Grand River Transit

Grand River Transit

Wheelchair-accessible low-floor buses such as this Nova LFS now form the majority of the GRT fleet. The 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
Service type	Bus service, Paratransit
Fleet	238 buses[1]
Daily ridership	40,000[1]
Operator	Region of Waterloo
Website	www.grt.ca

Grand River Transit, or 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.

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.

In recent years, many new low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses have been purchased, 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 Kitchener Transit operated trolleybuses earlier in its history, but they were withdrawn from service during the 1970s, well before the systems were merged.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 has continued operating 23 compressed natural gas-driven buses inherited from Kitchener Transit but has not expanded this fleet; these buses are to be 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.

Effective September 1, 2007, all undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo purchase a non-refundable 4-month U-Pass in their tuition for less than a quarter of the equivalent adult monthly pass.^[2]

On February 14, 2008, the members of Canadian Auto Workers 4304, which represents GRT employees, planned to go on strike.^[3] However a tentative agreement was reached before the deadline of 12:01 am and the strike was averted.^[4]

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

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

iXpress

An iXpress bus

The iXpress bus rapid transit operated by GRT consists of three routes 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 Street Terminal in Cambridge primarily along King Street in Kitchener and Waterloo and Hespeler Road in Cambridge. 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 28th, 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.

Future expansion

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.

Rapid transit

The Region of Waterloo is preparing for the implementation of rapid transit in the area, under the brand name ION, which would boost more compact urban growth along the main corridor. A light rail line is expected to run from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park in Kitchener, and a bus rapid transit line from Fairview Park in Kitchener to Ainslie Street Terminal in Cambridge.^[6]

Fares

Conventional transit fares

Grand River Transit Fare Change effective Monday, July 1, 2013, as approved by Regional Council May 8, 2013.^[7]

MobilityPLUS urban area fares

MobilityPLUS rural township area fares

Routes

Route listing effective September 2, 2013. Routes marked with are routinely operated with low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses; other routes sometimes use new buses, but do not do so reliably.

Cross-service area routes

Route		Service Limitations	Terminals	Major Destinations	Notes
52 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 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, Laurier University, 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 Stanley Park		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Stanley Park Mall		Limited service to Belleview Avenue extension. On Monday through Saturday, service on the Stanley Park loop travels in both directions (clockwise via Lorraine, counterclockwise via River). On Sundays and holidays, the Stanley Park Mall is served via the Lorraine side of the loop only (service on Lorraine side of loop in both directions).
2 Forest Hill		No Sunday/holiday service	Charles Street Terminal Highland Hills Mall		Serves Southmoor Place extension in peak direction only during weekday rush hour. Limited service provided during midday runs.
3 Ottawa South		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Forest Glen Plaza	Laurentian Centre
4 Glasgow		No Sunday/holiday service	Charles Street Terminal The Boardwalk Terminal
5 Erb		(Service every day)	Bridgeport The Boardwalk Terminal	Westmount Plaza, Westside Marketplace, Bridgeport Plaza
6 Bridge		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Conestoga Mall Terminal
7A Fairview via Connaught		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Fairview Park Mall.		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<BF>Fairview Park Mall		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.	Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Town Square, Wilfred Laurier University	Limited service to Regina Street loop.
7D University of Waterloo via University		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal University of Waterloo	Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Town Square, Wilfred Laurier University	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	Grand River Hospital, Waterloo Towns Square, Wilfred Laurier University	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.		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, Wilfred Laurier University, 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, as well as 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, Wilfred Laurier University
8 Fairview via Courtland		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Fairview Mall
8 Fairview via Franklin		(Service every day)	Fairview Mall Charles Street Terminal		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	Wilfred Laurier University	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 Conestoga College		(Service every day)	Fairview Park Mall Conestoga College Main Campus		Evenings, 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 Conestoga Mall - Fairview Park Mall		(Service every day)	Conestoga Mall Fairview Park Mall	Forest Glen Plaza, Westmount Plaza, University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University	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		At University of Waterloo, buses change to Route 9 Lakeshore.
14 Waterloo Industrial		Weekday rush hour service only	Conestoga Mall Waterloo Industrial Park
15 Frederick		No Sunday/Holiday service	Charles Street Terminal Lackner and Victoria		Three round trips per day extend to Centennial Industrial Park.
16 Forest Glen		Weekday service only	Conestoga College Main Campus Forest Glen Plaza		Midday service extends to Blehn and Kilkerran from September to April. No Summer Service on Kilkerran extension.
17 Heritage Park		(Service every day)	Fairview Park Terminal Lackner and Victoria	Stanley Park Mall	Monday through Saturday evening and all Sunday and holiday service short turns at Stanley Park Mall.
18 Guelph Street		No Sunday/Holiday service	Charles Street Terminal Maple and Guelph	As part of the 2014 service changes, route 18 was discontinued and modified by route 4 Glasgow.
19 Victoria South		Weekday rush hour service only	Charles Street Terminal Highland Hills Mall
20 Victoria Hills		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Highland Hills Mall		Weekday rush hour service short turns at Ingleside and Hazelglen.
21 Elmira		No Sunday/Holiday service	Conestoga Mall Church and Maple	Waterloo Factory Outlet Mall	Only route that travels outside the boundaries of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Serves the Woolwich Township communities of St. Jacobs and Elmira.
22 Laurentian West		No Sunday/Holiday service	Highland Hills Mall Charles Street Terminal	Laurentian Centre, Forest Glen Plaza
23 Idlewood		No Sunday/Holiday service	Charles Street Terminal Oldfield and Springmount	Frederick Street Mall, Stanley Park Mall	Monday to Friday extension to Fairview Park. Saturday service operates between Oldfield / Lackner (Idlewood) and Charles St. Terminal.
24 Highland		No Sunday/Holiday service	Charles Street Terminal Driftwood and Westheights	Highland Hills Mall	Modified evening service via Highview Drive and Yellow Birch Drive.
25 Queen South		(Service every day)	Charles Street Terminal Golden Meadow and Highview	St. Mary's Hospital, Highland Hills Mall	Modified evening, Sunday, and holiday service via Highland Road.
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	Some weekday trips short turn at Fischer-Hallman and Keats
31 Columbia		Weekday service only	Clair Hills Conestoga Mall Terminal
32 Kumpf		Weekday rush hour service only	Conestoga Mall Weber and Northfield
33 Huron		Weekday rush hour service only			Two round trips per day bypass Strasburg Road and extend to Groff Place.
52 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 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
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, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo Town Square, Grand River Hospital, 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	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	University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, 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, Sportsworld Crossing, Conestoga College Doon, Conestoga College Cambridge	AM and PM peak period service to Conestoga College during the Fall and Winter terms only.

203 iXpress Cambridge Centre/Sportsworld Crossing - Conestoga College Cambridge Centre, L.G. Lovell Industrial Park, Fisher Mills, Maple Grove (Cambridge Industrial Park), Sportsworld Crossing. AM and PM peak period service to Conestoga College during the Fall and Winter terms only.

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 via Queen (Monday to Friday service) 51B Hespeler Rd. Melran and 51C Hespeler Rd. to Fischer Mills via Franklin (weekend service only). Some trips short turn at Cambridge Centre Terminal.
52 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	At the Cambridge Centre Terminal, buses change to Route 61 Conestoga College-Cambridge Centre.
54 Lisbon Pines		No Sunday/holiday service	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 60 Northview Acres.
57 Blair Road		No Sunday/holiday service	Ainslie Street Terminal Blair and Bismark	Westgate Centre	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to Route 54 Lisbon Pines.
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 64 Langs.
61 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.
65 Fisher Mills		(Service every day)	Hespeler Street Terminal Baldwin and Blackridge		At the Hespeler Terminal, buses change to Route 51 Hespeler Road.
66 Winston		(Service every day)	Hespeler Street Terminal Ellis and Adler		At the Hespeler Terminal, buses change to route 53 Franklin Boulevard on weekdays between 7 am and 6 pm.
67 Lovell Industrial		Weekday rush hour service only	Cambridge Centre Terminal Lovell Industrial Park		One round trip per day extends to SmartCentre Cambridge.
71 Melran		No Sunday/holiday service	Hespeler Street Terminal Ellis and Kerwood		Evening, Sunday, and holiday service travels directly to Ellis and Kerwood via Winston Churchill Boulevard; these trips bypass the Franklin Boulevard, Cooper Street, and Queen Street service areas.
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.

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:

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 a fleet of 240 buses and an additional 30 MobilityPLUS vehicles in their fleet.^[8]

Facilities

Charles Street Terminal, the main K-W station

Major transit terminals are operated and staffed in both Downtown Kitchener (Charles Street Terminal) - (Routes 1,2,3,4,6,7A,7B,7C,7D,7E,7F,8,11,15,18,19,20,22,23,24,25,200) and the Ainslie St. Transit Terminal at Galt City Centre in Cambridge - (Routes 51,52,53,54,55,57,58,59,62,63,111,200).

Unstaffed off-road satellite terminals are also in place at Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall (Routes 6,7C,9,12,14,21,31,32,200,201,202), The Boardwalk (Routes 4,5,13,29,202), Kitchener’s Fairview Park Mall (Routes 7A,7B,7F,8,10,12,17,23,27,52,110,200), Forest Glen Plaza (Routes 3,11,12,16,22,33,116,201), Stanley Park Mall (Routes 1,17,23), Highland Hills Mall (Routes 2,19,20,22,24,25,201), Sportsworld (Routes 52,72busPLUS,200,203) and 203 iXpress and Cambridge Centre (Routes 51,56,60,61,64,67,75, 200, 203 iXpress Sportsworld).

Other significant transfer points include King Street/University Avenue (Routes 7C,7D,7E,8,9,12,200,202), the University of Waterloo (Routes 7D,7E,8,9,12,13,29,31,200,201,202), Uptown Waterloo (Routes 5,7C,7D,7E,200), Holiday Inn Drive/Hespeler (Routes 51,53,65,66,71), Conestoga College-Doon Campus (Routes 10,16,61,110,111,116) and the Preston Towne Centre (Routes 52,56,61,64).

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.^[9]

See also

• Grand River Railway
• GO Transit
• Guelph Transit
• Via Rail

References

External links

Media related to Grand River Transit at Wikimedia Commons

• Official web site
  • iXpress
• Region of Waterloo - Rapid Transit
  • Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment
• Region of Waterloo

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