Grand River Transit

Grand River Transit

File:Grtshadow.png
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
Service area	Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, St. Jacobs, Elmira
Service type	Bus service, Paratransit
Fleet	196 buses
Daily ridership	40,000
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 synchronised 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 also in recent years 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 specialised transit for disabled patrons using minibuses equipped with wheelchair lifts.

The GRT fleet consists entirely of motor-buses; although the former Kitchener Transit operated trolleybuses earlier in their history, these had all been withdrawn during the 1970s, well before the systems were merged. They have continued operating 23 compressed natural gas-driven buses inherited from Kitchener Transit but have 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, who 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 are required to purchase a 4-month UPass for less than a quarter of the equivalent adult monthly pass.

On February 14, 2008, the members of CAW4304, which represents GRT employees, planned to go on strike. However a tentative agreement was reached before the deadline of 12:01 AM and the strike was averted.

History

Kitchener

• 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

iXpress

As part of its autumn service expansion, on September 6, 2005, GRT launched an express bus service called iXpress ("i" for intelligent because of ITS being implemented) along a central transit corridor running from Conestoga Mall in north Waterloo, mainly along King Street and Highways 8, 401, and 24 (Hespeler Road) to the Ainslie Street bus terminal in downtown Cambridge. In order to provide faster service, the iXpress stops only at thirteen stations along its route, rather than having many closely-spaced request stops as do most other GRT routes. The express bus is not considered sufficient to meet the Region’s long-term needs, but is seen as a way to build up ridership levels in order to demonstrate the viability of GRT’s plans for higher-grade transport services.

iXpress buses (such as 2417 seen here at the Charles Street Terminal in Kitchener) are not painted in the usual GRT livery.

iXpress uses the same fare and ticketing structure as the rest of GRT’s bus routes. The buses do not bear GRT’s usual livery, but instead are white with a large iXpress logo on each side. These buses can be occasionally seen running regular routes, when the fleet is short on operable standard-livery vehicles. All buses with iXpress livery are Nova LFS models purchased in 2004 and 2009, numbered from 2406–2420, and 20901-209xx. Occasionally, a bus not painted in iXpress livery is used on the route, but this is relatively infrequent. Even more infrequently, a bus other than a Nova LFS can be seen on the route, usually an Orion VII purchased in 2003.

The bus route, which is supported in part by funding from the federal government, presently runs 7 days a week, every fifteen minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays and every half-hour during weekday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. GRT reports that the buses are given priority at seventeen intersections, although this is accomplished by extending red/green signal times en route rather than through the installation of "white bar" transit priority signals. All stations provide real-time passenger information, while lockers, and bicycle racks are only found at major stops. Passengers can view the next stop on an LED Screen mounted at the front of the bus and listen to announcements that announce the next stop.

Though it replaces and expands the former Express Route 101, which had provided peak-time express services between Fairview Park Mall and University of Waterloo, iXpress is internally numbered as Route 200 on Bus Operator Itineraries and on the INIT electronic GPS system on board each iXpress bus, with run numbers starting in the 80's (80XX can be seen in the run box in the front window of the bus; where '80' represents the route while in the 'XX' position is the unique run number), nearly all public signs and maps refer to the iXpress by its name only. Originally, signs at the iXpress bus bays at the Charles Street Transit Terminal (the main terminal for the K-W Service Area) described the iXpress by Route 200, but this was quickly removed.

In early 2006, new state-of-the-art bus shelters were installed along the iXpress route, at McCormick, R&T Park, UW, Laurier, and Grand River Hospital stations. Uptown Waterloo, Ottawa, Smart!Centres and Cambridge Centre stations have also received matching shelters since then; Conestoga Mall, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, and Ainslie Street Terminal have not, since they have existing terminal facilities. Other features currently that have been rolled out include real-time tracking, which will show what time the next bus will arrive, through the GPS system installed on the iXpress buses. Electronic displays with this information, along with maps, are being added to the specialized shelters. On June 30, 2007, the iXpress added daytime Saturday service; September 2007 saw the addition of evening weekday service and Sunday service and September 2008 saw an increase to 15 minute service until approx 6PM weekdays.

In autumn 2009, new Nova LFS models were purchased to replace the existing iXpress fleet; as these become equipped to service the route, the older 2004-era buses are reverting to regular GRT livery.

iXpress Stations

A map of the iXpress route.

iXpress bus stop at McCormick

Ainslie Terminal

• Conestoga Mall (King Street near Conestoga Parkway and Northfield/Conestogo Roads) Conestoga Mall is a major shopping centre located on 550 King Street in north Waterloo. It is used from people all over the region, and also features a key bus terminal, serving routes 7 Mainline, 9 Lakeshore, 12 Fairview Park Mall, 14 Bathurst (peak, operates in accordance with most factory shift changes), 21 Elmira, 31 Lexington, 32 Kumpf (peak, operates in accordance with most factory shift changes) and 35 Eastbridge.
• McCormick (Albert McCormick Community Centre, Parkside Drive and Cedarbrae Avenue) This is a skating rink, community centre and library branch that is mainly used by people in Waterloo; it connects with routes 9 Lakeshore and 73 bus (PLUS Northlake)
• R&T Park (University of Waterloo Research & Technology Park, Hagey Road and Wes Graham Way) The iXpress and GRT's Late Night Loop are the only routes to currently run on Hagey Boulevard
• U Waterloo (University of Waterloo, Davis Centre) Connecting routes include 7E UW via Columbia Street (proceeds to the Charles Street Terminal via University Ave), 9 Lakeshore, 13 Laurelwood, 31 Lexington and GO buses to Mississauga & Milton. Nearby routes at University Avenue and Seagram Drive are 7D UW via University Avenue (proceeds to the Charles Street Terminal via Columbia), 8 University/Fairview, 12 Fairview Park Mall/Conestoga Mall and 29 Keats Way
• Laurier (Wilfrid Laurier University, University Avenue and Hazel Street) Connects to 7 Mainline, 8 Fairview, 9 Lakeshore, 12 Fairview Park Mall/Conestoga Mall and GO buses to Mississauga & Milton
• Uptown Waterloo (King Street beside Waterloo Town Square) Connects to 5 Erb West, 7 Mainline, 35 Eastbridge
• Grand River Hospital (King Street and Pine Street) Connects to 7 Mainline, and nearby 4 Glasgow
• Charles Street Terminal (downtown Kitchener bus terminal on Charles Street, formerly known as the Kitchener Transportation Centre) Connects to the 1 Stanley Park, 2 Forest Hill, 3 Ottawa South, 4 Glasgow, 6 Bridgeport, 7 Mainline (All branches: A-F), 8 University/Fairview, 11 Country Hills, 15 Frederick, 18 Guelph Street, 19 Victoria South (weekday rush hours only), 20 Victoria Hills, 22 Laurentian West, 23 Idlewood, 24 Highland, 25 Queen South, and out-of-town buses (Greyhound, Coach Canada, GO Transit and other charter lines)
• Ottawa (Ottawa Street and Charles Street) Connects to 7 Mainline, 1 block north on King Street
• Fairview (Fairview Park Mall, Kingsway Drive near Wilson Avenue, or Fairway near Highway 8) This is Kitchener’s major shopping mall, with connections to 7 Mainline, 8 King & University, 10 Conestoga College, 12 Conestoga Mall, 17 Heritage Park, 23 Idlewood, 27 Chicopee, 52 Ainslie Terminal and 110 EXPRESS Conestoga College - Fairview Park Mall; Cambridge-bound trips take Highway 8 just to the north of the mall, eventually connecting with Highway 401, express to exit 282, Hespeler Road
• Smart!Centres Cambridge (formerly Bridgecam) A major power centre just off the 401; connections are available to GO buses and route 51 Hespeler Road, and nearby routes 67 Lovell Industrial (Weekday rush hours only).
• Cambridge Centre (on Dunbar, east of Hespeler Road) This is Cambridge’s major shopping centre; GRT routes that serve it are: 51 Hespeler Road, 56 Dunbar, 60 Northview Acres, 61 Conestoga College, 64 Langs, 67 Lovell Industrial, and 75 busPLUS Saginaw.
• Ainslie Terminal (downtown Cambridge transit terminal) This is the main terminal for the Cambridge Service Area, where many of the city’s routes meet: the 51 Hespeler Rd, 52 Fairview Mall, 53 Franklin Blvd, 54 Lisbon Pines, 55 St. Andrews, 57 Blair Road, 58 Elmwood, 59 Christopher, 62 Woodside, 63 Champlain, and 111 EXPRESS Conestoga College - Ainslie Street Terminal; the only other GRT routes bound for Kitchener are the 52 Fairview Mall and the 111 Express to Conestoga College

Future expansion

Grand River Transit has purchased six Diesel-Hybrid buses which began service in late August 2008. 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

Main article: Rapid transit in Waterloo Region

The Region of Waterloo is currently conducting an Environmental Assessment for the implementation of rapid transit in the area, 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.

Fares Effective January 1, 2009

Conventional Transit Fares

Item	Cost (CAD)	Comments
Cash Fares	$2.50	Children under 5 (alternately: 4 and under) ride FREE to a maximum of 3 children per paying adult customer
Adult Tickets	$9.75 ($1.95 x5)	Sold in strips of 5, valid for Adults, College Students and University Students
Reduced Tickets	$8.25 ($1.65 x5)	Sold in strips of 5, valid for Seniors, Elementary and High School Students; GRT Bus Operators may request customers show a GRT Student or Senior Photo ID at the time the fare is paid to prove elgibility for the use of reduced tickets
Adult Monthly Pass	$63.00	Valid for Adults, College Students and University Students ONLY; GRT Photo ID Required
Reduced Monthly Pass	$52.00	Valid for Seniors, Elementary and High School Students ONLY; GRT Photo ID Required
College Pass	$209.00	Valid for 4-month term
University Pass Package	$162.00	Valid for 3-month term
UPASS (Universal Pass)	$52.94 (Effective Sept. 1/10)	Cost deducted for each semester directly through tuition paid by University Students... Full-Time Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo Undergraduate and Graduate Students may use their UPASS year-round. All other students including (but not limited to) UW ELI Students, Part Time Students etc. do not qualify for UPASS privileges and must purchase Adult fare media or a University Pass Package. Using the UPASS: Students show their University Student Card (Laurier OneCard/Waterloo WatCard) as their UPASS to the bus operator when boarding GRT buses. The card is only valid as a UPASS for the person shown/named on the card until the expiry date printed on the front of the card. Invalid, fraudulent, expired cards etc. may be confiscated by GRT (subject to the UPASS agreements with WLU and UW) and returned to the issuing University. It is the cardholder's (read student's) responsibility to ensure they maintain a valid UPASS. Student cards remain the property of the issuing university.
Day Pass/Sunday & Holiday Family Pass	$5.00	Valid for 1 Customer for Regular Weekday and Saturday Service; valid for 2 Adults and up to 3 Children, or 1 Adult and up to 4 children on Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Student Summer Pass	$81.00	Valid July and August for Elementary and High School Students; GRT Photo ID Required
Corporate Pass	$51.05	Payroll deduction for employees of participating major employers

MobilityPLUS Urban Area Fares

Item	Cost (CAD)	Comments
Cash Fare & Ticket Price	2.50	Permanent registered MobilityPLUS users ride conventional transit for free

MobilityPLUS Township (Rural) Area Fares

Item	Cost (CAD)	Comments
Within Township	2.50	--
First Boundary Crossed	4.75	--
Secondary Boundary Crossed	7.00	--

Routes

Route listing effective September 2, 2008. 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	Notes
52 Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal		(Service every day)	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
61 Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre		Weekday service only	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS		Weekday rush hour service only	BusPLUS route Limited service extension available to Plastic Prescriptions (Saltsman Drive)
iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal		(Service every day)	Express route

Kitchener-Waterloo service area

Route		Service Limitations	Notes
1 Stanley Park		(Service every day)	Limited service on Belleview extension Monday-Saturday: service on Stanley Park loop in both directions (clockwise = via Lorraine, counterclockwise = via River) Sunday/holidays: service to Stanley Park Mall via Lorraine side of loop only (service on Lorraine side of loop in both directions)
2 Forest Hill		No Sunday/holiday service	Service on Southmoor extension in peak direction only during weekday rush hour; service in both directions at other times
3 Ottawa South		(Service every day)
4 Glasgow		No Sunday/holiday service	Service Extension to The Boardwalk Weekdays and Saturdays
5 Erb West		(Service every day)	At Uptown Waterloo, buses change to route 35 Eastbridge, except late evenings and Sundays when Route 35 does not operate.
6 Bridgeport		No Sunday/holiday service
7A Fairview via Connaught		(Service every day)	Typically buses arriving at Fairview Park Mall from Connaught return Downtown via Weber
7B Fairview via Weber		(Service every day)	Typically buses arriving at Fairview Park Mall from Weber return Downtown via Connaught with the exception of Mon-Sat Evenings, Sundays and Holidays when they return Downtown via Wilson
7C Conestoga Mall		(Service every day)
7D University of Waterloo via University		(Service every day)	Buses return Downtown via Columbia
7E University of Waterloo via Columbia		No Evening, Sunday/Holiday service	Buses return Downtown via University
7F Fairview via Wilson		No Evening Sunday/Holiday service	Typically buses arriving at Fairview Park Mall from Wilson return Downtown via Wilson with the exception of mon-Sat Evenings, Sundays and Holidays when this leg does not operate (buses arriving from Weber then return Downtown via Wilson)
91 Late Night Loop		No Monday-Wednesday OR Sunday/holiday service	Information on this route is found in Route 7 schedules, Route 91 is not shown on Destination Signs Service provided Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings departing 12:30AM, 1:00AM, 1:30AM and 2:00AM from September to June. Buses depart the Charles Street Terminal (Downtown Kitchener) on Route 7D University of Waterloo via University. Upon arriving at the University of Waterloo buses travel north through the Research and Technology Park to Parkside and Cedarbrae where they travel as Route 9 Lakeshore to King at University. At University and King buses then return to Downtown Kitchener again on Route 7. This route is marketed towards University Students frequenting bars and pubs in Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo as a safe way to get home since the route services the majority of the student residences at both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University campuses as well as the Lakeshore neighbourhood which contains much private off-campus student housing.
8 University via Weber		(Service every day)
8 University via Westmount		(Service every day)
8 Fairview via Courtland		(Service every day)
8 Fairview via Franklin		(Service every day)	Evenings and Sundays/holidays: service via East Avenue instead of Weber Street between Ottawa Street and Frederick Street
9 Lakeshore		(Service every day)	At University of Waterloo, buses change to route 13 Laurelwood, except when Route 13 does not operate; at these times buses short-turn at King/University Some trips from the University of Waterloo short-turn via Parkside, Cedarbrae, Glen Forrest, Bearinger, Parkside Some trips travel along Kumpf Drive to Service Elmira Poultry employees
10 Conestoga College		(Service every day)	Evenings, weekends, holidays: service to Conestoga College via Bechtel extension and Conestoga College Residence extension
11 Country Hills		(Service every day)	Sunday/Holidays: service via Strasburg Road instead of Alpine Road
12 Conestoga Mall - Fairview Park Mall		(Service every day)	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, Highland Hills Mall, the University of Waterloo, University at King (via University, Hazel, Hickory, King, University) and University at Lincoln (via University, Lincoln, Marshall, Carter, University).
13 Laurelwood		(Service every day)	At University of Waterloo, buses change to route 9 Lakeshore
14 Bathurst		Weekday rush hour service only
15 Frederick		No Sunday/Holiday service	Limited weekday rush hour service on Centennial extension
16 Forest Glen		Weekday service only	Weekday midday service on extension to Biehn @ Kilkerran 2 trips per day service Doon Public School (1 Northbound, 1 Southbound)
17 Heritage Park		(Service every day)	Evenings, Sunday/holidays: service between Fairview Park Mall and Stanley Park Mall only
18 Guelph Street		No Sunday/Holiday service
19 Victoria South		Weekday rush hour service only
20 Victoria Hills		(Service every day)	During rush-hours service is NOT provided to Highland Hills Mall, buses short-turn in the Victoria Hills neighbourhood.
21 Elmira		No Sunday/Holiday service	Used to be route 21 St. Jacobs, which only operated 2 days a week.
22 Laurentian West		No Sunday/Holiday service
23 Idlewood		No Sunday/Holiday service	Weekday rush hour extension to Fairview Park Mall
24 Highland		No Sunday/Holiday service	Evening: modified route beyond Highland Hills Mall
25 Queen South		(Service every day)	Evening, Sunday/Holidays: modified route beyond Highland Hills Mall
27 Chicopee		(Service every day)
29 Keats Way		Weekday service only	At University of Waterloo buses change to Route 31 Lexington
31 Lexington		Weekday service only	At University of Waterloo buses change to Route 29 Keats Way
32 Kumpf		Weekday rush hour service only
33 Huron		Weekday rush-hour service only	Includes service of former 26 Trillium
35 Eastbridge		No Sunday/holiday service	At Uptown Waterloo, buses change to route 5 Erb West
52 Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal		(Service every day)	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
61 Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre		Weekday service only	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS		Weekday rush hour service only	busPLUS route Limited service extension available to Plastic Prescriptions (Saltsman Drive) Additional specials provided by conventional buses as required
73 Northlake BusPLUS		Weekday rush hour service only	busPLUS route
110 Fairview Park Mall-Conestoga College Express		No Saturday, Sunday or holiday service	Service only from September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period Express route Morning trips from Conestoga College to Fairview Park service Pioneer Park Plaza Afternoon trips from Fairview Park to Conestoga College service Pioneer Park Plaza
111 Ainslie Street-Conestoga College Express		Weekday rush-hour service only	Service only from September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period Express route
116 Forest Glen-Conestoga College Express		Weekday rush-hour service only	Service only from September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period Express route
iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal		(Service every day)	Express route
Huron Industrial Special		Weekday rush hour service only	Selected trips on weekday rush hours only

Cambridge service area

Route		Service Limitations	Notes
51 Hespeler Road		(Service every day)	At the Hespeler Terminal, some buses change to route 65 Fisher Mills or route 66 Winston Some trips short turn at Cambridge Centre
52 Fairview Park Mall - Ainslie Street Terminal		(Service every day)	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
53 Franklin Boulevard		Weekday service only	At the Hespeler Terminal, buses change to route 66 Winston
54 Lisbon Pines		No Sunday/holiday service	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 57 Blair Road
55 St. Andrews		(Service every day)	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 59 Christopher
56 Dunbar		(Service every day)	At Cambridge Centre, buses change to route 60 Northview Acres (except for 11:26 PM arrival on weekdays: route 51 Hespeler Road to Hespeler)
57 Blair Road		No Sunday/holiday service	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 54 Lisbon Pines
58 Elmwood		(Service every day)	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 62 Woodside
59 Christopher		(Service every day)	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 63 Champlain Sunday: buses to not serve extension to Edgemere/Langlaw Sunday: buses are extended to South Cambridge Shopping Centre
60 Northview Acres		(Service every day)	At Cambridge Centre, buses change to route 64 Langs (except for Monday-Saturday arrivals at 6:30 PM and later: route 56 Dunbar)
61 Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre		Weekday service only	Runs from Kitchener service area to Cambridge service area
62 Woodside		No Sunday/holiday service	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 58 Elmwood
63 Champlain		No Sunday/holiday service	At Ainslie Street Terminal, buses change to route 55 St. Andrews
64 Langs		No Sunday/holiday service	At Cambridge Centre, buses change to route 56 Dunbar (except for Monday-Saturday arrivals at 6:30 - 8:30 PM: route 60 Northview Acres)
65 Fisher Mills		(Service every day)	At the Hespeler Terminal, buses change to route 51 Hespeler Road
66 Winston		(Service every day)	At the Hespeler Terminal, buses change to route 53 Franklin Boulevard, Weekdays between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM only
67 Lovell Industrial		Weekday rush hour service only
71 Melran		No Sunday/holiday service
72 Cherry Blossom BusPLUS		Weekday rush hour service only	BusPLUS route Limited service extension available to Plastic Prescriptions (Saltsman Drive)
75 Saginaw BusPLUS		Weekday rush hour service only	BusPLUS route
111 Ainslie Street-Conestoga College Express		Weekday rush-hour service only	Service only from September to April, except for the Christmas schedule period Express route
iXpress Conestoga Mall - Ainslie Terminal		(Service every day)	Express route

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
2 Forest Hill - Glencairn	2004	2 Forest Hill (2 Glencairn completely eliminated; in its place, route 22 Laurentian West was massively reworked to cover the old service area of route 2 Glencairn)
3 Ottawa South - Idlewood	2004	3 Ottawa South 23 Idlewood
5 Erb West - Lancaster - Eastbridge	2007	5 Erb West 35 Eastbridge
10 Conestoga College - Chicopee	2003	10 Conestoga College 27 Chicopee 110 Conestoga College Express
11 Country Hills - Victoria Hills	2002	11 Country Hills 19 Victoria South 20 Victoria Hills
15 Forest Heights West - Frederick	2003	15 Frederick 24 Highland

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.

During the turbulent times surrounding 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

Berlin/Kitchener

• horse drawn cars - Berlin Gas Company
• Preston Car & Coach Company cars - Berlin PUC
• ex-Cleveland Street Railway cars - Berlin PUC
• 10 Yellow Coach model 733 bus - Kitchener PUC
• 25 Canadian Car & Foundry T44 trolleybus - Kitchener PUC
• 2 CCF-Brill model C-36 gas bus - Kitchener PUC
• 5 ex-Ottawa Transportation Commission trolley buses - Kitchener PUC
• 8 General Motors TDH-3501 bus - Kitchener PUC
• 10 GMDD TDH-3502 bus - Kitchener PUC
• 1 Aerocoach - ex-Wellesley Bus Lines - Kitchener PUC
• 2 Brills - ex-Wellesley Bus Lines - Kitchener PUC
• 1 Ford - ex-Wellesley Bus Lines - Kitchener PUC
• 6 GMDD T6H-5305 - Kitchener PUC

Kitchener-Waterloo Division: Current Fleet

Numbers and Model(s)	Special Features/Notes	Current status
8501 - 8508 General Motors TC40-102N 1985 Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V731	Last buses with orange cushion seats	FLEET RETIRED
8509 - 8510 General Motors TC40-102N 1985 Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V731	First buses with all new seats and interior color scheme	FLEET RETIRED
8801 - 8806 Motor Coach Industries TC40-102N 1988 Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V730	8805 Retired due to major structural failure	School specials and occasional revenue runs only
8901 - 8906 Motor Coach Industries TC40-102N 1989 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Allison V731	8904 Retired due to Major Mechanical Failure	School specials and occasional revenue runs only
8907 - 8910 Orion Bus Industries 5.501 1989 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Voith D863		In regular weekday service
8911 - 8913 Orion Bus Industries 5.501 1989 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Allison HTB748		In regular weekday service
8914 Orion Bus Industries 5.501 1989 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Allison B400		School specials only
9001 - 9013 Orion Bus Industries 5.501 1990 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Voith D863		In regular weekday service
9200 - 9213 New Flyer Industries D40LF 1992 Detroit Diesel 6V92T Voith D863	First ever low floor buses in Ontario to be in service	In full service	Being retired later in 2011
9400 - 9419, 9421 - 9424 New Flyer Industries D40LF 1994 Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison B400	9409 was fully rebuilt due to engine fire 9420 Retired due to Winter 2008/2009 Crash All buses have been fully refurbished except 9420 which has been retired.	In full service	Being retired later in 2011
9600 - 9622 New Flyer Industries C40LF 1996 Detroit Diesel Series 50G Allison B400	Only CNG Buses in GRT Fleet 9600 was fully rebuilt due to engine fire 9607 to undergo rebuild	FLEET RETIRED
2200 - 2207 New Flyer Industries D40LF 2002 Cummins ISC Allison B400	First order delivered to Grand River Transit New drivetrain	In full service
2300 - 2329 Orion Bus Industries 7.501 2003 Cummins ISC ZF HP592		In full service
2400 - 2433 Nova Bus LFS 2004/2005 Cummins ISL ZF Ecomat	Largest order to date for Grand River Transit 2400-2418 ordered in 2004, 2419-2433 ordered in 2005 2408 and 2409 bear the iXpress livery and are used on the iXpress route	In full service
2601 - 2614 Nova Bus LFS 2006 Cummins ISL	New seat designs included Numbering system adjusted - orders now start with bus #~~01, instead of bus #~~00.	In full service
2701 - 2724 Nova Bus LFS 2007 Cummins ISL ZF Ecomat	First order delivered with rear LED screens	In full service
8007 - 8021 Nova Bus LFS 2008 Cummins ISL ZF Ecomat	Numbering system begins with 8007 instead of 8001	In full service
8022 - 8027 Nova Bus LFS HEV 2008 Cummins ISL	First Hybrid-Diesel Buses in fleet Numbering scheme adjusted	In full service
20901 - 20913 Nova Bus LFS 2009 Cummins ISL	Numbering scheme expanded to five digits All 12 buses bear the iXpress livery and are being used for the iXpress route New symmetrical layout	In full service
21001 - 21009 Nova Bus LFS 2010 Cummins ISL	21001-21006 bear the iXpress livery and are being used for the iXpress route	In full service

Grand River Transit has a fleet of 218 buses. These include:

• 93 NOVA LFS
• 47 NFI D40LF
• 30 Orion VII
• 24 Orion V
• 4 GMC CLASSICS
• 10 MCI CLASSICS
• 6 NOVA LFS HEV
• 4 ORION VI

Cambridge Division (ordered before incorporation)

• Leased GM New Look fishbowl (returned)
• Motor Coach Industries & GM TC40102N (Classic)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 1997-1999)
• Orion Bus Industries I 01.507 (retired in 2006)
• Orion Bus Industries V 05.501
• Orion Bus Industries VI 06.501

Kitchener-Waterloo Division (ordered before incorporation)

• Flyer Industries D800-B (ordered 1977-1979)
• GM New Look fishbowls (Retired November 2005)
• Motor Coach Industries & GM TC40102N (Classic) (ordered 1985-1989)
• Orion Bus Industries V 05.501 (ordered 1989-1990)
• New Flyer Industries D40LF (ordered 1992)
• New Flyer Industries D40LF (ordered 1994)
• New Flyer Industries C40LF (ordered 1996) (Retired summer 2008)

Both Divisions (ordered after incorporation)

• New Flyer Industries D40LF (ordered 2002)
• Orion Bus Industries VII 07.501 (ordered 2003)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2004)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2006)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2007)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2008)
• NovaBus LFS HEV (ordered 2008)
• Ford minibus – F450 chassis
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2009)
• NovaBus LFS (ordered 2010)

Denotes wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

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,iXpress) and the Ainslie St. Transit Terminal at Galt City Centre in Cambridge - (Routes 51,52,53,54,55,57,58,59,62,63,111,iXpress).

Unstaffed off-road satellite terminals are also in place at Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall (Routes 7C,9,12,14,21,31,32,35,iXpress), Kitchener’s Fairview Park Mall (Routes 7A,7B,7F,8,10,12,17,23,27,52,110,iXpress), Forest Glen Plaza (Routes 3,11,12,16,22,33,116), Stanley Park Mall (Routes 1,17,23), Highland Hills Mall (Routes 2,12,19,20,22,24,25), Sportsworld (Routes 52,72busPLUS) and Cambridge Centre (Routes 51,56,60,61,64,67,75busPLUS,iXpress).

Other significant transfer points include King Street/University Avenue (Routes 7C,7D,7E,8,9,12,iXpress), the University of Waterloo (Routes 7D,7E,8,9,12,13,29,31,iXpress), Uptown Waterloo (Routes 5,7C,7D,7E,35,iXpress), 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)

The Kitchener-Waterloo fleet, and all central operations, are run from the agency’s headquarters on Strasburg Road in Kitchener (across from the Laurentian Power Centre); the Cambridge fleet has its base on Conestoga Boulevard, behind the Cambridge Centre.

See also

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

External links

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