York Region Transit route 68B 'Warden'

68B Warden is a base route operated for the TTC under contract to YRT in Markham, ON.

Basic
Route 68B serves Warden Ave. between Steeles Ave. and Major Mackenzie Dr.

This route has 1 branch:
 * 68B Warden Stn - Major Mackenzie

This route serves the communities of Milliken, Unionville, and Cachet. It also serves the industrial/commercial area between Steeles and 14th Ave., Downtown Markham, Markham Civic Centre, Flato Markham Theatre, Unionville High School, Warden House, and Angus Glen Community Centre.

Route 68B connects to Viva Green during rush hours at Denison St., 14th Ave., and Enterprise Blvd., where it also connects with Viva Pink during rush hours and Viva Purple. It shares its length with Viva Green between Denison St. and Enterprise Blvd.

History
Service was contracted out to the TTC by Markham Transit. This involved TTC operating the buses and collecting the fares, but Markham Transit paying for any losses in running the service. A TTC fare was required for passengers travelling south of Steeles Ave., but only a Markham fare was required if the entire trip was north of Steeles. When Markham Transit was acquired by YRT, the contract was picked up as well, with similar conditions.

Route 68B originally operated to 16th Ave., looping along 16th Ave., Village Pkwy. and Carlton. In 2002, with the opening of the Sheppard Subway, the TTC decided to experiment with a direct service to northern routes into Don Mills Station. This included routes 24C/D, 67B and 68B. Route 68B was removed, and a new route 268 replaced service, running from Don Mills Station along Sheppard to Warden, and north to 16th Ave. Looping at this time was revised by looping via 16th Ave., Village Gate Dr. and Calvert Rd.

This experiment was short-lived, however; by 2004 it was deemed a failure, and route 68B was restored during all times; the route 268 looping remained, however. In September 2005, service was extended north to Angus Glen Community Centre on Major Mackenzie Dr.

Route 68B was declared fully accessible in December 2012.

This route may be transferred to a YRT route as part of the Spadina Subway Extension Transit Strategy.

Vehicles
Routes 68B is a 40ft route from Eglinton Division, and uses Orion VII.

Major Stops

 * Warden Station: Southern terminus.
 * Steeles Ave.: Start/end of York Region fare zone.
 * Highway 7: Connections to routes 1, 40, 302.
 * 16th Ave.: Connection to route 16.
 * Angus Glen Community Centre: Northern terminus. Connections to routes 18, 25.