ZÜM BACKGROUNDER BRAMPTON ZÜM MARKS 100th ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIC BUS TRANSIT IN ONTARIO WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART BRT VEHICLE BUILT IN CANADA LAUNCHING ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010 Phase 1 of $285-Million Project Begins Along Busy Queen Street Corridor from Downtown Brampton to York University and will Expand to Include Main Street in 2011 and Steeles Avenue in 2012 Red, White and Silver European-Fashioned Züm Bus Unparalleled in Accessibility, Low Noise Levels, Fuel Economy and 21st-Century Electronic Instrument Panels Little did the small town of Leamington, Ontario know when it introduced the first public bus in the province 100 years ago that the future of mass transportation would ever look like this. On Monday, September 20, 2010, the City of Brampton drives into the public transit history books when North America‟s only state-of-the-art Xcelsior model bus made in Canada leaves the brand new Brampton Transit - Bramalea Terminal at 4:45 a.m. Brampton Züm (pronounced zoom) is a North American Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service with European sophistication built in Canada by Winnipeg‟s New Flyer Industries with integral design assistance from Brampton Transit. Züm is a model of modern-day technical ingenuity that will keep Brampton Transit‟s initial 25 of 60 new vehicles in the $285-million project on schedule and riders up to date with real-time schedule information, like when the next bus will really arrive. Among the other exclusive features that make the European-fashioned Züm ahead of its time in North America are: The highest ranking for fuel economy in factory testing; LED headlights that draw less power; 10-inch kneel, making it the lowest step-on on the market and one of the most accessible public buses in the world; The lowest interior noise for passengers ever recorded in third-party testing; 50 per cent larger tinted skylights for better views Electronic Instrument Panels (EIP) that provide each driver with more information than ever before. Travel time of less than an hour from downtown Brampton to York University due to the limited number of stops it makes. Back in 2004, as Brampton began to experience a tremendous surge in population growth, Brampton City Council recognized that major strategic investments in public transportation had to be made to lay a solid foundation for future prosperity. With the support of her Council colleagues, Mayor Susan Fennell championed a visionary transit plan for Brampton – a plan that would take the city from 2010 to build-out in 2031 – and began promoting the idea to the federal and provincial governments. Convincing both the Prime Minister and the Premier that Brampton deserved to be on the map when it came to transit funding, the City of Brampton would successfully secure $285-million dollars in 2008 to establish a modern, world-class, high-speed transit system in Brampton, complete with seamless links to GO Transit, TTC, Mississauga Transit and York Region Transit. The City‟s advocacy had paid off. Züm was born. “Just a few short years ago, the prospect of having a modern rapid transit system running across the heart of the city seemed unimaginable to most Bramptonians,” says Mayor Susan Fennell. “But, as Members of Council, we knew how critical the efficient movement of people would be to Brampton‟s future success. It was clear that we needed to act early and decisively to put in place a rapid transit system capable of providing an exceptional level of service now, and as Brampton continues to grow. That system is Züm.” “Brampton City Council is incredibly proud of its commitment to delivering a rapid transit system to the people of Brampton on time and on budget,” says City Councillor Vicky Dhillon, Chair of Works and Transportation. “With the introduction of Züm, Brampton has secured its place as one of Canada‟s top transit-friendly cities.” Brampton City Council also recognized that they‟d need a talented technical expert to guide Züm from the construction plans to the service launch. Enter Sue Connor. Serving as Brampton‟s Director of Transit and the Project Director for Züm, Sue heads up the City of Brampton‟s team of forward-thinking urban public transit professionals. According to Connor, “Züm is a huge win for Brampton. Our transit ridership numbers show that more and more Bramptonians are looking for convenient, affordable, environmentally friendly ways to get around. The introduction of Züm will fulfill a huge demand in the community for a rapid transit system that gets riders from point A to point B quickly, efficiently and comfortably.” Brampton is the fourth fastest-growing urban centre in the Greater Toronto Area and the 11th largest in Canada. Brampton Transit ridership continues to increase significantly and now ranks as one of the highest in the country, averaging at 10 per cent. Brampton Transit is responsible for bringing some of the most futuristic transit technology to the new Züm service that will first run along the busy Queen Street corridor from downtown Brampton to York University. Züm will expand to include Main Street in fall 2011 and Steeles Avenue in fall 2012. By 2021, Brampton Transit‟s Züm service will extend west on Queen Street and Steeles Avenue, as well as boast a new line on Bovaird Drive. Züm will continue to provide a wide range of customer service technologies that will ensure reliable, efficient, cost-effective and worry-free travel options for Brampton residents within the city and throughout the GTA, with new links to York Region, Mississauga and Toronto. Using hybrid diesel-electric technology, the vehicles boast an eight to 10 per cent fuel reduction. Among the features that set Züm apart from all other buses are 38 plush and comfortable high-back seats and the new “Q- Straint” wheelchair restraint system that is one of the most advanced of its kind on public buses anywhere in the world. Züm‟s frequent service (buses depart every seven to 10 minutes during rush hours), limited stops and connectivity will bring a high-quality, modern and state-of-the-art transportation service to the City of Brampton. Züm vehicles also have the ability to influence traffic signals, so the service can remain on schedule, even in mixed traffic. More important, says Mayor Fennell, “Züm riders are in control. Real-time information is available at all station stops and that gives riders the confidence they will arrive at their destinations on time, relaxed and hassle-free.” Unlike many BRT services, Züm will not require an additional fare and riders will not have to worry about zones. Riders can quickly and easily transfer from any of Brampton Transit‟s conventional services to Züm for one price. In an effort to create a strong presence on the internet, Brampton Züm is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/BramptonON/BTZum/101862836517142?v=app_4949752878), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/btzum), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/btzum) as well as the Brampton Transit website (http://www.bramptontransit.com). “We want the community to have a voice in Züm,” enthuses Mayor Fennell. “We are putting the “ü” in Züm.” Funding for Brampton Transit‟s Züm project includes a commitment of up to $95-million in funding from the Government of Canada, while the Province of Ontario has already provided $95-million. The City of Brampton is funding the remaining $95-million in total project costs. About Brampton Transit: Serving the city since 1974, Brampton Transit is one of the fastest-growing transit providers in the GTA. Moving more than 12 million passengers in 2009, Brampton Transit connects riders to major attractions and destinations in Brampton, and public transit systems in the GTA. For more information, visit www.bramptontransit.com. About Brampton: The 11th largest city in Canada, Brampton has a successful, well-diversified economy and is home to more than 8,000 businesses. The City continues to retain a Triple „A‟ credit rating by Standard & Poor‟s, reflecting its successful economy and debt-free position. Brampton celebrates its diverse population that represents people from more than 175 distinct ethnic backgrounds who speak more than 70 different languages. Offering more than 6,000 acres of parkland, Brampton takes pride in being known as the Flower City of Canada. Brampton has been designated as an International Safe Community by the World Health Organization. For more information visit www.brampton.ca ### ATTENTION EDITORS: High-resolution images are available at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BramptonON/BTZum/101862836517142?v=app_4949752878, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS WITH BRAMPTON MAYOR SUSAN FENNELL, CONTACT: Margo Rapport H2 Central Email: [email protected] Phone: 416-895-5672 .