View source for Grand River Transit

{{short description|Transit operator in Waterloo Region, Ontario}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox public transit
| name = Grand River Transit
| image = Grand River Transit logo.svg
| caption = 
| image2 = Grt nova bus.png
| caption2 = 
| image3 = Ion Flexity Freedom 514 service livery.jpg
| caption3 = GRT's fleet consists of [[low floor|low-floor]] buses such as this [[Nova Bus|Nova LFS]], and [[Bombardier Flexity Freedom|Flexity Freedom]] light rail vehicles
| native_name = <!-- use {{lang}} -->
| owner = [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]]
| area served = [[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]], [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]], [[St. Jacobs, Ontario|St. Jacobs]], [[Elmira, Ontario|Elmira]], [[New Hamburg, Ontario|New Hamburg]], [[Breslau, Ontario|Breslau]]
| locale = 
| transit_type = {{flatlist|
* [[Bus service]]
* [[light rail]]
* [[Paratransit]]}}
| lines = 57 bus routes (48 local, 8 express); 1 light rail<ref name="stats page">{{cite web |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/schedules-maps/schedules.aspx |title=Schedules |publisher=Grand River Transit |access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref>
| vehicles = 259 buses, 15 light rail vehicles
| line_number = 
| start = 
| end = 
| stations = 
| daily_ridership = 
| annual_ridership = 26,400,000 (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-05 |title=Grand River Transit – Ridership Update – 2023 Year End |url=https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=7001 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com |language=en}}</ref>
| chief_executive = <!-- or | key_people = -->
| headquarters = 250 Strasburg Road<br />[[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Ontario]]<br />N2E 3M6
| website = {{URL|https://www.grt.ca/en/index.aspx}}
| began_operation = {{start date and age|2000}}
| operation_will_start = 
| ended_operation = 
| operator = [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]] (buses), [[GrandLinq]] (light rail)
}}
'''Grand River Transit''' ('''GRT''') is the [[public transport]] operator for the [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo]], [[Ontario]], Canada. It operates daily [[bus]] services in the region, primarily in the cities of [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]], and [[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]], alongside the [[Ion rapid transit|ION rapid transit]] [[Light rail|light rail system]] which began service on June 21, 2019.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Ready to ride ION |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/ready-to-ride-ion.aspx |website=Grand River Transit |access-date=9 June 2019 |language=en |date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

It was named for the [[Grand River (Ontario)|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. 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.

Grand River Transit has consistently purchased [[low floor]], [[wheelchair]]-accessible buses, principally from [[Nova Bus]], [[Orion Bus Industries|Orion]], and [[New Flyer]], and these now form the entirety of the standard 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 carrier|bicycle rack]]s on the front of its buses in order to encourage the use of sustainable transport; all buses now have these racks. Bicycles are also allowed on-board Ion trains.

Service to less dense areas is provided by the busPLUS system, large [[van]]s 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 Mobility''PLUS'', which provides [[Paratransit|specialized transit for disabled patrons]] using minibuses equipped with [[wheelchair]] lifts.

The GRT fleet consists entirely of motor buses. Kitchener Transit operated [[trolleybus]]es 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 [[train]]s run by the [[Grand River Railway]], which even earlier in the 20th century had run [[tram|streetcar]]s 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 [[Universal transit pass|U-Pass]] as part of their tuition fees for less than a quarter of the equivalent adult monthly pass.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/$All/00FF911E734CEF7D85257347004B100F?OpenDocument|title=University of Waterloo students get onboard with UPASS|publisher=[[Region of Waterloo]]|date=2007-08-30|access-date=2010-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603042311/http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/$All/00FF911E734CEF7D85257347004B100F?OpenDocument|archive-date=2011-06-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Grand River Transit has six diesel-hybrid buses which began service in late August 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.therecord.com/article/270860|title=Green transportation initiatives can fast run out of gas|publisher=[[Waterloo Region Record]]|date=2007-11-17|access-date=2010-09-04}}</ref> To get the best use of their powertrain, these buses run on routes like Route 7 King, which have frequent stops and heavy usage.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

With the launch of Ion rapid transit in June 2019, GRT's bus services were substantially reorganized. The greatest effect was in decentralizing the network in Kitchener–Waterloo by no longer using the Charles Street terminal as a service hub; the affected routes now connect with Ion trains at their stations, forming a centralized spine.

==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
* Ion light rail 2019–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[[File:GRT Bus - Elmira.JPG|thumb|An older GRT bus on the 21 Elmira Route at Conestoga Station]]

===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 Voyago (formerly Voyageur Transportation Services) to operate the new route.

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

=== Breslau ===
As of June 11, 2022, Grand River Transit operates BusPlus service for Breslau, which provides locations in [[Breslau, Ontario|Breslau]], including [[Region of Waterloo International Airport]]. Connections with route 34 and 204 are also available for those needing a trip to Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge.

==Ion rapid transit ==
{{main|Ion rapid transit}}

=== History ===
[[File:First tram for Kitchener-Waterloo April 2017.jpg|thumb|250px|The first light-rail vehicle - a Bombardier Flexity Freedom - on public display in April 2017]][[File:ION_505_Kitchener_City_Hall.jpg|thumb|250px|LRT vehicle in line testing in 2018]]

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/548497--rail-plan-passes |title=Rail plan passes |publisher=TheRecord |date=2011-06-15 |access-date=2012-02-20}}</ref> (At least one journalist pointed out the similarity between this plan and the electric Grand River Railway system of the early 1900s.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/2017/01/railway-history/ |title=Cambridge and its influence on Waterloo Region's light rail transit |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=19 January 2017 |website=Waterloo Region |publisher=Waterloo Region |access-date=10 March 2017 |quote=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. |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053020/http://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/2017/01/railway-history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Stage 1, the [[Ion rapid transit]] train runs between [[Fairway station|Fairview Park Mall]] and [[Conestoga Mall (Waterloo, Ontario)|Conestoga Mall]] by way of the central districts of Kitchener and Waterloo.

Construction on the light rail system, now named ''Ion'', 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Desmond|first1=Paige|title=LRT construction 90 per cent complete|url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7035590-lrt-construction-90-per-cent-complete/|access-date=25 March 2017|work=Waterloo Region Record|date=23 December 2016}}</ref> 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,<ref name="therecord.com"/> and was finally accomplished on June 21, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark your calendars! LRT officially launches June 21, region says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/lrt-launches-june-21-regional-council-1.5128751 |access-date=May 8, 2019 |agency=CBC News |date=May 8, 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/cambridge-ont-lrt-ion-phase-2-proposed-route-announced-1.3976320 |title=LRT Cambridge proposed route announced |date=February 10, 2017 |publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/lrt-ion-cambridge-region-waterloo-1.3970421 |title=There's still wiggle room in the Region of Waterloo's LRT plans for Cambridge |last=Sharkey |first=Jackie |date=February 8, 2017 |website=CBC |publisher=CBC |access-date=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/FINAL_Stage-2-ION-PCC-No.-2-Display-Boards_reduced2.pdf |title=Stage 2 ION: Light Rail Transit (LRT) |last=Sharkey |first=Jackie |date=February 2017 |website=Region of Waterloo |publisher=Region of Waterloo |access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> The public consultation process for Cambridge was postponed to 2018.<ref name="cbc.ca"/>

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.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news |url=https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7408649-cambridge-council-opposes-proposed-lrt-route-through-preston/ |title=Cambridge council opposes proposed LRT route through Preston |first=Anam |last=Latif |date=July 5, 2017 |publisher=Waterloo Region Record |url-access=registration |access-date=January 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/cambridge-city-council-planning-development-committee-lrt-proposed-route-1.4191845 |title=Cambridge city council opposes proposed LRT route through part of city |date=July 6, 2017 |first=Muriel |last=Draaisma |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=January 10, 2021}}</ref> At that time, a report indicated that construction of Stage 2 would not begin until 2025.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 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, the route also continued to Conestoga Mall in Waterloo (though not as rapid transit) with many stops along the way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.grt.ca/HastinfoWeb/RouteSchedules?Date=2017-7-6&RouteDirection=Upward&RoutePublicIdentifier=200&ShowOptions=false&SelectedStopsIdentifiers= |title=Grand River Transit - Customer Trip Planner |website=web.grt.ca}} </ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2021}} Following Ion launch in Kitchener–Waterloo, GRT is continuing the remainder of the iXpress 200 service to the terminal at Fairview Park, renumbered as 302.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment Phase 2, Step 3b – Preferred Rapid Transit System Option and Staging Plan |url=http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/projectinformation/resources/e-09-073_-_recommended_system_report.pdf |access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ION Bus Rapid Transit - Frequently Asked Questions  |url=http://www.grt.ca/en/travelwithus/FAQ-ION-Bus-Rapid-Transit.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325024953/http://www.grt.ca/en/travelwithus/FAQ-ION-Bus-Rapid-Transit.asp  |archive-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref>

==iXpress==
{{distinguish|IExpress}}
[[File:GRT iXpress 21002.jpg|thumb|An iXpress bus ]]
[[File:Ion Bus on 302.jpg|thumb|250px|GRT ION bus used on route 302.]]
The '''iXpress''' [[express bus service]] is operated by GRT consisting of six routes<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand River Transit Schedules|url=https://www.grt.ca/en/schedules-maps/schedules.aspx|website=grt.ca|access-date=27 September 2019|language=en}}</ref> along main corridors in Kitchener–Waterloo and Cambridge, serving major roads in all 3 cities.

In order to increase ridership across the region and facilitate the expected growing population, the Region of Waterloo unveiled the Regional Transportation Master Plan in 2010, which consisted of seven iXpress-style routes that criss-cross the important secondary corridors along the region (with the proposed light rail serving the Central Transit Corridor), and where they are expecting the most growth to occur. These corridors include Fischer-Hallman, University, Highland/Victoria North, Ottawa, Homer Watson/Maple Grove, Coronation, and the Cambridge stubs centered around Cambridge Centre and Ainslie Street Terminal. The routes were to be phased in, with the last route being introduced in 2015. The plan was eventually scaled down in order to put more emphasis on the LRT proposal with the Cambridge stubs largely eliminated, and the timeline was also spread out, with all routes expected to be implemented by 2018.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=IXpress - CPTDB Wiki |url=https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/IXpress |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=cptdb.ca}}</ref>

There were different naming proposals for the new iXpress routes. During the public consultations in March 2011, the proposal was to name each iXpress route after a colour, with the letter X at the back. For example, Fischer-Hallman iXpress would be named Blue X, and the shelter would have blue stickers in order to identify each route. However, the plan was eventually dropped, and GRT decided to stick with the iXpress trademark, with route numbers being added to signify between the different iXpress routes.<ref name=":02" />

Fischer-Hallman was chosen as the first corridor to have the new iXpress service, as the current route 12 serving this corridor is full during most times of the day, and residents wanted a faster service to Forest Glen, Highland Hills Mall, and the university area. During the public consultations, there were different routing proposals at the north end. Proposals ranged from having the route go all the way east on Columbia to King, south on King, west on University, and north on Phillip, to having the route go only as east as Phillip, then head south on Phillip, west on University, north on Seagram, and east on Ring Road to serve the current UW Davis Centre bus stop. Eventually, the suggested proposal was to have the route go east on Columbia, south on Phillip, east on University, and north on Hazel. This allows equal access to the north end of the University of Waterloo campus, the RIM offices along Columbia, and Wilfrid Laurier University.

The first (and now defunct) route, designated route 200 after the expansion of iXpress service, was launched in September 2005 and ran from [[Conestoga Mall (Waterloo, Ontario)|Conestoga Mall]] in Waterloo and [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal]] in Cambridge primarily along [[Waterloo Regional Road 15|King Street]] in Kitchener and Waterloo and [[Waterloo Regional Road 24|Hespeler Road]] in Cambridge, utilizing a short section of [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway 401]].  The second route, route 201, runs from Conestoga College Doon Campus Door 6 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/grand-river-transit-new-schedule-adds-ixpress-alters-many-routes-1.3218082|title=Where's my bus? Big changes in GRT schedule include new iXpress|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en}}</ref> The 205 Ottawa iXpress opened on April 30, 2018, which primarily served northern Ottawa Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=205 Ottawa iXpress |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/205-ottawa-ixpress.aspx |website=grt.ca |access-date=June 24, 2019 |language=en |date=13 May 2019}}</ref> and the 206 Coronation iXpress launched September 2, 2019, partially replacing route 52.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 service improvements  |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/2019-service-improvements.aspx |website=grt.ca |access-date=September 1, 2019 |language=en }}</ref> The 200 was discontinued upon the launch of Ion service; the bus portion not converted to light rail now runs on route 302, branded as Ion Bus.

In April 2017, it was announced that the Ion and iXpress services would be closely integrated into a single system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ion-lrt-ixpress-region-waterloo-2018-map-1.4064579|title=ION and iXpress map, circa 2018, released|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en}}</ref> In March 2018, nine new Ion buses were unveiled; initially they were used on local routes in Cambridge. They now operate from Fairway Station 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.<ref name="therecord.com">{{cite news |title=No LRT service until December |url=https://www.therecord.com//news/waterloo-region/2018/04/13/no-lrt-service-until-december.html |first=Johanna |last=Weidner |publisher=Waterloo Region Record |date=April 13, 2018 |url-access=registration|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/8337398-region-launches-ion-buses-in-cambridge/|title = Region launches ION buses in Cambridge}}</ref>

== Fares ==
[[File:GRT fare media.jpg|thumb|Fare media used on Grand River Transit]]
Buses and Ion fare machines accept cash and the '''EasyGo''' [[Smart card#Public transit|smart card]]; unlimited transfers are available for 120 minutes of travel following payment of a single-use fare. Monthly passes or a stored fare balance are loaded on the EasyGo card; this can be done online, at customer service desks, or at ticket machines. Specialized passes for corporate or school purposes are loaded on specialized smart cards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grt.ca/en/fares/FarePrices.asp?_mid_=29230 |title=Fares |work=Grand River Transit |access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref>

The new EasyGO system on electronic fare cards was first made available on March 1, 2019, in anticipation of the Ion light rail launch.<ref>{{cite web |title=EasyGO fare card available March 1 |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/easygo-fare-card.aspx |website=Grand River Transit |publisher=Region of Waterloo |access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> At Ion launch, this fully replaced an old system of paper passes (and accompanying photo ID) and paper tickets.

=== Connect-to-GO ===
Beginning March 31, 2023, riders can enrol in Connect-to-GO, which gives riders a rebate to their GRT fare when travelling to or from [[Kitchener station]], using an EasyGo fare card.<ref>{{cite web |title=GO Train Riders |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/fares-passes/go-train-riders.aspx |website=GRT.ca |access-date=14 May 2023 |date=31 March 2023}}</ref>

==System routes==
Routes are listed effective September 2, 2024. The following is a general summary of route services; for details, consult the official website. Routes numbered below 100 are local services, numbers in the 100s are express services (the only remaining of which is 110) in the 200s are iXpress service with the iXpress brand, and in the 300s are fully integrated rapid transit. Routes marked '''+''' use smaller BusPLUS vehicles. All routes, excluding 79 make connections to major transit hubs.


Frequency on routes will vary. Routes like the 7, 201, & 301 provide more frequent service all day, while routes like the 34 have service levels limited to peak hours.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Route
!Division
! colspan="4" |Destinations
! Other major transit interchanges
! Notes
|-
| 301 
|ION
|Dutton
|N
|[[Conestoga station|Conestoga]]
|S
|[[Fairway station|Fairway]]
| Conestoga to Fairway ([[Ion rapid transit#Stations|all Ion stations]])
| Light rail transit
|-
| 302
|ION Bus
|Conestoga
|N
|[[Fairway station|Fairway]]
|S
|[[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, Sportsworld, Pinebush, [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]], Can-Amera, Delta, [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
| Via Hespeler, Hwy 8, Hwy 401
|-
| 201
|Fischer-Hallman
|Strasburg
|N
|[[Conestoga station|Conestoga]]
|S
|Conestoga College
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}, {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}, {{stl|GRT|Block Line}}, Conestoga College
| iXpress route
|-
| 202
|University
|Northfield
|E
|[[Conestoga station|Conestoga]]
|W
|[[The Boardwalk Station]]
| [[The Boardwalk station]], {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}
| Via University/Erb & Northfield
iXpress route
|-
| rowspan="2" |203
| rowspan="2" |Maple Grove
| rowspan="2" |Conestoga
| rowspan="2" |N
|Conestoga College
| rowspan="2" |S
| rowspan="2" |[[Cambridge Centre]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]], [[Hespeler Transit Terminal|Hespeler]], Sportsworld
|Weekdays only
No summer service
iXpress route
|-
|Sportsworld
| iXpress route
|-
| 204
|Highland-Victoria
|Strasburg
|E
|Lackner
|W
|[[The Boardwalk Station]]
| [[The Boardwalk station]], {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Kitchener City Hall}}, {{stl|GRT|Central}}
| iXpress route
|-
| 205
|Ottawa
|Strasburg
|E
|Lackner
|W
|[[Sunrise Centre]]
| {{stl|GRT|Borden}}, {{stl|GRT|Mill}}, [[Sunrise Centre]]
| iXpress route
|-
| 206
|Coronation
|Strasburg
Conestoga
|N
|[[Fairway station|Fairway]]
|S
|Southwood
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, Sportsworld, Delta, [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
| iXpress route
|-
| 1
|Queen-River
|Strasburg
|N
|[[The Boardwalk Station]]
|S
|[[Fairway station|Fairway]]
| [[The Boardwalk Station]], {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}
|
|-
|3
|Ottawa South
|Strasburg
|E
|[[Frederick station (Kitchener)|Frederick]]
|W
|[[Sunrise Centre]]
| {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Mill}}, [[Sunrise Centre]]
|
|-
| 4 
|Glasgow-Margaret
|Strasburg
|E
|[[Frederick station (Kitchener)|Frederick]]
|W
|[[The Boardwalk Station]]
| {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Grand River Hospital}}, [[The Boardwalk Station]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |5
| rowspan="2" |Erb
| rowspan="2" |Strasburg
|E
|{{stl|GRT|Waterloo Public Square}}
| rowspan="2" |W
| rowspan="2" |[[The Boardwalk Station]]
| rowspan="2" |[[The Boardwalk station]], {{stl|GRT|Willis Way}}, {{stl|GRT|Waterloo Public Square}}
|Sundays Only
|-
|E
|Daniel/Bloomingdale
|West via Bridgeport Road.
Extension to Bridgeport East
|-
| 6
|Bridge-Courtland
|Northfield
|N
|Conestoga
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}, {{stl|GRT|Central}}, {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Block Line}}, {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}
|Via Lancaster
|-
| 7
|King
|Northfield
|N
|Conestoga
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}, {{stl|GRT|Waterloo Public Square}}, {{stl|GRT|Allen}}, {{stl|GRT|Grand River Hospital}}, {{stl|GRT|Central}}, {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}
|
|-
| 8
|Weber
|Northfield
|N
|University/King
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, {{stl|GRT|Frederick}}, {{stl|GRT|Central}}
|
|-
| 9
|Lakeshore
|Northfield
|E
|Conestoga
|W
|University of Waterloo
| {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}, {{stl|GRT|Research and Technology}}, {{stl|GRT|Northfield}}, {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}
|
|-
| 10
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer
| rowspan="3" |Strasburg
| rowspan="3" |N
| rowspan="3" |Fairway
| rowspan="3" |S
| rowspan="3" |Conestoga College
| rowspan="3" | {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, Conestoga College
|Via Mill Park
|-
|10A
|Via Old Carriage
|-
|110
|College Express
|Express between Fairway and Conestoga College
|-
| 12
|Westmount
|Northfield
Strasburg
|N
|University/King
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}
| Via Bleams,
|-
| 13
|Laurelwood
|Northfield
|E
|University of Waterloo
|W
|The Boardwalk station
| {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}, [[The Boardwalk station]]
| Via Columbia, Erbsville/Ira needles
|-
| 14
|Bathurst
|Northfield
|N
|Northland/Rupert
|S
|Conestoga
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}
|Rush Hour Only
|-
| 16
|Strasburg-Belmont
|Strasburg
|N
|Willis Way
|S
|Conestoga College
| Conestoga College, {{stl|GRT|Grand River Hospital}}, {{stl|GRT|Waterloo Public Square}}, {{stl|GRT|Willis Way}}
|
|-
| 19
| rowspan="3" |Hazel
| rowspan="3" |Northfield
| rowspan="3" |S
| rowspan="3" |University of Waterloo
|N
|Hazel/Albert
| {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}} 
| rowspan="2" |Via Weber, Parkside
|-
|19A
|N
|St. Jacobs Market
|[[University of Waterloo]], [[St. Jacobs Farmers' Market|St. Jacobs Market]]
|-
|19B
|N
|Northfield Station
|[[University of Waterloo]], [[Northfield station (Waterloo)|Northfield Station]]
|Via Weber, Parkside,  Randall/Kumpf
|-
| 20
|Victoria-Frederick
|Strasburg
|E
|Stanley Park Mall
|W
|The Boardwalk station
| [[The Boardwalk station]], {{stl|GRT|Central}}, Stanley Park Mall
|
|-
| 21
|Elmira
|Northfield
|N
|Arthur/Church (Elmira)
|S
|Conestoga
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}, [[St. Jacobs Market]]
|
|-
| 22 
|Laurentian
West
|Strasburg
|E
|Block Line
|W
|Sunrise Centre
| {{stl|GRT|Block Line}}, [[Sunrise Centre]]
|
|-
| 23
|Idlewood
|Strasburg
|N
|Stanley Park Mall
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, Stanley Park Mall
|
|-
| 26
|Trillium
|Strasburg
|S
|Trillium/Washburn
|N
|Block Line
| {{stl|GRT|Block Line}}
|
|-
| 27
|Morriston
|Strasburg
Conestoga
|N
|Fairway
|S
|Chicopee Ski Club
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}
|
|-
| 28
|Franklin North
|Strasburg
|N
|Stanley Park Mall
|S
|Fairway
| {{stl|GRT|Fairway}}, Stanley Park Mall
|
|-
| 29
|Keats-University
|Northfield
|E
|Conestoga
|W
|The Boardwalk Station
| [[The Boardwalk Station]], {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}
| Via Lincoln, Weber
|-
| 30
|Ring Road
|Northfield
|E
| University of Waterloo 
|W
| University of Waterloo station
| {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}
| Loops Ring Road clockwise to University of Waterloo station
|-
| 31
|Columbia
|Northfield
|E
|Conestoga Station
|W
|Columbia/Sundew
| {{stl|GRT|Conestoga}}, {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}
|Via New Bedford
|-
| 33
|Huron
|Strasburg
|N
|Sunrise Centre
|S
|Blockline
| [[Sunrise Centre]], {{stl|GRT|Block Line}}
|
|-
| 34
|Bingemans
|Strasburg
|E
|Victoria/Shirley
|W
|Central Station
| {{stl|GRT|Central}}
|
|-
| 35
|Greenbrook
|Strasburg
|E
|Central Station
|W
|Sunrise Centre station
| {{stl|GRT|Central}}, {{stl|GRT|Kitchener Market}}, [[Sunrise Centre]]
|
|-
| 36
|Thomas Slee
|Strasburg
|E
|Conestoga College
|W
|Robert Ferrie/Forest Creek
| Conestoga College
|
|-
| 50
|Dundas-Myers
|Conestoga
|N
|Cambridge Centre
|S
|Ainslie 
| [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]], Delta, [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
|
|-
|51A
| rowspan="2" |Hespeler
| rowspan="2" |Conestoga
| rowspan="2" |S
| rowspan="2" |Ainslie
|N
|East Hespeler
(Guelph/Fisher-Mills)
| rowspan="2" |[[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]], [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]], Pinebush, [[Hespeler Transit Terminal|Hespeler]]
|Via Fisher-Mills
|-
|51B
|N
|Silver Heights (Jamieson/Cooper)
|Via Winston
|-
| 53
| rowspan="2" |Franklin
| rowspan="2" |Conestoga
|N
|Cambridge Centre
|S
|Ainslie
| [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]], [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
|
|-
|53A
|N
|Cambridge Centre
|S
|Ainslie
|Ainslie, Cambridge Centre
|Via Dobbie
|-
| 55
|Grand Ridge
|Conestoga
|N
|Ainslie
|S
|West Galt
| [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
| Loop route
|-
| 56
|Langs
|Conestoga
|N
|Cambridge Centre
|S
|Westminister/King
| [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
|
|-
| 57
|Blair
|Conestoga
|N
|Conestoga College
|S
|Ainslie
| [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]], Conestoga College
|
|-
| 58
|Elgin
|Conestoga
|S
|Ainslie
|N
|Cambridge Centre
| [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]], [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
|
|-
| 60
|Burnett
|Conestoga
|W
|Cambridge Centre
|E
|Burnett/Glenvalley
| [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
| Loop route
|-
| 61
|Preston
|Conestoga
|N
|Conestoga College
|S
|Cambridge Centre
| Conestoga College, [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
| via Preston, Bishop
|-
| 62
|Speedsville
|Conestoga
|N
| Speedsville Rd
|S
| Sportsworld 
| Sportsworld 
| via Cherry Blossom, Maple Grove
|-
| 63
|Champlain
|Conestoga
|W
|Ainslie
|E
|Main/Franklin
| [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal|Ainslie]]
| Loop route
|-
| 65
|Saginaw
|Conestoga
|W
|Cambridge Centre
|E
|Can-Amera/Baintree
| [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]
|
|-
| 67
|Eagle-Pinebush
|Conestoga
|W
|Sportsworld
|E
|Cambridge Centre
| [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]], Pinebush, Sportsworld
|
|-
| 76'''+'''
|Doon Mills
|Strasburg
|W
|Conestoga College
|E
|Pioneer/Homer Watson
| Conestoga College
|
|-
| 77'''+''' 
|Wilmot
|Strasburg
|W
|New Hamburg
|E
|The Boardwalk
| [[The Boardwalk Station]]
| East to [[New Hamburg, Ontario|New Hamburg]] via [[Baden, Ontario|Baden]]
|-
| 78
|Fountain
|Conestoga
|N
| Region of Waterloo International Airport
|S
| Sportsworld 
| Sportsworld, [[Region of Waterloo International Airport]]
| via Cherry Blossom and Fountain 
|-
| 79 Flex 
|Breslau
|Strasburg
| colspan="4" |Mainly operating around [[Breslau, Ontario|Breslau]], stops depend on booking via app<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-28 |title=Route 79 Breslau |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/schedules-maps/route-79-breslau.aspx |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.grt.ca |language=en}}</ref>
| ''Victoria at Lackner'', [[Region of Waterloo International Airport]], [[Kitchener station]] and [[Kitchener Central Station]]
| On-demand Services, operates Monday to Friday, 6-10 a.m., 2-6 p.m. and 10:45-11:45 p.m, East to locations in and around [[Breslau, Ontario|Breslau]]
|-
| 91
|Late Night Loop
|Strasburg
|S
| Queen station
|N
|Weber/Parkside
| {{stl|GRT|Queen}}, {{stl|GRT|Central}}, {{stl|GRT|Grand River Hospital}}, {{stl|GRT|Waterloo Public Square}}, {{stl|GRT|University of Waterloo}}
| Operates only Thursday-Saturday nights, midnight-2:30AM

|}[[File:Grand River Transit ION 21765.jpg|thumb|A ION bus used on a local route (57 Blair)]]

==Vehicle fleet==

At launch, Grand River Transit's fleet was originally made of busses from Kitchener Transit and Cambridge Transit's fleet, with the later new [[Nova Bus]] [[Nova Bus LFS|LFS]] addition to the fleet. Most of these busses retired in or before 2010.

Today, GRT provides over 250 busses, 35 MobilityPlus vehicles, and 15 LRVS for the [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Region of Waterloo]]. GRT's fleet is a mix of 4th gen [[Nova Bus]] [[Nova Bus LFS|LFS]] series, [[New Flyer|New Flyer Industries (NFI)]] [[New Flyer Xcelsior|XD-40]] busses, and brand new [[Vicinity Motor Corp.|Vicinity]] Classic.

ION Light rail uses 15 Bombardier Flexity Freedom light rail vehicles, all of which are stored at the Dutton LRT Maintenance Storage Facility. ION Bus is provided with 9 designated buses, though sometimes ION Bus is provided with the traditional local buses and vice versa. 

In 2022, Grand River Transit said that they would replace their old diesel fleet with newer electric and hybrid buses such as the electric and hybrid counterparts of the LFS series.

==Facilities==
[[File:Ainslie Terminal Galt Cambridge Ontario.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal]], the main Cambridge station]]
[[File:GRT CSC.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kitchener customer service centre, at King and Benton streets]]
One major transit terminal is operated and staffed, the [[Ainslie St. Transit Terminal]] at Galt City Centre in Cambridge. In downtown Kitchener, customer service functions come from an office at 105 King Street East, near [[Frederick station (Kitchener)|Frederick station]]. No GRT services remain at the [[Charles Street Transit Terminal]]. <ref>{{cite web |title=Charles Street Terminal |url=https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/charles-street-terminal.aspx |website=Grand River Transit |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-date=June 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610141807/https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/charles-street-terminal.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

All ION stations have customer help points and ticket machines; most are major transfer points, with Waterloo’s [[Conestoga station|Conestoga Mall]], Kitchener’s [[Fairway station|Fairview Park Mall]], and the [[University of Waterloo station]] also having off-street bus terminals. Unstaffed off-road satellite terminals are also in place at [[The Boardwalk Station]], Stanley Park Mall, Sportsworld, [[Sunrise Centre]], and [[Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal|Cambridge Centre]]. An additional terminal at the [[Conestoga College]] Doon Campus is planned.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big changes coming to Conestoga College |url=http://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/conestoga-college-service.aspx |website=Grand River Transit |publisher=Region of Waterloo |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>
Other significant transfer points include King Street/University Avenue, Holiday Inn Drive/[[Hespeler Transit Terminal|Hespeler]], Conestoga College-Doon Campus, and the Preston Towne Centre.

Grand River Transit has 4 garages:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Garage
!Opened
!Address
!Description
!Notes
|-
|Strasburg Road Transit Operations Centre
|1976
|250 Strasburg Road
|Storage facility for up to 250 buses
|Stores the Kitchener/Central bus fleet
|-
|Conestoga Boulevard Transit Operations Centre
|1967
|460 Conestoga Boulevard
|Storage facility for up to 50 buses
|Stores the Cambridge/South bus fleet.
|-
|Northfield Drive Maintenance facility
|2022
|300 Northfield Drive
|Storage for 200 buses, 25 dedicated repair stations (22 repair bays, 3 inspection bays) and 2 bus wash stations<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desmond |first1=Paige |date=Jul 2, 2014 |title=Region to spend $73M for new Grand River Transit garage |work=Waterloo Region Record |url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4611294-region-to-spend-73m-for-new-grand-river-transit-garage/ |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>
|Stores the Waterloo/North bus fleet
|-
|ION LRT Operation Maintenance Storage Facility
|2017<ref name=":0" />
|518 Dutton Drive
|Main yard for ION LRVs.
|Stores all ION LRVs. Operated by [[GrandLinq]].
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{GRT Terminals}}
{{WaterlooRegion}}
{{Public transit systems in Canada}}

[[Category:Grand River Transit| ]]
[[Category:Transport in Kitchener, Ontario]]
[[Category:Transport in Waterloo, Ontario]]
[[Category:Transport in Cambridge, Ontario]]
[[Category:Transport in Woolwich, Ontario]]
[[Category:Transport in Wilmot, Ontario]]
[[Category:Bus transport in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]
[[Category:Public transport in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]
[[Category:Rail transport in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]
[[Category:Transit agencies in Ontario]]