$29M could be invested in new fleet of Waterloo hybrid buses
Posted Jun 12, 2026 08:42:08 AM.
Last Updated Jun 12, 2026 09:35:30 AM.
Waterloo Regional Council may be bolstering its public transit bus fleet with a new set of 19 hybrid bus models in 2027.
The contract, which would be fulfilled by ‘New Flyer Industries Canada’ as announced earlier this year, would cost the region over $29.5 million. The new diesel-powered hybrid models are more environmentally-conscious than the 14-year-old models they would replace, which local council staff say aligns with the region’s 2023-27 strategic plan. They cite the strategic plan’s focus on “climate-aligned growth” as a main reason for the purchase of hybrid bus models.
Grand River Transit uses a 14-year-old life cycle rotation for all of its bus models, swapping buses that reach that age for new ones. The reason, they say, is that buses past that age begin to cost more in maintenance and upkeep than they would cost to buy a more modern fleet of vehicles.
In Waterloo Region Council’s financial report, they state that “there is sufficient budget to purchase the buses however, the anticipated senior government funding has not been confirmed or secured” as of the report being published.
Should council pass the vote for the new purchase, the new fleet of bus models would be expected to be on the roads of Waterloo Region sometime in 2027, but an exact date of receipt has not been announced.
Learn more about the potential new acquisition at the Region of Waterloo’s website.
Your Community:
