GRT announces service expansions in Cambridge

Long-awaited expansions to bus service in Cambridge are finally set to arrive.

Grand River Transit (GRT) has announced big improvements coming to east Galt, north Galt and Preston. They will provide more frequent service and direct travel options starting September 4, 2023.

“One of the goals of transit is making it a trip option at all times of the day,” said Doug Spooner, Director of Transit Services with GRT and the Region of Waterloo. “Part of this plan is more service on evenings and weekends so that folks who maybe work shifts on weekends and need to get to work or just want to take some trips to see their family have that service that they rely on during the week is also there on the weekend or evenings.”

Cambridge has been calling for these expansions since before 2020. However, the pandemic caused delays with public consultation meetings.

There are major changes coming to the original schedule, with several routes being altered, added, or discontinued, including:

Routes 50, 53, 56, 58, 60, 63, and 65 have been redesigned in key areas.

Additional service has been added to routes 51 and 61.

Routes 54, 59, 64 and 75 will be discontinued, with alternate routes instead.

More information can be found at impacted bus stops or online here.

When asked about further expansions in Cambridge, Spooner told CityNews that GRT has a business plan that will be shared later in the year.

He added that Waterloo Region is seeing fantastic ridership growth on the ION and work continues on extending Light Rail Transit (LRT).

“Overall, the region and GRT are really excited for these changes in Cambridge,” said Spooner. “The opportunity to save customers between five and 20 minutes on their trips and to give that time back to their families is really important for us that we have these travel options.”