousy Road, then proceed:
westward along Steeles East;
northward along James Potter Road;
eastward along Charolais Boulevard; and then
southward along Chinguacousy to Steeles West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Steeles.Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Lisgar GO Station bus terminal,
- on Argentia Road beyond Tenth Line,
- on Winston Churchill Boulevard beyond Steeles Avenue West,
- at Maple Lodge Farms,
- on Steeles Avenue West beyond Winston Churchill Boulevard, Heritage Road, Hereford Street, Mississauga Road and Financial Drive, at Churchville Road, across from Polonia Avenue, at Clementine Drive and beyond Clementine Drive.
BT buses along another route serve some of these stops.
- Steeles West beyond Financial, at Churchville, across from Polonia, at Clementine and beyond Clementine: 51 Hereford.
BT is temporarily suspending service to all other eastbound route 11 stops beyond Steeles West / Financial.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on James Potter Road at Arizona Drive, beyond Pefferlaw Circle and at Charolais Boulevard,
- on Charolais Boulevard at Chinguacousy Road and
- on Chinguacousy Road beyond Charolais Boulevard, between Charolais Boulevard and Steeles Avenue West and north of Steeles Avenue West.
Westbound buses operate along their regular route to Steeles Avenue West beyond Chinguacousy Road, ending their trips.
Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Steeles Avenue West beyond James Potter Road, at Polonia Avenue and Churchville Road, east of Financial Drive and beyond Financial Drive and Rivermont and Heritage Roads,
- on Winston Churchill Boulevard [northbound] beyond Steeles Avenue West,
- at Maple Lodge Farms,
- on Winston Churchill Boulevard [southbound] beyond Steeles Avenue West,
- on Argentia Road beyond Winston Churchill Boulevard and
- in Lisgar GO Station bus terminal.
BT buses along another route serve some of these stops.
- Steeles West beyond James Potter, at Polonia and Churchville Road: 51 Hereford.
BT is temporarily suspending service to all other westbound route 11 stops beyond Steeles West / Financial.
511 Züm Steeles
Starting Wednesday, March 10, eastbound buses start their trips at the westbound Chinguacousy Züm station, then proceed:
westward along Steeles East;
northward along James Potter Road;
eastward along Charolais Boulevard; and then
southward along Chinguacousy to Steeles West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Steeles.Eastbound buses skip these Züm stations:
- Lisgar GO Station;
- Argentia;
- Winston Churchill;
- Heritage;
- Hereford;
- Mississauga Road; and
- Financial.
BT buses along another route serve some of these Züm stations.
- Mississauga Road, Financial: 51 Hereford.
BT is temporarily suspending service to all other eastbound route 511 Züm stations beyond Financial.
Westbound buses operate along their regular route the westbound Chinguacousy Züm station, ending their trips.
Westbound buses skip these Züm stations:
- Financial;
- Rivermont;
- Heritage;
- Winston Churchill;
- Argentia; and
- Lisgar GO Station.
BT is temporarily suspending service to all of these westbound route 511 Züm stations.
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