International student cap to blame for drop in GRT ridership in 2025
Posted Feb 6, 2026 03:29:52 PM.
Last Updated Feb 6, 2026 03:29:57 PM.
Grand River Transit (GRT) is pointing the finger at the federal government’s cap on international students as a major contributor to the decline of ridership in 2025.
GRT will present its 2025 Year End Report to the Region’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development committee on Feb 10.
It shows that ridership exceeded initial forecasts; it was down 16 per cent overall last year, from 2024. It looks like that trend may continue into 2026.
“The upcoming academic year is anticipated to be impacted by new immigration policies and revised international student caps announced by the federal government in late 2025,” reads the report.
The data reveals that GRT had over 1.3 million conventional bus trips that moved passengers over 148 million kilometres in 2025. It helped keep an estimated 3.7 million kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.
When it comes to performance, ION light rail proved to be on time 95.3 per cent of the time, a slight improvement over 2024’s 95.2 per cent.
Bus service also showed improved performance, going from 73.7 per cent in 2024 to 73.8 per cent last year.
And to keep improving service, GRT plans on expanding the transit priority network and tweaking schedules as needed to work around major construction projects this year.
GRT MobilityPLUS saw a boost in ridership, delivering 199,500 trips in 2025. That’s a 16 per cent increase over 2024. And, GRT plans to modernize trip management software, which is expected to reduce the number of undelivered trips and improve online booking.
When it comes to infrastructure investments, GRT says it has installed 62 new concrete landing pads and 21 new shelters last year. By installing the pads, GRT said now 83 per cent of its bus stops are accessible.
This year, GRT will be looking to bring improved service to the townships after applying to the Ontario Transit Investment Fund. The goal is bring new service to North Dumfries and Wellesley and improve service in Wilmot and Woolwich.
It also intends to further expand GRT Pay options next year.
GRT said it would update its ridership projections for 2026 before the mid-year council report.
