Grand River Transit

Grand River Transit
Wheelchair-accessible low-floor buses such as this Nova LFS are standard in the GRT fleet. Each bus is also equipped with a bicycle rack on the front grille.
Founded 2000
Headquarters 250 Strasburg Rd., Kitchener, ON
Service area Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, St. Jacobs, Elmira, New Hamburg
Service type Bus service, Paratransit
Fleet 75 Bus Roues and 259 buses (70 Local, 5 Express)[1]
Daily ridership 40,000, (69,000 Weekday)[1]
Fuel type Diesel Fuel
Operator Region of Waterloo
Website www.grt.ca

Grand River Transit (GRT) is the public transport operator for the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It operates daily bus services in the region, primarily in the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge.

It was named for the Grand River, which flows through the Region; the naming also echoes the Grand River Railway, a former electric railway which served the area in the early twentieth century. GRT is a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

In August 2014, construction began for a light rail transit system called Ion rapid transit, which planned to start operations in 2017, but was postponed until 2018 because of delays in the manufacture, and delivery of rolling stock.

Overview

On January 1, 2000, the Region of Waterloo created GRT by assuming the operations of the former Kitchener Transit (which also served Waterloo) and Cambridge Transit from these cities. By the end of that year, operations had been fully synchronized and buses began running between Cambridge and Kitchener; as a result, ridership in Cambridge improved dramatically, and there have been increases in service, including Sundays and late evenings Monday-Saturday.

It has purchased many new low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses, principally from Nova Bus, Orion, and New Flyer, and these now constitute the majority of the fleet. Most operating buses are less than twenty years old, though a few older buses are used primarily for high-school special runs. GRT has installed bicycle racks on the front of its buses in order to encourage the use of sustainable transport; all standard and express buses now have these racks.

Service to less dense areas is provided by the busPLUS system, large vans which take regular fares on scheduled routes to new neighbourhoods and more remote facilities; if ridership is sufficiently high, these services can later be replaced with regular buses, as happened with the 71 Melran route in Cambridge.

GRT also operates MobilityPLUS, which provides specialized transit for disabled patrons using minibuses equipped with wheelchair lifts.

The GRT fleet consists entirely of motor-buses. Kitchener Transit operated trolleybuses earlier in its history, but they were withdrawn from service during the 1970s, well before the systems were merged. GRT continued operating 23 compressed natural gas-driven buses inherited from Kitchener Transit but did not expand this fleet; these buses were retired before the end of 2009. Until the 1950s, the area was served by electric passenger and freight trains run by the Grand River Railway, which even earlier in the 20th century had run streetcars on city streets before the separated railway lines were built.

Since September 1, 2007, all undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo have purchased a non-refundable four-month U-Pass as part of their tuition fees for less than a quarter of the equivalent adult monthly pass.[2]

History

Public transit in the Grand River area began with private operators and slowly gave way to municipal run service. Interurban and streetcar service were the earlier modes and by the mid-20th century, bus transit became the norm.

Kitchener–Waterloo

  • Berlin Gas Company 1888-1894 horsecar
  • Berlin Street Railway 1894-1906 - electric car
  • Berlin and Bridgeport Railway Company 1904-1906
  • Berlin Public Utilities Commission 1906-1916
  • Kitchener Public Utilities Commission 1916-1973; operated streetcars, buses and trolley cars
  • Kitchener Transit 1973-2000
  • Grand River Transit 2000–present

Cambridge

Public transit was provided to Galt and Preston before Cambridge was formed.

  • Grand River Railway Company 1919-1957; bus and interurban electric service
  • Galt, Preston City and Suburban Transit Co. 1921-1929; transit bus service
  • Dominion Power and Transmission Company 1929-?; transit and interurban bus service
  • Canada Coach Lines 1950-1962; transit bus service
  • Galt Public Service Commission 1962-1973; transit bus service
  • Cambridge Transit 1973-2000; transit bus service

Elmira

Elmira had bus service to Kitchener that ended in 1997. Route 21 now travels to Elmira from Conestoga Mall in north Waterloo. Riders can then transfer to another bus to get to Kitchener.

  • Elmira-Kitchener Bus Lines 1922-1929
  • Lishman Coach Lines Limited 1929-1979
  • United Trails Incorporated 1975-1997

New Hamburg

On April 25, 2016, Grand River Transit began operating route 77 which connects The Boardwalk and the Wilmot Township (Petersburg, Baden and New Hamburg) during the AM and PM peak periods. This route is a BusPlus route and because of the length of the route, route 77 operates every 75 minutes. GRT is using Voyager Transportation Services to operate the new route.

Grand River area also had interurban railway service from 1894 to 1955 by various operators.

iXpress

An iXpress bus

The iXpress express bus service is operated by GRT consisting of five routes[3] along main corridors in Kitchener–Waterloo and Cambridge. The older route, Route 200 (then known solely as the iXpress without a route number), was launched in September 2005, and runs from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Ainslie St. Transit Terminal in Cambridge primarily along King Street in Kitchener and Waterloo and Hespeler Road in Cambridge, utilizing a short section of Highway 401. The second route, route 201, runs from Forest Glen Terminal in Kitchener to Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, primarily along Fischer-Hallman Road in both cities. The third, route 202, runs in a crosstown fashion through Waterloo, primarily along University Avenue, between the Boardwalk shopping centre and Conestoga Mall. The fourth iXpress route, route 203, opened on April 28, 2014. It runs from Cambridge Centre to Sportsworld Terminal. An extension of the 203 to Conestoga College is made during the AM and PM peak periods when classes are in session. The fifth iXpress route, route 204, began service in September 2015. The 204 iXpress runs from Ottawa and Lackner to the Boardwalk via Victoria Street, Highland Road, Ira Needles Boulevard and Downtown Kitchener. Route 204 operates every 15 minutes during the week and every 30 minutes during the evening and weekends.[4]

Grand River Transit has purchased six diesel-hybrid buses which began service in late August 2008.[5] To get the best use of their powertrain, these buses run on routes like Route 7 Mainline, which have frequent stops and heavy usage.

On April 2017 it was announced that the ION and iXpress services would be closely integrated into a single system.[6] In March 2018, nine new Ion buses were unveiled; initially they will be used in Cambridge and eventually on the route from Fairway Road in Kitchener to the Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge. These vehicles offer new features, such as more comfortable, high-back seats, free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports.[7][8]

Future expansion

Light Rail Transit

In June 2011, Waterloo Region council approved a plan for a light rail transit line, powered by electricity, between Conestoga Mall in north Waterloo and Fairview Park Mall in south Kitchener. At first, rapid buses would run from the south end of Kitchener to the "downtown Galt" area of Cambridge but eventually, the LRT would be expanded to that city.[9] (At least one journalist has pointed out the similarity between this plan and the electric Grand River Railway system of the early 1900s.)[10] In Stage 1, the Ion rapid transit train will run between the Fairview Park Mall and the Conestoga Mall through the downtown/uptown areas of Kitchener and Waterloo.

The first light-rail vehicle on public display in April 2017

Construction on the light rail system began in August 2014 and the Stage 1 service was expected to begin in 2017. Most of the rails had been installed by the end of 2016; the maintenance facility and all underground utility work had been completed.[11] The start date of service was postponed to early 2018, and then to December 2018, however, because of delays in the manufacture and delivery of the vehicles by Bombardier Transportation. Bombardier was to deliver all 14 vehicles by December 14; that was postponed to December 2017 and then to June 2018. In April 2018, the planned start of Ion service was postponed to December.[7]

GRT Ion bus that will used on BRT service. Currently operating on conventional route until opening of Ion.

In late February 2017, plans for the Stage 2 (Cambridge section) of the Ion rail service were still in the very early stage but a proposed route with map had been published.[12][13][14] The public consultation process for Cambridge was postponed to 2018.[12]

In early July 2017, Cambridge City Council expressed an objection to parts of the route planned for that city and requested the Region to consider alternatives.[15][16] At that time, a report indicated that construction of Stage 2 would not begin until 2025.[15] Until LRT service arrives in Cambridge, GRT will offer rapid transit with adapted iXpress buses to Fairview Park Mall using bus-only lanes at Pinebush, Munch and Coronation to minimize slowdowns at times of heavy traffic. In 2017, this bus is also continuing on to Conestoga Mall in Waterloo (though not as rapid transit) with many stops along the way.[17] After the LRT train has started operating in Kitchener–Waterloo, GRT will continue the iXpress service to the terminal at Fairview Park.[18][19]

Fares

Buses accept cash fares and paper tickets; transfers are available for 100 minutes of travel following payment of a single-use fare. Monthly passes consist of a card purchased for service for a calendar month, accompanied by a photo ID card. Specialized passes for corporate or school purposes will generally consist of a limited-time photo card.[20]

A new system using an electronic fare card, to be called the EasyGO Fare Card,[21] has been introduced in 2018, in anticipation of the Ion light rail launch.

Routes

Route listing effective September 7, 2015.[22] All standard routes are marked with and operated with low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. BusPLUS routes are not accessible.

Cross-service area routes

Route Service Limitations Terminals Major Destinations Notes
52 Coronation to Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal (Service every day) Fairview Park Mall
Ainslie Street Terminal
Freeport Health Centre, SportsWorld Crossing, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Alternating weekday trips between Cherry Blossom Road loop and Preston Parkway loop. All weekend trips travel along Preston Parkway loop.
61 Fountain to Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre Weekday service only Cambridge Centre
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS Weekday rush hour service only SportsWorld Crossing
Cambridge Business Park.
One trip per day in each direction extends to Research in Motion plant.
111 Ainslie Street-Conestoga College Express Weekday rush hour service only Ainslie Street Terminal
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus Service runs September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period.
200 iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal (Service every day) Conestoga Mall Terminal
Ainslie Street Terminal
Waterloo Research & Technology Park, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Town Square, Grand River Hospital, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, SmartCentre Cambridge, Cambridge Centre Bus rapid transit service.

Kitchener–Waterloo service area

Route Service Limitations Terminals Major Destinations Notes
1 Queen-River (Service every day) The Boardwalk Terminal Fairview Park Mall, Charles Street Terminal, Stanley Park Mall The Boardwalk, Highland Market Place, Driftwood Centre, Highland Hills Mall (board on Queen Street), Charles St. Terminal, Krug Street Plaza, Stanley Park Mall, Fairview Park Mall
2 Forest Heights No Sunday/holiday service Charles Street Terminal
Highland Hills Mall
Driftwood Centre, Forest Hill Shopping Centre Highland Hills Mall (Board at Fischer-Hallman and Queens)
3 Ottawa South (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Forest Glen Plaza
Laurentian Centre, Forest Glen Plaza
4 Glasgow No Sunday/holiday service Charles Street Terminal
The Boardwalk Terminal
Grand River Hospital, The Boardwalk, Glasgow Heights Shopping Centre
5 Erb (Service every day) Bridgeport
The Boardwalk Terminal
Westmount Plaza, Westside Marketplace, Waterloo Town Square, Bridgeport Plaza, Bluevale Collegiate Institute Sunday trips terminate at Uptown Waterloo
6 Bridge (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Conestoga Mall Terminal
University Downs Plaza, Kitchener GO Rail Station Some evening trips interline with Route 31 'Columbia' at Conestoga Mall
7 Mainline (Service every day) Charies Street Terminal
7A Fairview via Connaught (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Fairview Park Mall.
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute Arrives at Fairview Park Mall via Fourth and Connaught. Typically, buses return to Downtown Kitchener as Route 7B.
7B Fairview via Weber (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Fairview Park Mall
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute Arrives at Fairview Park Mall via Weber and Fairway. During the daytime on weekdays and Saturdays, buses return to Downtown Kitchener as Route 7A. On Monday through Saturday evenings and on all Sunday and holiday runs, they return as Route 7F.
7C Conestoga Mall via King (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Conestoga Park Mall.
Kitchener–Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Town Square, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, St. Davids Catholic Secondary School Limited service to Regina Street loop.
7D University of Waterloo via University (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
University of Waterloo
Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Town Square, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, St. Davids Catholic Secondary School Arrives at University of Waterloo via University Avenue. Typically, buses return to Downtown Kitchener as Route 7, or Fairview Park Terminal as Route 7A, 7B, or 7F.
7E University of Waterloo via Columbia No Evening, Sunday/Holiday service Charles Street Terminal
University of Waterloo
Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Towns Square, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, St. Davids Catholic Secondary School Arrives at University of Waterloo via Columbia Street. Typically, buses return to Downtown Kitchener as Route 7, or Fairview Park Terminal as Route 7A, 7B, or 7F.
7F Fairview via Wilson No Evening Sunday/Holiday service Charles Street Terminal
Fairview Park Mall.
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute Arrives at Fairview Park Mall via Fourth and Wilson. During the daytime on weekdays and Saturdays, buses return to Downtown Kitchener as Route 7F. On Monday through Saturday evenings and on all Sunday and holiday runs, they return as Route 7B.
91 Late Night Loop No Monday-Wednesday OR Sunday/holiday service Charles Street Terminal
University of Waterloo
Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Town Square, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Research & Technology Park. Information on this route is found in Route 7 schedules; Route 91 is not shown on the destination signs. Service provided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 1230 am to 2 am from September to June. This route is marketed towards university frequenting bars in Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo; it serves residences at both universities, and to the Lakeshore neighbourhood, which contains the majority of private off-campus student housing.
8 University via Weber (Service every day) University and King
Charles Street Terminal
8 University via Westmount (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
University and King
Westmount Plaza, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University
8 Fairview via Courtland (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Fairview Mall
Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Laurier
8 Fairview via Franklin (Service every day) Fairview Mall
Charles Street Terminal
Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Laurier Evening and Sunday service travels via East Avenue instead of via Weber Street between Ottawa Street and Frederick Street.
9 Lakeshore (Service every day) Conestoga Mall
University of Waterloo
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute At University of Waterloo, buses change to route 13 Laurelwood, except when Route 13 does not operate; at these times (weekday late night and weekend evenings), buses short-turn at University and King. Limited service extension to Elmira Poultry plant.
10 Pioneer (Service every day) Fairview Park Mall
Conestoga College Main Campus
2 Branches 10 via Mill and 10A via Old Carriage Weekends, and holidays service extends to Bechtel Drive loop and Conestoga College residences quarter.
11 Country Hills (Service every day) Charles Street Terminal
Forest Glen Plaza
Sunday and holidays service travels along Ottawa Street and Strasburg Road instead of Alpine Road.
12 Westmount to Conestoga Mall - Fairview Park Mall (Service every day) Conestoga Mall
Fairview Park Mall
Forest Glen Plaza, Westmount Plaza, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, University Downs Plaza Due to the total length of Route 12 and varying service demands over different sections of the route, various short-turns are used. Short-turns are performed at: Forest Glen Plaza, the University of Waterloo, University and King, and University at Lincoln.
13 Laurelwood (Service every day) University of Waterloo
The Boardwalk Terminal
Columbia Plaza, Laurelwood Plaza, Sir John A MacDonald Secondary School At University of Waterloo, buses change to Route 9 Lakeshore.
14 Waterloo Industrial Weekday rush hour service only Conestoga Mall
Waterloo Industrial Park
16 Strasburg Weekday service only Conestoga College Main Campus
Forest Glen Plaza
Forest Glen Plaza Midday service extends to Blehn and Kilkerran from September to April. No Summer Service on Kilkerran extension.
20 Victoria-Frederick (Service every day) The Boardwalk
Stanley Park Mall
Frederick Street Mall
Kitchener GO Rail Station Though serving Downtown Kitchener this route does not enter the Charles Street Terminal. Connections are available to many other routes serving the Terminal.
21 Elmira No Sunday/Holiday service Conestoga Mall
Church and Maple
Waterloo Factory Outlet Mall Only main route that travels outside the boundaries of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Serves the Woolwich Township communities of St. Jacobs and Elmira.
22 Laurentian West Sunday/Holiday service west of Forest Glen only Highland Hills Mall
Charles Street Terminal
Laurentian Centre, Forest Glen Plaza On Sundays and holidays, interlines at Forest Glen with 11 Country Hills
23 Idlewood No Sunday/Holiday service Fairview Park Mall
Stanley Park Mall
Stanley Park Mall, Fairview Park Mall Fairview Park, River Road Plaza, Lackner Woods Plaza (Fairway/Lackner), Lackner Plaza (Ottawa/Lackner), Stanley Park Mall
26 Trillium Weekday service only Forest Glen Plaza
End of Groff Place
Forest Glen Plaza
27 Chicopee (Service every day) Fairview Park Mall
Quinte and Morrison
29 Keats Way (Service every day) The Boardwalk Terminal
University and King
Westside Marketplace, University of Waterloo, Waterloo Collegiate Institute Some weekday trips short turn at Fischer-Hallman and Keats Way
31 Columbia Weekday service only Clair Hills
Conestoga Mall Terminal
St. Davids Catholic Secondary School, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, University of Waterloo, R&T Park, Columbia Plaza Some evening trips interline with the Route 6 'Bridge' at Conestoga Mall
33 Huron Weekday service only Block Line station
Sunrise Centre
Sunrise Centre, Forest Glen Plaza
34 Bingemans Weekday rush hour service only Charles Street Terminal Bingemans
76 Doon South BusPlus Weekday rush hour service only Conestoga College Doon
Pioneer Plaza
Route 76 services the Doon South neighbourhood connecting the Pioneer Plaza and Conestoga College Doon Campus.
Route 77 Wilmot BusPlus Weekday rush hour service only The Boardwalk
Castle Kilbride
No Frills Store
Service connects The Boardwalk Petersburg, Baden and New Hamburg during the weekday AM and PM peak periods.
52 Coronation to Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal (Service every day) Fairview Park Mall
Ainslie Street Terminal
Freeport Health Centre, SportsWorld Crossing, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Alternating weekday trips between Cherry Blossom Road loop and Preston Parkway loop. All weekend trips travel along Preston Parkway loop.
61 Fountain to Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre Weekday service only Cambridge Centre
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS Weekday rush hour service only SportsWorld Crossing
Cambridge Business Park.
One trip per day in each direction extends to Research in Motion plant.
73 Northlake BusPLUS Weekday rush hour service only McCormick Community Centre
Lake Louise and Conservation
92 University Loop Weekday Rush-Hour Service Only Loops Around the University of Waterloo in Both Directions Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, R&T Park, Columbia Plaza, Erb St. Plaza, Amos Plaza, Westmount Plaza, University of Waterloo Service runs September to April, except for Christmas schedule period.
110 Fairview Park Mall-Conestoga College Express No Saturday, Sunday or holiday service Fairview Park Mall
Conestoga College Main Campus
Service runs September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period. Morning trips from Conestoga College to Fairview Park and afternoon trips from Fairview Park to Conestoga College service Pioneer Park Plaza.
111 Ainslie Street-Conestoga College Express Weekday rush hour service only Ainslie Street Terminal
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus Service runs September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period.
116 Forest Glen-Conestoga College Express Weekday rush-hour service only Forest Glen Plaza
Conestoga College Main Campus
Service runs September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period.
200 iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal (Service every day) Conestoga Mall Terminal
Ainslie Street Terminal
Waterloo Research & Technology Park, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Town Square, Grand River Hospital, Kitchener–Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, Sportsworld Crossin, SmartCentre Cambridge, Cambridge Centre Bus rapid transit service.
201 iXpress Conestoga Mall - Forest Glen (Service every day) Conestoga Mall Terminal
Forest Glen Terminal
St. Davids Catholic Secondary School, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, University of Waterloo, Highland Hills Mall Bus rapid transit service.
202 iXpress Conestoga Mall - The Boardwalk (Service every day) Conestoga Mall Terminal
The Boardwalk Terminal
Erb Street Plaza, Amos Plaza, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, University Downs Plaza, RIM Park Bus rapid transit service.
203 iXpress Cambridge Centre/Sportsworld Crossing - Conestoga College Monday to Friday Service. Cambridge Centre Terminal
Sportsworld Crossing
Conestoga College
L.G. Lovell Industrial Park, Fisher Mills, Cambridge Industrial Park AM and PM peak period service to Conestoga College during the Fall and Winter terms only.
204 iXpress Highland/Victoria (Service every day) The Boardwalk Terminal
Ottawa at Lackner
Charles Street Terminal, Kitchener GO Rail Station Bus rapid transit service
205 iXpress Ottawa (Service every day) Sunrise Centre
Ottawa at Lackner
Lackner Centre, Stanley Park Mall, River Road Plaza Rapid bus transit service

Cambridge service area

Route Service Limitations Terminals Major Destinations Notes
51 Hespeler Road (Service every day) Ainslie Street Terminal
Hespeler Street Terminal
Cambridge Centre Terminal, SmartCentre Cambridge Route 51 was modified into 51A Hespeler Rd. to Fischer Mills 51B Hespeler Rd. Melran. Some trips short turn at Cambridge Centre Terminal.
52 Coronation to Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal (Service every day) Fairview Park Mall
Ainslie Street Terminal
Freeport Health Centre, SportsWorld Crossing, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Alternating weekday trips between Cherry Blossom Road loop and Preston Parkway loop. All weekend trips travel along Preston Parkway loop.
53 Franklin No Weekend /holiday service Ainslie Street Terminal
Cambridge Centre Terminal
South Cambridge Shopping Centre
54 Lisbon Pines Service every day Ainslie Street Terminal
Champlain and Christopher
South Cambridge Shopping Centre At the Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 58 Elmwood.
55 St. Andrews (Service every day) Ainslie Street Terminal
Grand Ridge and Oak Hill
Southworks Mall, Westgate Centre Sunday service extends along Grand Avenue and Main Street. At the Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 59 Christopher.
56 Dunbar (Service every day) Cambridge Centre Terminal
Westminster and King
At Cambridge Centre Terminal, buses change to Route 67 Lovell Industrial during the weekday peak periods and changes into route 60 Northview Acres on Weekends.
57 Blair No Sunday/holiday service Ainslie Street Terminal
Blair and Bismark
Westgate Centre At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 54 Lisbon Pines on Saturday.
58 Elmwood (Service every day) Ainslie Street Terminal
Elgin and Avenue
At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 62 Woodside.
59 Christopher (Service every day) Ainslie Street Terminal
Champlain and Elgin
At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 63 Champlain. Sunday and holiday trips do not serve Edgemere Drive loop; these trips instead extend to South Cambridge Shopping Centre
60 Northview Acres (Service every day) Cambridge Centre Terminal
Saginaw and Burnett
Northview Plaza At Cambridge Centre Terminal, buses change to Route 203 iXpress during the week and route 64 Langs on Saturdays. On Sundays route 60 and route 56 Dunbar interline.
61 Fountain to Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre Weekday service only Cambridge Centre
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus
62 Woodside No Sunday/holiday service Ainslie Street Terminal
Cedar and Woodside
Westgate Plaza At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 58 Elmwood.
63 Champlain No Sunday/holiday service Ainslie Street Terminal
Champlain and Christopher
South Cambridge Shopping Centre At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 55 St. Andrews.
64 Langs No Sunday/holiday service Cambridge Centre Terminal
Rose and Lowther
At Cambridge Centre, buses change to Route 56 Dunbar.
67 Lovell Industrial Weekday rush hour service only Cambridge Centre Terminal
Lovell Industrial Park
One round trip per day extends to SmartCentre Cambridge.
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS Weekday rush hour service only SportsWorld Crossing
Cambridge Business Park.
One trip per day in each direction extends to Research in Motion plant.
75 Saginaw Weekday regular service Cambridge Centre Terminal
Townline and Coulthard
111 Ainslie Street-Conestoga College Express Weekday rush hour service only Ainslie Street Terminal
Conestoga College Main Campus
Conestoga College Cambridge Campus Service runs September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period.
200 iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal (Service every day) Conestoga Mall Terminal
Ainslie Street Terminal
Waterloo Research & Technology Park, University of Waterloo, Laurier University, Waterloo Town Square, Grand River Hospital, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, SmartCentre Cambridge, Cambridge Centre Bus rapid transit service.
203 Conestoga College-Cambridge Centre iXpress (Service everyday) Conestoga College
Cambridge Centre Terminal
Cambridge Centre
Sportsworld Crossing
Conestoga College Doon Campus and Cambridge Campus
Service to Conestoga College operates from September to April ONLY during peak periods. Bus rapid transit service.

Numbering notes

Route 8 is so numbered because its travelled route forms a rough figure 8 through Kitchener and Waterloo, with the Charles Street terminal as the central point.

Many routes in the Kitchener–Waterloo area had their numbering split in the early 2000s as interlining was handled differently, to allow more flexibility. The separated sections usually had major route or schedule changes at the time. Routes split were:

Route before splitting Year of split Routes after splitting
  • 1 Stanley Park - Queen South
  • 2003
  • 1 Stanley Park
  • 25 Queen South

(Combined again in 2015 as 1 Queen-River)

  • 2 Forest Hill - Glencairn
  • 2004
  • 2 Forest Heights
  • 22 Laurentian West
  • 3 Ottawa South - Idlewood
  • 2004
  • 3 Ottawa South
  • 23 Idlewood (23 later disconnected from Downtown service in 2015)
  • 5 Erb West - Lancaster - Eastbridge
  • 2007
  • 5 Erb West
  • 35 Eastbridge

(Combined again in 2012 as 5 Erb)

  • 10 Conestoga College - Chicopee
  • 2003
  • 10 Conestoga College
  • 27 Chicopee
  • 110 Conestoga College Express
  • 11 Country Hills - Victoria Hills
  • 2002
  • 11 Country Hills
  • 20 Victoria-Frederick
  • 15 Forest Heights West - Frederick
  • 2003
  • 15 Frederick
  • 24 Highland

(Combined again in 2015 as reworked iXpress 204)

Many Cambridge-area routes are based on their former Cambridge Transit numbers, with 50 added to the number. Thus, the 51 is the former Cambridge Route 1, and the 52 is the former Route 2 Coronation which was extended from Preston Parkway into south Kitchener by merging it with the former Kitchener Transit Route 20 Sportsworld/Gateway Park. (The route number 20 has since been reused in Victoria Hills); Cambridge Route 14 became 56, 17 became 60, and since 2000, additional routes have been numbered in the 60s.

Numbers above 100 are reserved for express-level service. Those in the 100s operate under standard branding (and, currently, all serve Conestoga College); the 200s operate under the iXpress branding.

During the Kitchener Transit - Cambridge Transit merger, many short-lived, experimental, or interim routes existed. One was the route 20 Sportsworld/Gateway Park, which was later merged with Cambridge Transit route 2 Coronation to form the route 52. At one point, a very short-lived route 61 existed as a satellite route operating from Highland Hills Mall. Soon after, this route was changed to a long-since forgotten route: route 41 Laurentian West - Highland West BusPLUS. This route did not last long, and its service area was later covered by routes 19, 20, and 22. Route 21 St. Jacobs started by running to St. Jacobs Market from Conestoga Mall via Northfield Drive and Weber Street.

School specials

GRT also provides school specials to most secondary schools in the Kitchener–Waterloo and Cambridge areas. The purpose of these routes is to help alleviate overcrowding problems on regular GRT routes, and supplement regular GRT routes by adding extra and/or short turn trips. The main function of many of the specials is to provide services between schools and neighbourhoods where limited or no regular service is available, or where multiple time-consuming transfers would be required. These specials usually operate on completely or partially different routings than regular GRT routes. Any other school bus services are yellow school bus services.

Bus fleet

Grand River Transit has 259 buses and 30 MobilityPLUS vehicles in its fleet.[23]

The fleet comprises a mix of Nova Bus LFS series and New Flyer Industries XD-40 buses.

Facilities

Charles Street Terminal, the main K-W station

Major transit terminals are operated and staffed in both Downtown Kitchener (Charles Street Terminal) and the Ainslie St. Transit Terminal at Galt City Centre in Cambridge.

Unstaffed off-road satellite terminals are also in place at Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall, The Boardwalk, Kitchener’s Fairview Park Mall, Forest Glen Plaza, Stanley Park Mall, Sportsworld, and Cambridge Centre. An additional terminal at the Conestoga College Doon Campus is planned by September 2019.[24]

Other significant transfer points include King Street/University Avenue, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, the University of Waterloo, Uptown Waterloo, Holiday Inn Drive/Hespeler, Conestoga College-Doon Campus, and the Preston Towne Centre.

Grand River Transit has two garages:

  • Strasburg Road Transit Operations Centre / North Division at 250 Strasburg Road - indoor garage built in 1976 stores 167 buses in the Kitchener–Waterloo fleet, and all central operations and GRT headquarters (across from the Laurentian Power Centre)
  • Conestoga Boulevard Transit Operations Centre / South Division at 460 Conestoga Boulevard - 64 bus garage for Cambridge fleet (behind the Cambridge Centre).

A third garage site is planned on Northfield Drive in Waterloo.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.grt.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?corpId=wz5lA5H3lWePGxxCBEXdLQgpHQeQuAleQuAl&newsId=APrEZzldcQD7Ve8GouxmFweQuAleQuAl
  2. "University of Waterloo students get onboard with UPASS" (Press release). Region of Waterloo. 2007-08-30. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  3. "Grand River Transit Schedules". grt.ca. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. "Where's my bus? Big changes in GRT schedule include new iXpress". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  5. "Green transportation initiatives can fast run out of gas". Waterloo Region Record. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  6. "ION and iXpress map, circa 2018, released". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  7. 1 2 https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8393246-no-lrt-service-until-december/
  8. https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/8337398-region-launches-ion-buses-in-cambridge/
  9. "Rail plan passes". TheRecord. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  10. "CAMBRIDGE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WATERLOO REGION'S LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT". Waterloo Region. Waterloo Region. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017. the first electric line running up Water and King Streets from Galt to the Mineral Springs Hotel across the Speed River in Preston ... Next, the train line extended north of Kitchener and a spur line ran into Hespeler.
  11. Desmond, Paige (23 December 2016). "LRT construction 90 per cent complete". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  12. 1 2 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/cambridge-ont-lrt-ion-phase-2-proposed-route-announced-1.3976320
  13. Sharkey, Jackie (8 February 2017). "There's still wiggle room in the Region of Waterloo's LRT plans for Cambridge". CBC. CBC. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  14. Sharkey, Jackie (February 2017). "Stage 2 ION: Light Rail Transit (LRT)" (PDF). Region of Waterloo. Region of Waterloo. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. 1 2 https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7408649-cambridge-council-opposes-proposed-lrt-route-through-preston/
  16. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/cambridge-city-council-planning-development-committee-lrt-proposed-route-1.4191845
  17. http://web.grt.ca/HastinfoWeb/RouteSchedules?Date=2017-7-6&RouteDirection=Upward&RoutePublicIdentifier=200&ShowOptions=false&SelectedStopsIdentifiers=
  18. "RAPID TRANSIT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PHASE 2, STEP 3b – PREFERRED RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM OPTION AND STAGING PLAN" (PDF). Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  19. "ION Bus Rapid Transit - Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  20. "Fares". Grand River Transit. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  21. "Future Electronic Fare Card Named EasyGO". Grand River Transit. Region of Waterloo. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  22. "Bus Schedules". Grand River Transit. Region of Waterloo. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  23. GRT Fast Facts
  24. "Big changes coming to Conestoga College". Grand River Transit. Region of Waterloo. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  25. Desmond, Paige (Jul 2, 2014). "Region to spend $73M for new Grand River Transit garage". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved 7 July 2014.

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