GRT shares its vision for the future with new business plan

Grand River Transit (GRT) has officially released its latest vision for the future of transit in Waterloo Region, hoping to tackle issues surrounding service frequency and access.

The new update follows public meetings held in June in hopes of better understanding what residents across the region want to see improved. GRT says the new roadmap will help to provide details on what could be on the way for its services through 2030 and beyond.

“It will focus on how to make transit easier to use, where and when GRT can serve you better, and how and where GRT should prioritize frequency and speed,” said GRT in a statement.

The full business plan focuses on three key areas centred around its conventional buses and train services, a new MobilityPLUS and Kiwanis transit plan, along with an updated township transit strategy.

Some of the key portions of its bus and train services throughout Waterloo Region include:

• Increasing service times to every 10 minutes on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and 15 minutes for all remaining times across 16 routes through Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo
• Expansions to areas displaying new growth along with industrial areas
• A new highway express system introducing frequent and rapid single-seat services between Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo
• Launching a 24/7 service on key routes with a 30-minute frequency overnight to aid students and shift workers

“The plan will guide the expansion of conventional bus and train services to ensure GRT can meet the needs of a rapidly-growing population, and support the Region’s commitments to Strategic Plan priorities and reducing community transportation emissions,” said GRT.

The plans are still in development, with a virtual session being hosted on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. for the public to learn more about each aspect of the business plan. Pop-up sessions and various township open houses are scheduled to run between Nov. 14 and Nov. 28.

GRT hopes to introduce the finalized strategy to the public along with an official review to regional council in 2025.