Entry #65 - Late Night Service and Core Routes at Grand River Transit

Hello folks!

It's been a while since I posted my last entry regarding Fall service expansion for 2023. Since then, I have become a bus operator at Grand River Transit, and now I can see two different perspectives, the passenger's perspective and the driver's perspective. This entry will cover two key aspects: the core routes at Grand River Transit and Late Night Service (24-hour service). Let's dive into Grand River Transit's core routes!

Grand River Transit: Core Routes

The core routes are the busiest within Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo. I will break down each core route and identify the service area to which it belongs. Let's start with the Cambridge Core routes.

Cambridge Core Routes

Cambridge has a smaller service area, so the busiest routes in Cambridge are very identifiable. The core routes are:

51 Hespeler

53 Franklin

61 Preston

203 Maple Grove iXpress

206 Corontation iXpress

302 ION Bus

Kitchener Core Routes

8 Weber

10 Pioneer

12 Westmount

16 Strasburg-Belmont

20 Victoria-Frederick

204 Highland-Victoria iXpress

205 Ottawa iXpress

301 ION LRT

Waterloo Core Routes

7 King

201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress

202 University iXpress

301 ION LRT

These are the core routes for all 3 cities. Now, there has been discussion of Grand River Transit operating 24-hour service, which will become a reality in the next 5 years, with ridership growing at a rapid rate, as well as the Region of Waterloo will have a population of 1 million residents. Not only can overnight service be beneficial to workers in the industries, as well as the local stores who would like to remain open for 24 hours can also. This would bring in jobs as well as boost the local economy for growth and prosperity. Overnight service should have the core routes, which are identified above, that should be your overnight network, except for the ION, which would be combined with route 7 and route 91 Late Night Loop to create a mimic of the LRT, so maintenance of the ION rails and light rail vehicles can be maintained. 

I will include the link for the Core Routes and the Overnight service that Grand River Transit is looking to do. There is a lot of service expansions coming soon, which will definitely be a positive change for riders as well as operators!  

Link for Core Routes and Over Night service

https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/grt-business-plan.aspx#Frequent-transit-network

Entry #64 Summer Transit Expansion & Fall Expansion

 Hello folks,

I do hope you all are doing well and staying safe during these times. I have learned more about the service expansions happening in Kitchener-Waterloo, I will also touch a little bit on the GO Transit service improvements coming back. So without further a due, here's the potential Summer expansion for Grand River Transit

Route 2 Stirling - Route to be discontinued, replaced by routes 1 Queen-River, 3 Ottawa South, 8 Weber, 12 Westmount, 16 Strasburg-Belmont & 201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress.

Route 2's ridership never recovered from the pandemic; unfortunately, route 2 buses have been running empty. With that being said, and with routes 1, 3, 8, 12 and 16 covering most of the service area route 2 covers, it balances itself out. There will be spots along route 2 where there will be a longer walking distance between routes. 

Route 73 Northlake BusPlus - Route to be discontinued, service coverage by routes 9 Lakeshore, & 19 Hazel. 

Route 73 is another route in which the ridership never recovered, very similar to route 2. So the resources for routes 2 and 73 will be deployed along the other routes within the system. 

Route 8 Weber - Frequency Increased 

Route 8 is to operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday from the beginning of service to 7pm. This change would most likely occur during the Fall of 2023. Route 8 is one of the busiest routes in Kitchener-Waterloo. Route 8 covers Weber Street and University Avenue, Downtown Kitchener, and Fairview Mall in Kitchener. 

Route 12 Westmount - Frequency Increased

Route 12 is to operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday from the beginning of service to 7pm. This is another service improvement to occur during the Fall of 2023. 

Route 31 Columbia - Weekend Service

Route 31 serves Conestoga Mall ION Station, Davenport Road, Frobisher Drive, Bridge Street, Chesapeake Drive, New Bedford Drive, Eastbridge Boulevard (Eastbridge Neighbourhood), Lexington Road, Columbia Street, University of Waterloo ION Station. This route needed to get 7 days a week of service, especially when servicing the University of Waterloo and Conestoga Mall, as a helper route for route 201 iXpress, which experiences overcrowding, route 31 can be used as an alternative. This service improvement would happen either in the Summer or Fall of 2023

Route 33 Huron - Weekend Service

Route 33 serves the Sunrise Centre and Block Line Stations along Fischer-Hallman Road, Seabrook Drive, Huron Road, Ludolph Street, Woodbine Avenue, Parkvale Drive, Strasburg Road, Block Line Road, Courtland Avenue and Lennox Louis Way. Route 33 has gotten very busy since the pandemic, and ridership for this route has been on the rise for a long time. This service change could happen in the Summer or Fall of 2023.

Route 36 Thomas Slee - Weekend Service

Route 36 Thomas Slee serves Conestoga College Doon Campus and the Robert Ferrie/Forest Creek along Conestoga College Boulevard, New Dundee Drive, Robert Ferrier Drive, Doon South Drive and Thomas Slee Drive. Route 36 serves the Doon South neighbourhood. This route has had a major spike in ridership over the few years. Even during the pandemic, it was very popular because of the neighbourhood it served. This improvement would most likely happen in September of 2023. 

Entry #63 Cambridge Proposed Service Changes 2022

With the province of Ontario and Waterloo Region lifting COVID-19 restrictions, it was back to work for the planners to revisit the 2020 Cambridge service improvements. Local routes 50 Dundas, 53 Franklin, 54 Lisbon Pines, 56 Dunbar, 58 Elmwood, 59 Christopher, 60 Northview Acres, 63 Champlain, and 64 Langs have been up for redesign. The link for the proposed service improvements will be included in this blog. 

Route 50 Dundas-Myers (Route 50 combined with routes 54 Lisbon Pines & 59 Christopher) 

Extended route to Ainslie Terminal via Dundas Street, Myers Road and Water Street. Route 50 would continue to service the Lisbon Pines neighbourhood until the completion of Wesley Boulevard and Faith Street are linked to Myers Road. 

Monday to Sunday service every 30-minutes, 60-minute evenings on Sundays

Route 53 Franklin 

Extended route along Christopher Drive  Champlain Boulevard to Franklin Boulevard. 

New evening and weekend service every 30-minutes, 60-minute Sunday evening service 

Route 54 Lisbon Pines

Discontinued, combined with route 50 and 63

Route 56 Langs-Rose 

Combined routes 56 Dunbar and 64 Langs that connects Cambridge Centre Station and Downtown Preston along Langs Drive, Concession Street, Hamilton Road, Rose Street, and Eagle Street. 

Route 56 would continue to service the Argyle and Laurel Street communities in one direction. 

30-minute Monday to Sunday and 60-minute Sunday evenings

Route 58 Elgin North (Formerly named Elmwood) 

Extended route to Cambridge Centre Station along Beverley Street, Elgin Street North, Franklin Boulevard, and Bishop Street. Route 58 would operate Monday to Sunday every 30-minutes and 60-minutes Sunday Evening 

Route 59 Christopher

Discontinued, combined with routes 50 & 53

Route 60 Burnett

Rerouted route 60 as a one way loop connecting Cambridge Centre Station along Dunbar Road, Can-Amera Parkway, Saginaw Parkway, Cowan Boulevard, Burnett Avenue, Essex Point Drive, and Green Vista Drive. Service has been removed from Munch Avenue, Elgin Street, Glamis Road and Robson Street. Passengers can still have bus service, along Hespeler Road (Route 51), Elgin Street (route 58), and Franklin Boulevard (Route 53). Route 60 would propose to operate Monday to Saturday every 30-minutes, No Sunday Service

Route 63 Champlain 

Modified route 63 to operate from Ainslie Street Terminal and the South Cambridge Centre along Centre Street, McKay Street, McDonald Avenue Champlain Boulevard, Elgin Street, Concession Street and Franklin Boulevard. Monday to Saturday every 30-minutes, No Sunday Service. 

These are quite a bit of changes for the city of Cambridge, but keep in mind, these are all proposed, nothing is set in stone, I will post about the preferred service changes in a later blog in April. 

https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/resources/Cambridge_2022_Network_Map.pdf 

Entry #62 New University of Waterloo Station and Future Service Expansion

With the COVID-19 pandemic taking it's toll around the world and with more and more people getting the vaccines, which is a really good sign. This will bring in the opportunity for new service changes to transit in Waterloo Region. The first, is the University of Waterloo Station. This new station is still under construction, and it's so big, I would not be surprised if the layover at University and King for routes 8 and 12 will be moved to the University of Waterloo Station. I can see more routes having a layover at the University of Waterloo like routes 9, 12, 13, 19, 29, 31, 201, 202 will most likely have layovers at the University. By adding a layover this will add an additional 5-7 minutes to the routes, which is good because it will add more connections to the ION. Secondly, once the ION begins serving Cambridge, there will select routes in all three cities, that will operate every 24 hours. My guess is in Kitchener Waterloo, Routes 201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress, 202 University iXpress, 203 Maple Grove iXpress, 204 Highland-Victoria, 205 Ottawa iXpress, 206 Coronation Ixpress 1 Queen-River, 7 King, 8 Weber, 9 Lakeshore, 12 Westmount, 13 Laurelwood, 16 Strasburg-Belmont, 19 Hazel, 20 Victoria-Frederick, 29 Keats-University, 51 Hespeler, 55 Grand Ridge, and 61 Fountain are likely candidates for operating every 30-45-60 minutes. The ION trains are mostly going to operate every 30-minutes between Waterloo and Cambridge. Another interesting expansion I began thinking about was routes 22 Laurentian West, 26 Trillium and 33 Huron are probably going to be extended to Fairway Station. This way its more direct connections to ION and other Grand River Transit routes. On to the next expansion Cambridge. There's no sign of the expansion going on, unless plans get released to Regional Councillor. Routes 50, 53, 54, 59, and 63 are up for re-design and  more service hours in both Cambridge and Kitchener. It is unknown at this time when this expansion will occur. The first set of public consultations occurred in 2019 before the pandemic, it might be mentioned at regional council. I will keep people posted. That is all in transit news from Kitchener-Waterloo, everyone please stay safe out there. 

Entry #61 ION Route Changes and Fall 2019 Service Changes Reviewed

Hello fellow internet searcher,
This is a blog regarding public transit service changes regarding the current ION LRT launch in Kitchener-Waterloo and fall 2019 service changes for Cambridge. To begin this blog, let's start off with the ION Launch and the many routes that changed with it.

Route 1 Queen-River
 Revised route to connect with ION at Frederick Station and Queen Station. This change should have happened once route 1 was introduced. Route 1 being one of the main routes that connects to Downtown Kitchener, the route should have been removed from Charles Street transit terminal, and have it directly travel along Benton/Frederick Street to provide a more direct connection downtown. For those who wish to transfer to Charles Street terminal, at the time, routes 4 Glasgow, 7 Mainline, 8  University-Fairview would have been a more direct way to connect to Charles Street Terminal. Route 1 should have also been looked at to have been modified to service Rolling Meadows and Driftwood, similarly like having a 1A Driftwood and 1B Rolling Meadows. Which both routes would service the Boardwalk. Route 1 was a good change with the launch of ION.

Route 2 Stirling
Route 2 was revised to service Stanley Park Mall and the community of Forest Heights. This was another really good change. Route 2 have very little to no ridership downtown Kitchener. By removing it from Downtown, more people saw the 2 leaving Stanley Park Mall as an opportunity to increase its ridership. The routing itself is not that bad, but the only busy section of the 2 is from Stanley Park Mall to Highland Hills Mall. Once it travels along Westheights, Rolling Meadows and Driftwood, there's nobody on the bus. Personally, I see that as a waste of resources, and there really should not be 2 buses in Forest Heights. Route 1 should be looked at and modified to service Driftwood and Rolling Meadows and have 2 branches 1A Boardwalk via Driftwood and 1B Boardwalk via Rolling Meadows, and have route 2 service the Sunrise Centre Station and combine it with route 23 Idlewood.
Route 1 was an excellent change with the launch of ION.

Route 3 Ottawa South
Route 3 would be revised to travel from Sunrise Centre and Downtown Kitchener via Ottawa Street, Kingswood Drive, Mill Street, and Charles Street and would continue as route 4. This was an interesting change, I am in favour of it because it's direct, but at the same time, there is no Fairway Station-Sunrise Centre connection without transferring 3 buses. Personally, I believe the 3 should have been modified to service Sunrise-Fairview-Stanley Park. This would create a direct connection with ION as well.
Route 3 was a good change for ION launch, but could be reworked in the future.

Route 4 Glasgow-Margaret
Route 4 would be revised to service Frederick Station/Queen Station, Grand River Hospital Station and The Boardwalk Station along the Margaret Street, Park Street, Glasgow Street and University Avenue corridors. This was another good change, personally, this route, very similarly to route 3, should have been looked at to service The Boardwalk-Downtown-Conestoga College. This is another missing link that could have been connected. Having a Boardwalk-College link would not just help with the increasing ridership at Conestoga College, but also getting people that work at the College to their job when living out close to the Boardwalk or Downtown.
Route 4  was a good change for ION launch, but could be reworked in the future.

Route 6 Bridge-Courtland
Route 6 was revised to service Conestoga Mall and Fairway Station along Bridge Street, Downtown Kitchener, and Courtland Avenue. This was an excellent change. This provides a quicker and more direct route to Conestoga Mall, even faster than route 7. Route 6, however, should have it's frequency increased to 15-minutes because of how popular and busy it is.
Route 6 was an excellent change for ION Launch.

Route 7 King
Route 7 was revised to service Conestoga Mall and Fairview Mall along the King Street corridor and the Connaught neighbourhood. This was another excellent change, although, the short-turn 7s should be between Conestoga Mall-University of Waterloo-Uptown Waterloo and Central Station (King-Victoria) This is where most of the passengers get off for connections.
Route 7 was an excellent change for ION Launch.

Route 8 Weber
Route 8 was revised along Weber Street from Fairview Mall to University and King. Route 8 would continue as route 12. Route 8 has been a problem, not just scheduling wise route route wise. Before streamlining the 8 along Weber Street, route 8 had 4 branches, 8 Weber, 8 Courtland, 8 Franklin and 8 Westmount. By streamlining route 8 along Weber, this provides more opportunity for other routes to be revised and service the other sections that were covered by route 8. Route 8 and 12 need to operate every 15-10 minutes due to the University area, downtown Kitchener and Fairview Mall. This would provide more direct connections to ION and other routes in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Route 8 was an excellent change for ION launch, but route 8 needs more frequent service throughout the day and evenings and weekends.

Route 9 Lakeshore
Route 9 was revised along the R and T Park to UW Station. This was another excellent change, with the loss of the 200 iXpress, route 9 would pick up more students and workers in that area. To make the 9 even more appealing for students, 15-minute service all day between Conestoga Mall and UW Station. This is another excellent change for ION Launch
Route 9 was an excellent change for ION launch.

Route 10 Pioneer
Route 10 was streamlined along Pioneer Drive to Conestoga College. 15-minutes Monday to Friday, 30-minutes evenings and weekends. With the 10 longer servicing Bechtel Drive, the 10 now has time to connect with other routes at Conestoga College and Fairview Mall. This is another excellent change for ION Launch.
Route 10 was an excellent change for ION launch.

Route 12 Westmount
Route 12 was streamlined along Bleams Road, Fischer-Hallman Road and Westmount Road. This is another excellent change, but again, same problems with route 8, not enough time and not enough frequency throughout the week and weekends. Route 12 and 8 should have the frequency of 10-minutes, but in the evenings have every 15-minutes until 11:30pm, then it becomes every 30-minutes.
Route 12 was an excellent change for ION Launch.

Route 14 Bathurst
Route 14 was revised to service the Bathurst Employment park. This route could have been modified to service the Bathurst employment park in a two way loop or incorporated it into another route, like route 9. Route 14 is literally a 12 minute route, by revising it into a 2 way loop or incorporating route 14 into another route, it would save a bus and it deployed else where, or have the 14 modified to service the Northlake neighbourhood and the Waterloo Industrial Park all together.
Route 14 needs to be re-looked at for service improvements.

Route 16 Strasburg Belmont
Route 16 was revised to service Conestoga College, Grand River Hospital, Belmont Village and Uptown Waterloo along the Strasburg Road, Ottawa Street, Highland Road and Belmont Road corridors. This is an excellent change because, the 16 now connects with more routes and ION. Any passenger who wants to go to Stanley Park Mall, Fairview Park, Conestoga Mall or even the Boardwalk can get on a 16 and transfer at either Uptown Waterloo or along Highland Road to connect to another route.
Route 16 is an excellent change for ION Launch.

Route 19 Hazel
Route 19 is a new route with 2 services, 19A St. Jacobs Market, 19B Northfield Station. This is another excellent change for ION launch. With route 19 operating every 15-minutes Monday to Saturday and 30-minutes on Sunday, this is similar to route 16.
Route 19 is an excellent change for ION launch.

Route 22 Laurentian West
Route 22 was revised from Sunrise Centre Station to Block Line Station along the Activa Drive, Rittenhouse Drive, Country Hill Drive and Block Line Road. This change was another great change but Sunday Service needs to increase to 30-minutes rather than 60-minutes. Route 22 could also be looked at to service the Trillium Drive Industrial Park, which would be beneficial not only to the workers, but other people that work on weekends or midnights.
Route 22 was a good change for ION launch.

Route 26 Trillium
Route 26 would be revised along Homer Watson Boulevard and Beasley Drive to the Trillium Drive employment area. This route is in the same spot as route 14. Another route should be covering it or it could be servicing Forest Glen Plaza.
Route 26 needs to be re-looked at for service improvements.

Route 27 Chicopee
Route 27 was modified 2-ways along Morgan Avenue and Morrison Road.
This route, needs to be combined with route 23 and service the Sims Estate neighbourhood then to Zeller Drive. Creating a new Fairway Road-Breslau iXpress route to cover Fairway and King up to Fairway and Lackner could be looked at for increased ridership.
Route 27 needs to be re-looked at for service improvements.

Route 28 Franklin North
New route 28 Franklin North connects Fairway Station and Stanley Park Mall along the Franklin Street corridor. This route falls under the same category as routes 14, 26 and 27. Combine it with an existing route.
Route 28 needs to be re-looked at for service improvements.

Route 29 Keats-University
Extended route to Conestoga Station along University Avenue, Lincoln Road, Bridge Street and Davenport Road. This is another excellent change for ION launch. The two things that could be changed for route 29 are increased in frequency and modify to service the UW Station.
Route 29 is an excellent change for ION launch.

Route 30 Ring Road
New route 30 would service all of Ring Road and exit as route 19.
Since this route is not operating until the UW station is completed, I cannot say if route 30 should be existing or should be with either route 9 or route 13.

Route 34 Bingemans
Route 34 would be revised to turn-around at Central Station via Charles Street and Francis Street with additional trips along Shirley Avenue and Centennial Drive. Route 34 has very little to no ridership. The option that would be brought into consideration would be revise route 34 into a two-way loop connecting Bingemans Centre Drive, Shirley Avenue, Centennial Road and Victoria Street. Route 34 would operate every 15-minutes and would connect with Frederick/Queen Stations and Central Station. Route 34 falls under the category with routes 14, 26, 27 and 28.
Route 34 needs to be re-looked at for service improvements.

Route 73 Northlake
Route 73 was revised to service Kumpf Drive, Northfield Station, and the community of Northlake.
This is another good change for ION launch, but with the 73s ridership increasing it seems that the call for a full conventional bus, like using an exiting route (route 14) could be modified to service this neighbourhood and connect with ION and Northfield and Conestoga Station.
Route 73 is a good change for ION launch.

Route 201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress
Extended route 201 to Conestoga College via Block Line Road, Courtland Avenue, Manitou Drive, Homer Watson Boulevard and Conestoga College Boulevard. This is an excellent change for ION and now it connects past Forest Glen Plaza, replacing route 116, which is an excellent change, as well as an increased frequency to accommodate with the growing ridership at Conestoga College.
Route 201 is an excellent change for ION launch.

Most of the route changes for ION launch were very successful, with the exception of routes 14, 26, 27, 28 and 34. They need to be reevaluated for the service level that they have.

Fall 2019 Service Changes

Route 36 Thomas Slee
New route connects Conestoga College Station and Robert Ferrie and South Creek roundabout.
This route needs to interline with something, rather than having one bus going out there, have the 36 connect with the 16 Monday to Friday and that would get the route busier.
Route 36 is a good change

Route 50 Dundas
This route should be combined with the 61. There's not enough ridership on the 50 to accommodate for a conventional bus. By having the 61 be the connecter between Conestoga College-Cambridge Centre and the community of Green Gate.
Route 50 should be combined with another route.

Route 54 Lisbon Pines
Extended service hours until 8:45pm Mon-Sat.
Another good service change

Route 55 Grand Ridge
Modified and combined routes 55 and 62 into a two-way loop. This is another good change, this provides more connections to Ainslie Terminal every 15-minutes.
This is another good change in Cambridge

Route 57 Blair
Modified and combined routes 111 College Express and route 57 to connect the community of Blair, Ainslie Terminal and Conestoga College. This change needed to happen sooner than later. Route 57 has been losing ridership for a long time. This change, will not only increase ridership, but will most likely call for extended hours on Saturdays and possibly hourly Sunday Service.
This is an excellent change.

Route 58 Elmwood
Extended service hours to 10:45pm on Sundays.
This is good for route 58 as it is a very popular route.
This is another good change

Route 61 Fountain
Revised route 61 along Preston Parkway. This is a good change. Although, route 61 should be revised to replace service along Cherry Blossom Road to Sportsworld Crossing. This not only would help the industrial workers, but route 67 could be modified to service all of Fountain Street and Boxwood Drive employment area.
This is a good change, but it needs to be revised again.

Route 67 Eagle-Pinbush
Extended route along Eagle Street, Fountain Street, Cherry Blossom Road and Maple Grove Road. This is another good change, but route 67 should have been looked at to service Fountain Street to Boxwood Drive and the Boxwood Business Campus.
This is another good change.

Route 72 Boxwood
Scheduled trips along Boxwood Drive and Maple Grove Road, Flex trips to Toyota, Lawblaws and the Boxwood Business Campus. This change, in my opinion, was not the greatest change. With routes 203 and 67, there are many other ways route 72 could have been altered or even discontinued.
Route 72 needs to be reevaluated for service.

Route 75 Saginaw
Additional trip leaving Cambridge Centre at 6:30pm.
This is another great change. Route 75 has been increasing ridership, and will continue to increase. It will eventually get 30-minute Sunday service.
This is another great change.

Route 76 Doon Mills BusPlus
revised route 76 along Doon South Drive, Doon Mills Drive and Old Carriage Drive. This is a good change, but either modifying route 22 or 33 would be beneficial to serving the area.
A good change, but could be re-looked at in the future.

Route 203 Maple Grove iXpress
Extended route all day to Conestoga College. This is another great change, and it also accommodates the growing ridership at Conestoga College. The only issue I do tend to see is that the route stops servicing the college at 6:30pm. This needs to go until the end of service, this would provide more connections to Sportsworld Crossing and Cambridge Centre and the Cambridge Business Park.
Route 203 is developing ridership, but needs more service to the College during the evenings and weekends.

Route 206 Coronation iXpress
Brand new express route connects Fairway Station, Sportsworld Station, Downtown Preston, Ainslie Terminal and West Galt (Southwood Secondary) every 15-minutes Monday to Friday, 30-minutes evenings and weekends. This new route is not too bad. It is a very good change, especially to get Ridership for ION LRT in Cambridge, but the only problem I, personally see with the 206 is scheduling. Scheduling is going to be difficult for the 206, when I first saw the schedule, it looked like the old 52 schedule just given a new name and new routing. The 206 needs its own schedule, not a copy and paste of the old 52 schedule.

That is my review of the ION launch service changes and the fall 2019 service changes for Cambridge. There are many good changes that have happened, but at the same time, there have been service changes that need to be reviewed and looked at to make our transit system better.

Entry# 60 Changes coming to Conestoga College Fall 2019

Starting next year, the buses that service Conestoga College will be getting a new terminal as well as more frequent service. As an alumni of Conestoga College, this is the next step for the college to get more frequent service, similar to the University area in Waterloo. This year and next year, Grand River Transit will be focusing their attention to South West Kitchener, and possibly Cambridge, so the routes will be restructured in such a way that they will either terminate at Cambridge Centre or Ainslie Terminal or the College itself. This year, Grand River Transit introduced a new branch on route 10 (10A via Old Carriage), route 16 to operate until 11pm, route 76 to service Robert Ferrie Drive and Thomas Slee Drive and route 110 to operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday.

Next year, the service changes to the college are as follows

Route 16 will be getting new weekend service and at the launch of the ION LRT, route 16 will be extended to Uptown Waterloo

Route 57 will be resutrcured to service Ainslie Terminal and Conestoga College via Galt and Blair

Route 61 will be getting more service during the spring every 30 minutes and will operate until midnight

Route 76 will be operating every 30 minutes Monday to Friday

Route 201 will be servicing Conestoga College with more frequent service at the Launch of ION

Route 203 will be operating from Cambridge Centre to Conestoga College all day Monday to Friday during the Spring-Fall-Winter terms

New College transit facility will be located near the "A" Wing parking lot (off of Doon Valley Drive across from the college daycare.

As you can see from above, the college will be getting a lot more bus service from Grand River Transit. These changes will accommodate the ever-growing student population at Conestoga College.

Entry #59 My Review of the 2018 Grand River Transit Service Changes

As of September 7 2015, Grand River Transit has altered many routes even discontinued others, the routes that have been changed are 10 Conestoga College/Fairview Park, 16 Strasburg, 33 Huron, 53 Franklin, 73 Northland, 75 Saginaw, 76 Doon South and the routes being discontinued are 33 Trillium, and route 78 Hanson. These changes needed to occur to provide more direct service between key locations and neighbourhoods. So without further question, here is my review of the new Grand River Transit 2018 service changes:

Route 10 Pioneer

Renamed route to Pioneer, added a second branch via Old Carriage Drive and Homer Watson Boulevard, named 10A, removed Bechtel extension during the weekdays due to route 16 operating; both branches operate every 30 minutes to mimic 15 minutes, Sunday service increased to 30 minutes. The 10 is a tricky one, I do understand that the 16 does need assistance when it comes to the student loads during the school year, that's why the 10A was implemented. Although, a suggestion that could be made to Grand River Transit would be, operating route 10A on weekends, while doing the Bechtel extension would help the people at the college during weekends as well as accommodate the students that live on Old Carriage Drive, and the 10A could help route 16 once it operates 7 days a week with the launch of ION LRT with the students. The 10A should be operating 7 days a week, as compensation for route 16 not operating on the weekends, that way, not just the students living on Old Carriage Drive can get to and from places they want to visit on weekends.


Route 110 College/Fairview Express

Increased frequency to every 15 minutes during the day, and 30 minutes from the College to Fairview every 30 minutes. This is another example of Grand River Transit getting it right, the college area is getting busier and busier, by providing more frequent service, similar to the University area, the students will have no problem getting to and from the College.



Route 16 Strasburg

Extended service hours until 11:30pm, removed Behin Drive extension. This is another example of Grand River Transit getting it right. By extending the 16 later in the night, will mean, route 10 can get a lot of the student pressure off and jump on the 16 and get to home or get to Forest Glen in evening and make connects to the various routes at Forest Glen. When ION LRT starts, route 16 will be operating 7 days a week every 30 minutes.



Route 26 Trillium

New route covers previous route 33 via Trillium. This route will operate during peak-periods from Forest Glen plaza to Trillium and Groff along Strasburg Road, MacIntyre Drive, and Trillium Dive every 30 minutes. Back when I was in high school, I remember route 26, as it was my main route to get to and from home to school. Although it does please me that I'm seeing it return and it does being back pleasant memories for myself. Grand River Transit did do good on this route, there is possibility to improve the 26. An example of it would be to extend the 26 to Conestoga College (to acclimate the 16 and 116 during the school year and summer school season) this would provide a fast connection to the college and Forest Glen.


Route 33 Huron

Revised route to service The Sunrise Centre and ION Block Line Station via Forest Glen Plaza along Wilderness Drive, Activa Drive, Fischer-Hallman Road, Seabrook Drive, Ludolph Street, Huron Road, Woodbine Avenue, Parkvale Drive, Strasburg Road, Block Line Road, Courtland Avenue E., Hayward Drive, and Lennix Louis Way. Something needed to be done with route 33. The amount of people that depend on it, not just during the AM and PM peak hours, but during the day, people in the Huron Village wanted a bus that can get them from point A to point B, and that was the 33, but back in 2008-2009, the ridership on route 26 was low, so route 33 replaced it, and ridership in the Huron Village picked up, the industrial area remained the same. Now route 33 will be operating Monday to Friday every 30 minutes all day. I can see this route, if it gets busy enough, and it probably will, I can see route 33 operating 7 days a week, every 15 minutes, with the possibility of operating until 12:30am or later. This is a change that needed to happen and it will happen for the better.


Route 53 Franklin

Extended service into the early evening every 30 minutes. Route 53 will operate from 6:15am to 8:15pm. This is another example of Grand River Transit getting it right. Back a few years ago route 53 lost its evening and weekend service due to low ridership, now seeing that the demand for early evening service is there, there is a possibility it could run until 10:30pm and possibly get its weekend service back on schedule, but that is up to Grand River Transit.


Route 73 Northlake
Revised route to connect to Northfield ION Station via Kumpf and Randall Industrial area as well as extended Northlake loop to Rideau River Street in North Waterloo. Again, this is another great step in providing more service in communities. By extending route 73 further into the Northlake community, this bus plus route can possibly become a full conventional bus one day, providing service Monday to Friday, with hopefully the possibility of weekend service every 30 minutes.


Route 75 Saginaw

Added 40 minute service on Saturdays from 9am to 7pm as well as Sunday service from 10am to 6pm. This is anther great step in the right direction for weekend service. As a frequent Grand River Transit rider and transit maven, this additional service on route 75 is defenatly a huge step in the right direction. With only route 60 being the core route in that area, and it operates 7 days a week, the addition to route 75 operating can provide an alternative, and more direct way to connect the residents in the Shade Mills community.


Route 76 Doon South

Extended route along New Dundee Drive, Thomas Slee Drive, Robert Ferrier Drive, with an extension to South Creek via Robert Ferrie Drive. This is another great example of a route building up service in a neighbourhood so that people can go to school, work and possibly get their shopping done. This extension of route 76 will be excellent, and possibly will move to al day service within the year 2019 or 2020.


Route 78 Hanson: Route 78 connected the Hanson-Hayward-Fallowfield communities via the Forest Glen terminal. Route 78 operated every 30 minutes Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm. As of September 4, route 78 will be discontinued and a modified route 33 will be extended to replace it. I have done many trips on route 78, and they were not busy at all, maybe 2 people here or there, but what I would not mid seeing is adding a second branch to the 33, and modifying it to service Block Line Station via Fallowfield Drive and Homer Watson Boulevard. This would provide service along Fallowfield Drive. When route 12 was on the Fallowfield detour a couple years ago, man, many passengers used the 12 along Fallowfield, thus indicating that there is a demand for ridership along Fallowfield Drive. By adding a second branch to route 33, this would help the people along Fallowfield Drive.


This is my review of the new Grand River Transit service improvements.

Entry #58 2018 Service Changes

Hello internet surfers,

the 2018 service changes are coming, but not all of the changes are coming at once. Here are the following service changes

Waterloo

- Revised route 73 between Northfield Station and Northlake via Kumpf Drive.
- Extended service into the Rideau River Neighbourhood.

Kitchener

Route 10 Pioneer/110 College Express
- Split route 10 into 2 branches; 10 (current routing) and 10A (via Old Carriage Drive; weekdays only)
- Both branches operate every 30 minutes to mimic the 15 minute service
- Route 110 to operate every 15 minutes Monday to Friday

I can argue that 10A should operate 7 days a week and the current 10 routing should be weekdays.

Route 16 Strasburg
- Extended service from 6:30pm to 11:30pm

This needed to happen. Route 16 is incredibly busy, now what needs to happen to the 16 is weekend service.

Route 26 Trillium (Former route 33 Trillium/Groff)
- New route that operates from Forest Glen Plaza to the Trillium Industrial Park during peak periods.
- Once the ION LRT starts operating the routing for route 26 will change.

Route 33 Huron
- Expanded route between Sunrise Centre and Block Line Station via Forest Glen Plaza.
- Service to be extended from Peak Periods to 5:45am to 11:30pm Monday to Friday

- This needed to happen with the 33. The residence of Huron Park needed all day service. The only thing I can say the 33 needs now is weekend service. Having the 33 operate 7 days a week, would benefit the Huron Park residence.

Route 76 Doon South

- Revised route along Thomas Slee and Robert Ferrie Drive. Route 78 resources would be allocated to route 76.

Route 78 Hanson
- Route discontinued

Cambridge

Route 53 Franklin
- Extended service from 6:15pm to 8:45pm

Route 75 Saginaw
- New Weekend service

203 Maple Grove iXpress
- Extended service from 10pm to 11:30pm on Weekends

These are all good service changes for September.

Entry #57: Service Extensions

Since the Grand River Transit redesign, there's only a hand full of routes that have extensions on them or the extension has become part of the full routing. The routes that still have route extensions are routes 9 Lakeshore, 10 Conestoga College, 11 Country Hills, 16 Strasburg, 55 St. Andrews, and 59 Christopher. These are the only routes that have extensions, the 13 Laurelwood has an extension and runs year-round to Laurelwood/Blue Beach and route 23 has the Oldfield/Springmount extension incorporated into the route. 

The 9 extension, which the 9 serves the Waterloo Industrial Park (mainly Kumpf Drive) assists the industrial workers at night, the 9 extension operates at Sunday to Friday at 9pm. After 6:30pm on weekdays, route 10 is extended down Doon Villiage Road, Bechtel Drive, Pioneer Road, to Conestoga College and after the 10 serves Conestoga College it is extended to the College Residence. As a former Conestoga College student, I can say, that the 10 turning around within the College residence is a very bad idea. I personally believe that route 10 should be following the 61 routing out to the Cambridge Campus and turning around and coming back to the Doon Campus but have a layover at the Door Campus before departing back to Fairview. This way the 10 can not just collect students within Kitchener, it can also get the students in the Cambridge Campus. Route 11 has an extension, but it only operates on Sundays, but because of the roundabout construction on Ottawa Street, it runs 7 days a week, temporally though. The 11 is extended along Ottawa Street to Strasburg Road, and back onto Kingswood Drive. This way all of Kingswood has service. I have not been on the 11's extension since the start of the roundabout construction, I cannot say if the extension is busy or not. Route 16 Strasburg's extension is very interesting. When the 16 leaves Forest Glen Plaza to Conestoga College, it travels down all of Biehn Drive, turns around at the bottom and makes a right onto Black Walnut Drive continuing to Conestoga College. My first year at Conestoga College, I did take the 16 as the was part of its midday service, once I took it, i realized how useless the extension is. No one gets picked up, except for one person, I personally believe that the 16 should not have the Biehn extension, instead, have the 16 operate 2 ways to and from Conestoga College and Forest Glen into the Huron Village neighbourhood. The routing for the 16 would be Huron-Parkvale-Woodbine-Huron-Battler-Old Huron-Biehn-Black Walnut-Bechtel-Pioneer-Old Carriage-Homer Watson-Conestoga College Boulevard and into the college. 16 returning to Forest Glen plaza would be Doon Valley-Homer Watson-Old Carriage-Pioneer-Bechtel-Black Walnut-Biehn/Old Huron-Battler-Huron-Woodbine-Parkvale-Huron-Strasburg to Forest Glen. This way, the residence in the Huron Village would have more bus service during the day. For Cambridge route 55 St. Andrews, its service extension is traveling along Main Street and Grand Avenue, this extension is similar to route 11, it only operates on Sundays. Route 59 service extension is not very beneficial as it removes service from Langlaw Drive and has Service to the South Cambridge Shopping Centre, again just like the 55 and 11, it only operates on Sundays. 

Entry #56: 2017 Construction Season

It's construction season once again in Waterloo Region and with that comes many detours for transit riders. When the route you usually use every day can change during the Spring-Summer times, which means for other regular riders on the route, plan your trips accordingly and find the closest temporary stop for the route.

When construction season comes around, I personally believe that Waterloo Regional council and the transit planners should sit down and look at the areas that are going under construction, and add additional frequency to the routes. For example, Routes 200 iXpress, 1 Queen-River, 3 Ottawa South, 8 University-Fairview Park, 11, Country Hills, 20 Victoria-Frederick, and 22 Laurentian West.

Here are my thoughts on what the frequency of the routes should be during this construction season:

Route 1 Queen-River
Increased frequency between Fairview Park and Charles St. Terminal to 15 minutes

Routes 3 Ottawa South, 11 Country Hills, and 22 Laurentian West
Scheduling should be adjusted to accommodate traffic volumes along Ottawa Street

Route 8 University-Fairview Park/200 iXpress
Increased frequency on entire route due to road reconstruction along Weber Street

Route 20 Victoria-Frederick
Scheduling should be adjusted from 30 minutes to 20 minutes to accommodate traffic volumes along Victoria Street and Water Street

These are only my own thoughts, and probably won't be implemented.

Entry #55: Intercity Service

Before I get into any explanation on why I'm talking about intercity service for Waterloo Region (with respect to GO Transit) I will define the term intercity service.

Intercity Service: Transit that allows people to connect from one city to another using one or two buses or another method of transit service. For example GO Transit has 3 routes in Kitchener-Waterloo, the first is Route 25 Square One - connects UW and Mississauga, the second is Route 30 Bramlea GO-Kitchener GO, the third is new route 24 Cambridge-Milton - Connects Ainslie Street-Milton via Hespeler Rd., and Hwy 401 to Milton. These routes move people from Kitchener and Waterloo to Brampton, Milton and Mississauga cities without the hassle of traffic, and people save money on parking.

The reason why I am explaining intercity service is because, when I visit Toronto, there are busses from Mississauga, Brampton, York Region at certain subway stations and malls. This allows commuters during the AM and PM peak hours to get to and from work smoothly without the hassle of driving in heavy traffic. Then I got thinking, how come Waterloo Region doesn't have a couple busses operate from Kitchener to Guelph, or a couple busses operate from Cambridge to Brantford? By looking at how many people commute from Waterloo Region to Guelph and Brantford is a very large number, and by providing a more direct link between the cities surrounding Waterloo Region, more people would see Grand River Transit as a very good alternative to driving and spending a lot of money on gas.

The routes from Kitchener and Cambridge I would modify to go to Guelph and Brantford I will post below, please feel free to provide feed back. These ideas are just thoughts I came up with, and probably won't happen, but it is a good idea to get the gears for Regional Council going.

David's proposed Kitchener-Guelph Intercity service

Route 2 Forest Heights, 8 via Franklin 23 Idlewood
- Modify and combine routes 2 and 23 into a crosstown service connecting Fairview Park and the Boardwalk along the Ottawa Street North, Fairway North, Franklin Street Fischer-Hallman Road, Trussler Road, Ira Needles Boulevard and Frederick Street corridors.
- 2A will service Fairway North and Ottawa North to The Boardwalk, 2B will service Franklin-Frederick Street corridors.
- New Sunday service introduced on both branches.

Route 20 Victoria
- Revised route 20 to service the length of Victoria Street from The Boardwalk to the Downtown Guelph with making stops at Charles St. Terminal.
- Service frequency would be increased to 15 minutes
- Ner service along Centennial-Forwell Industrial area.

Route 34 Bingemans
- Extend route 34 from Shirley Avenue to University of Guelph via Victoria Street and return Downtown Kitchener. Route would have 7 day service.

David's Proposed Cambridge-Brantford Intercity service

200 iXpress
- Extend route from Ainslie to Brantford via Hwy 24 and King George Road and Lynden Mall. Frequency would remain the same.

Route 51 Hespeler Rd.
- Extend route 51 from Ainslie Terminal to downtown Brantford via Hwy 24 and King George Road. Frequency would remain the same.

Route 52 Coronation
- Extend route to downtown Brantford via the city of Paris along Hwy 2 and 403 and route would also connect to Lynden Mall. Frequency would remain the same.

Not only would people have more option of getting to work, but also going to visit Toronto, Mississauga, Orangeville, Brampton and so on. These are options to get people to see transit services as a money saver when travelling without the hassle of traffic and parking.

Entry #54: 2 years Later - 2015 Service Changes in Review

Back in September of 2015, the following routes we're changed and streamlined as The Region of Waterloo prepares for the ION LRT. After I've discussed the changes made by the Region, I will provide my own ideas for these routes and how they could have been improved.
The following routes were changed back in 2015:

Route 1 Queen-River

New East-West crosstown route that combined routes 1 Stanley Park and 25 Queen South that connects Fairview Park and The Boardwalk along the Ira Needles-Queen Street-Krug Street-River Road-Fairway Road corridors
15 Minute peak-hour service, 30 minute midday, evening and weekend

Route 2 Forest Heights
Combined route 2 Forest Hill and 24 Highland into an East-West route that connects Downtown and the Forest Heights West neighbourhood. Service has been extended from 6:30pm to 10pm.
New Saturday service from 7:30am to 10pm.
No Sunday Service

Route 7B
Streamlined route 7B the length of Weber Street

Route 8 via Franklin
Removed East Avenue extension, service to be streamlined along Weber Street to Ottawa Street.

Route 20 Victoria-Frederick
New East-West crosstown route that connects Stanley Park Mall and The Boardwalk along the Victoria Street-Frederick Street corridors. Route 20 also serves the Victoria Hills-Central Frederick-Heritage Park Neighbourhoods.
15 Minute peak-hour service, 30 minute midday, evening and weekend

Route 22 Laurentian West
New Sunday service from Highland Hills to Forest Glen Plaza

Route 23 Idlewood
modified route 23 to service Fairview Park Mall and Stanley Park Mall along the Fairway North corridor and the Idlewood-Lackner Woods neighbourhood. Service from 5:30am 10:30pm on weekdays and 6:30am to 9:30pm on Saturdays. No Sunday Service.

Route 27 Chicopee
Improved frequency of service to 30 minutes during evenings.

New Route 34 Bingemans
New 30 minute peak hour route that services the Bingeman Centre-Shirley Avenue industrial area.

200 iXpress
Streamlined to Hespeler Road

203 Maple Grove iXpress
New weekend service from 6:30am to 10pm on Saturdays and 9am to 10pm on Sundays.

204 Victoria-Highland iXpress
New East-West crosstown express route that connects Ottawa and Lackner and the Boardwalk walk along the Victoria Street-Highland Road corridors. 15 minute peak-hour service, 30 evening and weekend.


These are a lot of changes that happened in 2015. Since then many of these changes have been taken in with increased ridership, while others, have remained the same ridership. Now I will add my own personal ideas for the September 2015 changes

David's ideal 2015 Service Changes

Route 1 Queen-River
Since the combination of routes 1 Stanley Park and 25 Queen South, route 1 Queen-River has become an extremely busy route, you could say it has become busier than route 7. My idea for route 1 is to increase the frequency of service from 30 minutes during the midday and Saturdays to 15 minutes from 7am to 6pm. This way, adding 4 more buses to route 1 can help with the over crowding. No change to Sunday service.

Route 2 Forest Heights-Idlewood
Back in 2015, route 2 should have been removed from Charles St. Terminal due to a majority of the routes being removed and should have been proposed to be combined with route 23 as an East-West crosstown route, something similar to route 20 Victoria-Frederick. Route 2 should also have been proposed to service the Sunrise Centre, not just to make connections with routes 201 iXpress and route 22 Laurentian West, but to provide a more direct link to Sunrise Centre, due to the 22 taking so long and depending which direction a person catches it. When looking at the routing for route 2 (after  servicing Stanley Park Mall via Zeller) I would have the 2 going towards Driftwood/Westheights, go Ottawa-Courtland-Stirling-Highland-Hoffman-Homer Watson-Stirling-Greenbrook-Fischer-Hallman-Ottawa-Trussler-Highview-Driftwood-Westhights-Rolling Meadows then the same way back to Fairview Park. In addition to removing the 2 from Downtown, I would look at adding Sunday service between Fairview Park and Stanley Park Mall only, every 30 minutes from 10am to 7:30pm. Route 2, during the AM and PM peak hours would interline with route 8 via Franklin/Wilson, and during midday, and weekends, route 7 and 7A would interline.

Route 7 Mainline
discontinued the 7F via Wilson, increased 7A to every 15 Minutes and interlined 7A with route 2 on midday, evenings and weekends. 7F would be modified by the 8 via Franklin.

Route 8 via Franklin
With the 8 franklin and the 7B both servicing Weber street, it seems redundant to have both service Weber, so, I would extend the 8 via Franklin along Fourth/Wilson and interline it with the 2 during the AM and PM rush-hours. This would provide more direct service to downtown.

Route 20 Victoria-Frederick
The biggest complaint I've heard from passengers is that the 20 no longer services Charles St. Station downtown Kitchener. That is a mistake. The 20 should remain at Charles St. until the King/Victoria station has become operational. This way the 20 can provide connections to Frederick Street Mall, Stanley Park Mall and the Boardwalk without competing with route 1 Queen-River.

Route 22 Laurentian West
Route 22 should be combined with route 11 Country Hills. I like the idea that the 11 and 22 interline at Forest Glen, but by combining routes 11 and 22 into a crosstown route, it would help provide a more direct way from Highland Hills to downtown.

Route 27 Chicopee
Route 27 is one of the quietists routes at GRT. Route 27 should be combined with a busier route, like route 10, so it can get ridership levels up. The 27 also needs its summer day service reinstated because a lot of people need the 27 to Freeport Health Centre.

Route 34 Bingemans
Bingemans's finally has bus service, but it is only during the AM and PM peak-hour. Personally, I'd have the 34 (during the Summer time and any other time Bingemans has an event) is to have the 34 service Bingemans property. Saturday and Sunday service would also help the 34.

203 iXpress
Since the introduction of the 203 iXpress going from Cambridge Centre to Conestoga College, which is the time it's busiest, the short-turn at Sportsworld needs to go. There are students wanting the 203 serving Doon and Cambridge Campuses not just during the AM and PM peak-hour, even weekends, this way the 203 can get ridership levels like the 201-202 and 204 iXpress.

204 iXpress
The only change I have for the 204 is to have it start at 7:30am and end it at 12am. This way people can make their connections downtown and along the route.

These are my changes that probably would help and get more ridership within the Region as well as get people and GRT ready to be integrated with ION.

Entry #53: 2017 Service Changes and proposed 2018 service changes

To my readers, I apologize for not posting any blogs since November of 2016. I've been keeping track of what is going to improve at Grand River Transit for 2017 as well as a glimpse of the proposed 2018 service changes. Without further questions, lets take a glance at the 2017 service changes

Grand River Transit 2017 Service Changes

Routes 9 Lakeshore, 13 Laurelwood, 31 Columbia, 200 iXpress and 201 iXpress
- connected routes 9, 13, 31, 200 and 201 to the UW Transit plaza

Routes 10/110
- Increase AM and PM peak hour service to 15 minutes
- Route 10 increase weekend service to every 30 minutes - Sundays every 30 minutes during midday
- Route 110 - Peak service during the summertime

Route 27 Chicopee
- Summer midday service returned

200 iXpress
additional trip at night

Routes 201-202 iXpress
Increase Fall/Winter/Spring service to every 10 minutes

Route 51 Hespeler
removed short-turns at Groh/Holiday Inn on Saturdays, more frequent service between Ainslie Street, Cambridge Centre and Hespeler on Saturdays

Route 52 Coronation
Additional trip at night via Cherry Blossom

Route 57 Blair
Midday service returned

Routes 56, 75, 203
Additional service to make connections at the new Cambridge Centre Station - added another bus to accommodate new scheduling for each route Monday to Saturday

Route 61 Fountain
- new evening service to approximately 10:30pm

Route 72 Cherry Blossom
- Revised route to service all of Vondreau Drive

This is all scheduling service for 2017, this will benefit people in the areas of service being reinstated. Route 61 operating later at night should have happened a long time ago, service to Conestoga College is very under serviced as at night and weekends as it is just the route 10 on weekends and evenings. The 205 Ottawa Street express has been delayed until the launch of ION, this being said, the 205's ridership won't meet for another few years.


With all these big scheduling changes happening this year, 2018 is a huge expansion year, let's take a look what's happening


Grand River Transit 2018 Service Expansion + Launch of ION LRT

Routes 1 Queen-River, 20 Victoria-Frederick & 204 iXpress
- Shifted routes to connect with ION Downtown Kitchener

Route 2
- combined with route 23 to make a crosstown service connecting the ION Fairway and Borden Stations

Route 3
- Expanded service to the Huron Village and Rosenburg area

Route 4
- Ends at Grand River Hospital ION

Route 7
- Streamlined route 7 to King Street and Connaught

Route 8
- Revised route 8 to service ION Fairway, ION Block Line and Downtown Kitchener via Courtlaned

Route 9
- Revised route to service ION Conestoga Mall, Northfield and UW Stations via Hazel Street, Weber Street and Northfield Drive

Routes 11 and 22
- Consolidate routes 11 and 22 into a loop connecting Block Line Station

Route 12
- Shifted route 12 to service Bleams to Fischer-Hallman and Westmount, more direct service to University and King connecting the Fairway Station and connects (interlines) with route 18 at Fairway Station and University and King

Route 14
- Connect to ION Northfield and Conestoga Mall stations

Route 16
- New evening service and connects to Block Line Station

Route 18
- New direct Weber Street route connecting Fairway Station and University and King via Weber Street and Downtown Kitchener, interlines with route 12 at Fairway and University and King

Route 19
- New route that services Conestoga Mall, Northfield, R&T Park and UW Stations via Northfield, Lakeshore Neighbourhood, Hagy Blvd.

Route 20
- Extended to Fairview Park via Franklin/Fourth/Wilson

Route 26
- New peak only service to the Huron Industrial area via Trillium Drive

Route 28
- New Belmont-Maragrate route connecting Grand River Hospital ION and Downtown Kitchener

Route 29
- Extended to Conestoga Mall replacing the route 12 routing via University/Weber/Lincoln/Bridge/Lexington/Davenport

Route 73
- Extended to Northfield Station

Route 92
-Consolidate route 92 to Ring Road and University/Columbia/Weber to the ION UW Station, improved frequency and hours of operation (additional service on midday, evening and weekends)

Route 200 iXpress
Operates between Fairview Park and Ainslie Terminal ONLY

Route 201 iXpress
- Extended to Block Line Station

Route 205 iXpress
- new route that connects with 204 iXpress at Ottawa/Lackner
- 15 Minutes Monday to Friday, 30 evenings and weekends
- Connects Borden and Mill Stations via Ottawa Street


2018 is a huge year for changes for GRT and South-West Kitchener, the only two things I would personally switch are the 2 and 20

Route 2
- Consolidate route 2 Forest Heights and 8 Franklin as a crosstown service via Franklin/Fourth/Wilson - providing a direct link between Stanley Park Mall, Fairway Station and Highland Hills Mall - new Sunday service between Stanley Park and Fairway Station

Route 20
- Consolidate routes 20 and 23 into a crosstown service connecting Downtown Kitchener and Fairway Station via Zeller Drive and Fairway Rd. - New Sunday service

Those are the only two I would switch up, as providing a direct link between Stanley Park Mall and Highland Hills for the 2 would benefit the seniors along Franklin Street and would increase the 2's ridership. As for consolidating route 23 with the 20, the 20 would get much busier than it is now, since the 20 is a direct route to The Boardwalk and Frederick Street Mall, connecting it at Fairway Station and having it service the 23's routing would benefit it.

Entry #52: Huge Changes to GRT

Hello everyone,
I deeply apologize I have not been blogging since July, I have been extremely busy, but I have some very interesting news with respect to Grand River Transit redesign and the ION LRT and the Breslau GO station. To begin lets take a glance at Grand River Transit's plan from 2017-2021 plus the redesign from now to 2021.

Grand River Transit Business Plan from 2017-2021
This was a very interesting read. I say that because many routes will be extended to service ION stations plus 2 main routes that service the CTC (Central Transit Corridor) will be reduced. Let's take a look at the service improvements from 2017-2021.

GRT 2017 Service Improvements
201-202 iXpress
- Service frequency increased from 15 minutes to 10 minutes during the fall and winter periods
- This will reduce overcrowding on the routes

203 iXpress
- More service along route 203 to provide better connections at the new Cambridge Centre terminal

ION UW Station
- Modify routes 9 Lakeshore, 13 Laurelwood, 31 Columbia and 201 iXpress to service ION UW

205 Ottawa Street iXpress
- New crosstown route that connects Ottawa/Lackner and the Sunrise Centre along Ottawa Street.
- 15 minute service Monday to Friday, 30 minute evening and weekend service

Route 10
- Increased frequency to 15 minutes during the fall and winter times
- reduce over crowding

Route 110
- Increased frequency to 15 minutes during the fall and winter times
- New 30 minute service during the spring and summer terms

Route 27 Chicopee and 57 Blair Road
- Midday summer service returned

Routes 56 Dunbar and 75 Saginaw
More service along routes 56 and 75 to provide better connections at the new Cambridge Centre terminal

Route 77 Wilmot
- All day service

2018 (ION Launch)

200 iXpress
- Route operates between Fairview Park and Ainslie Street terminal ONLY

201 iXpress
- Extended 201 to ION Block Line

Routes 1 Queen-River, 20 Victoria-Frederick, 204 iXpress
Shifted routes 1, 20, 204 to connect with ION stations

Route 2 Forest Heights
- Extended route 2 to Fairview Park via Franklin and Wilson

Route 3 Ottawa
- Extended service to the Huron Village/Rosenburg area

Route 4 Glasgow
- Modified route 4 to connect the Boardwalk and ION Grand River Hospital

Route 8 Courtland
- Modified route 8 between Downtown Kitchener and Fairview Park connecting ION Fairview Park and ION Block Line

Route 9 Hazel
- Split route 9 into 2 routes (9 Hazel, 19 Hagey)
- both sections of route 9 would operate every 10 minutes and service ION Northfield

Route 12 Westmount
- Modified route 12 to interline with new route 18 at UW and Fairview Park
- Streamlined route 12 to Bleams, Fischer-Hallman and Westmount Roads

Route 14 Waterloo Industrial
- Modified route 14 to service ION Northfield

Route 16 Strasburg
- Extended route 16 to ION Block Line

Route 18 Weber
- New route that connects Fairview Park and UW along Weber Street and University Avenue via Downtown Kitchener.
- Interlines with route 12 at Fairview and UW

Route 19 Hagey
- New route that ION Conestoga Mall and ION UW via Lakeshore and Hagey Boulevard
- Operates every 10 minutes

Routes 11 Country Hills and 22 Laurentian West
- modified and combined routes 11 and 22 into a 2 way loop that connects the Laurentian West-Country Hills neighbourhood and the ION Block Line station

Route 26 Trillium
- New peak-only service between the Huron Industrial Park and ION Block Line

Route 27 Chicopee
- New 2-way service along Morgan Ave with extension to Chicopee Ski Hill

Route 28 Belmont-Margrate
- New route that connects ION Grand River Hospital and ION Frederick via Belmont Avenue and Margaret Street

Route 29 Keats Way
- Modified route 29 to Conestoga Mall via Lincoln, and the Dunvegan-Davenport neighbourhood

Route 73 Northlake
- Extended route 73 to service ION Northfield

Route 92 University Loop
- Shortened route 92 via Ring Road
- midday, evening and weekend service introduced

These are huge changes coming to GRT. Also, Regional council has endorsed the plan for the Breslau GO station, this would mean that routes 20 Victoria-Frederick, 23 Idlewood, 34 Bingemans, 79 Breslau, 204 and 205 iXpress would be modified to service that terminal. This would be greatly beneficial to the residence of Breslau.

Entry #51 Sunday Service

When looking at Sunday service for Grand River Transit (GRT) it is not the best service, it is very very limited. There are only certain routes that operate on a Sunday all day and there are routes that only operate during day (9:45am to 7pm) and there are routes that do not operate at all. To give an idea of what Sunday service is like here is the lists of what operates on Sundays

GRT Routes that Operate All day Sunday
1 Queen-River
6 Bridge
7 Mainline - 7A to Fairview via Connaught, 7B, 7C to downtown via Wilson and 7D branches only
8 University-Fairview Park
9 Lakeshore
10 Conestoga College
11 Country Hills
12 Fairview Park-Conestoga Mall
13 Laurelwood
20 Victoria-Frederick
27 Chicopee
51 Hespeler Road - B Branch Only
52 Fairview Park/Ainslie St - Presten Pkwy Brance ONLY
55 St. Andrews
56 Dunbar
59 Christopher
60 Northview Acres
200 iXpress
201 iXpress
202 iXpress
203 iXpress
204 iXpress

GRT Routes that Operate During the Day (9:45am to 7pm)
3 Ottawa South
5 Erb
22 Laurentian West
29 Keats Way
51 Hespeler Road - 51A Branch
54 Lisbon Pines
58 Elmwood

GRT Routes that Do Not Operate on Sunday
2 Forest Heights
4 Glasgow
7 Mainline - 7E & 7F branches
14 Waterloo Industrial
16 Forest Glen
21 Elmira
22 Laurentian West - 22 Downtown portion does not operate
23 Idlewood
31 Columbia
33 Huron
34 Bingemans
53 Franklin
57 Blair Road
61 Conestoga College/Cambridge Centre
62 Woodside
63 Champlain
64 Langs
67 Lovell Industrial

As a person that enjoys going out on a Sunday to visit friends and to do other activities around the Region, providing all day Sunday service on the routes that operate on Sundays instead of the midday service which could range from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to 60 minutes. As for the routes that do not operate on a Sunday, Sunday service would benefit having service in areas that currently do not have service, now to the list and the reason why Sunday service would benefit the neighbourhoods

2 Forest Heights
Providing Sunday service on Route 2 Forest Heights would provide a direct link between Downtown and the Forest Heights community. It would also provide more customer traffic along the route where businesses would benefit having customers coming off this route to buy their products, specifically the Giant Tiger on Greenbrook.

4 Glasgow
Since Weber Street is heavily under serviced, providing route 4 Sunday service would benefit the businesses and the neighbourhoods along the route 4 can now have service to The Boardwalk and to Downtown, and businesses would also benefit

7 Mainline - 7E & 7F branches
Since the 7F is one of the busiest branches of route 7, two-way service along Wilson would benefit the community because it would provide a direct link to Fairview Park and passengers can make connections at Fairview to go to various places throughout the Region.

14 Waterloo Industrial
Since this an Industrial bus route, extending service beyond the Waterloo Industrial park would help provide a direct link between the community of Northlake, thus replacing route 73 Northlake BusPlus. Providing service into this neighbourhood would be linking Conestoga Mall and an Industrial Park so people can get to work and go to the mall and passengers can make connections at Parkside, Conestoga Mall or to travel places throughout the Region.

16 Forest Glen
With looking at the 2017 service changes are coming up, this is one route that will be looked at, Providing evening and weekend service on route 16 would help reduce the crush load that affects the scheduling for route 10. Route 16 would help move the Conestoga College students who have weekend classes or just want to go out and go to the mall or see a film or travel throughout the Region.

21 Elmira
The townships are heavily under serviced, but because the township needs to make the request for more bus service, but providing service between Conestoga Mall, St. Jacobs Market, St. Jacobs
and Downtown Elmira would increase ridership in Elmira and St. Jacobs.

22 Laurentian West
In September 2015, route 22 got Sunday service between Highland Hills and Forest Glen plaza. Since that implementation, route 22 has come into Forest Glen a full bus, standing room only. Providing Sunday service along Strasburg, Ottawa Street and Courtland would provide a more direct link to Downtown.

23 Idlewood
Providing Sunday service on route 23 would benefit both Stanley Park Mall, Lackner Plaza, and Fairview Park, because at Fairview people can make connections to downtown, The Boardwalk, Sportsworld/Ainslie Street, Conestoga Mall and Conestoga College. 30 Minute Sunday service would benefit the Idlewood neighbourhood and the Lackner Woods Neighbourhood. When I am at Fairview Park terminal, I see route 27 pull in and wait for passengers, but route 27 leaves Fairview empty as for route 23, it leaves heading back to Stanley Park Mall a full bus, which indicates that route 27 needs to be combined with route 23 and be extended into Sims Estate neighbourhood and the Lackner boulevard corridor to Stanley Park Mall would increase ridership on route 27 or as I call the 27, route 23B Chicopee.

31 Columbia
Providing weekend service on route 31 would help reduce the crush load on routes 7, and 201 iXpress.

33 Huron
This route needs to have 7 day service because of the Industrial Park and the Huron Village is heavily under serviced. There is no other route that service the Huron Village or the Huron Industrial Park. Providing 7 day service, peak and non peak, but remove the service off Strasburg. the 16 provides service along the Strasburg Corridor.

34 Bingemans
A bus that services Bingemans park, but only during the rush-hours is an insult. But I do understand that this new route is to look at new ridership in the area, so far, the 34 is successful in getting new ridership, providing all day and possibly weekend service to Bingemans would benefit route 34's ridership and the business for Bingemans.

53 Franklin
Providing evening and weekend service on this route would provide a link between Cambridge Centre and Ainslie Street along the Franklin Boulevard corridor. Since ridership on the 53 is low, providing evening and weekend service on this route might increase ridership.

57 Blair Road
This route needs to be combined with route 53 Franklin and 62 Woodside. Ridership is dangerously low, which resulted in route 57 operating during the AM and PM rush-hours and hourly on Saturdays. With being combined with routes 53 Franklin and 62 Woodside, this would increase ridership and also provide a direct link between Cambridge Centre, Ainslie Street and Blair Road.

61 Conestoga College/Cambridge Centre
This route is the only link that connects Conestoga College and Cambridge, besides route 203 iXpress, which the extension to Conestoga College is peak only during the Fall and Winter terms, providing evening and weekend service on route 61 would increase ridership between Conestoga College and Cambridge. It would also help reduce the crush load on route 10.

Route 62 Woodside
Giving route 62 Sunday would help ridership in the Kent/Cedar area.

63 Champlain
Providing Sunday service on route 63, which services the Champlain-Christopher area of Cambridge, this route could help reduce the overcrowding on route 59 Christopher.

64 Langs
Providing Sunday service on this route would help the overcrowding on route 56, which also services Langs Drive and Eagle Street.

67 Lovell Industrial
Knowing that this is an industrial route, but it also services the SmartCentres Cambridge and the two ION Pinebush stops which would provide connections to the 200 iXpress and 51 Hespeler Road. This route services the entire L.G. Lovell Industrial park in Cambridge, but since the 203 services two Industrial parks, and it usually goes to Cambridge Centre and Sportsworld a full bus, providing service on route 67 may increase ridership between Cambridge Centre and the L.G. Lovell Industrial Park.

Entry #50 More GO Transit service for Waterloo Region

Last week, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynn made a huge announcement at the Kitchener Rail station, GO will be 2 more trains during the AM and PM rush-hours, another huge most for commuters is the GO express route 30 Kitchener-Bramalea GO. Route 30 is currently a peak only run (one trip from Kitchener train station to Bramalea in the morning and 3 trips from Bramalea to Kitchener in the afternoon). Starting September route 30 will become an all day route connecting Kitchener and Brampton. GO currently has one route that connects The Region and Mississauga, but many people may not want to go to Mississauga, so the 30 will be an alternative to travel outside the region. As for the 2 more trains in the AM and PM will also begin starting September.  Cambridge will be getting more GO bus service, which is a start to bring GO trains to Cambridge linking the entire Region to Toronto, Milton, Brampton and Mississauga. GO transit has been in negotiations with CN due to CN owning the majority of the GO Kitchener line, so the province is looking at building a new corridor just for CN freight, that would space up room to bring all-day GO train service to Kitchener. The extension of the Milton GO line into Cambridge is still being evaluated, but to help build up ridership between the Cambridge-Toronto corridor, more GO bus service will be added.

This is very good news for the GO Kitchener corridor and the GO Cambridge corridor, more service will bring more commuters and people who just want to avoid the highway and Toronto traffic, GO buses and GO trains will be looking at a large increase in ridership.

Entry #49 Construction

Since spring and summer time is the busiest time for the construction crews to work on many projects, which for the Region include widening roads, sewer grades and the LRT. Construction does have its impacts on the car and truck drivers, but it also messes up the bus travellers and schedules for the buses. With the majority of the Regions main artery roads (Franklin Boulevard, Ottawa Street, Courtland Avenue, Charles Street, King Street and so on) are closed due to construction. The best example for construction detours are Cambridge routes 53 Franklin and 203 Mid-Region iXpress. With the installation of roundabouts along Franklin Boulevard from Pinebush Road to Champlaing Boulevard, with the exception of Franklin and Glamis which would remain a traffic light, this has messed up the people using these two routes during the AM and PM rush hours along with the midday service. During the AM and PM rush hours, route 53 operates every 45 minutes, during the midday every 30 minutes, as for the 203 Monday to Saturday, it operates every 35 minutes, so being at the bus stop for these two are very important, because you literally have no idea when they are going to depart from Ainslie Street and Cambridge Centre (53) or Cambridge Centre and Sportsworld Crossing (203).
     I personally believe that during times of construction, people still need to be moved around the Region, with that being said, reducing the schedule for certain bus routes because of construction can really mess up travellers morning routines. I believe that during times of construction, there should be more buses on the road. For example, route 53 during the AM and PM rush hours, it comes ever 45 minutes, I believe that should be every 15 minutes during the rush hours and 30 during the midday, so people can remain on their morning routine. As for the 203 iXpress, that should be operating every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sundays. This way people using the 203 can adjust their daily routines so that they can catch the 203 and get to work, school, and so on.

Entry #48 Peak Hour Service

What seems the be the most brought up topic to my attention is peak hour service. Peak hour is also known as rush-hour service. Before I continue on, rush-hour service is defined as service that is provided Monday to Friday between 6:30am and 9:00am and 2:30pm and 7:00pm. There are certain routes that operate during the AM and PM peak periods, those routes are routes:
1 Queen-River (every 15 minutes during the school year)
3 Ottawa South (every 15 minutes for the school year)
5 Erb (instead of interlining with the 29 during the PM rush hour, there is an extra 5 operating until the end of service)
7 Mainline (extra trips on the 7B, 7D and 7E branches)
8 University-Fairview Park (extra trips on the 8 University branches)
9 Lakeshore (every 15 minutes during the AM and PM rush hours, there are midday trips between UW and Cedarbrea due to overcrowding)
11 Country Hills (every 15 minutes for the school year)
12 Conestoga Mall-Fairview Park (during the school year, route 12 during the AM rush hour ends at University and King as for the PM rush hour goes all the way to Conestoga Mall and in the AM the peak 12 starts at Conestoga Mall, once the Universities get out the 12 during the AM and PM rush hours, end at University at King)
13 Laurelwood (every 15 minutes during the AM and PM rush hours, there are midday trips between UW and Laurelwood and Blue Beech due to overcrowding)
14 Waterloo Industrial
20 Victoria-Frederick (every 15 minutes due to over crowding)
21 Elmira (because this is a township route, route 21 operates hourly during the midday and every 30 minutes during the AM and PM peak), route
33 Huron (operates from Forest Glen Plaza to the Huron Industrial Park and the Huron Village)
34 Bingemans (Operates from Charles St. Terminal to the Shirley-Bingemans Centre industrial Park and Bingemans Park)
57 Blair Road
67 Lovell Industrial
72 Cherry Blossom BusPlus
73 Northlake BusPlus (operates from Mccorminc community centre to Northlake Drive and Conservation Drive neighbourhood)
76 Doon South BusPlus (Operates from Conestoga College Doon to the Pioneer Plaza via Doon South Drive)
77 Wilmot BusPlus (Operates from The Boardwalk to New Hamburg via Highland Road, Snyder's Road, Huron Street, and Peel Street)
91 Late Night Loop (Operates from September to June only)
92 University Loop (operates during the fall and winter terms only)
110 Conestoga College/Fairview Park Express (operates from Fall to Winter terms only)
111 Ainslie/Conestoga College Express (operates from Ainslie Street to Conestoga Cambridge and Doon ever 40-45 minutes during the Fall and Winter terms only)
116 Forest Glen/Conestoga College Express (Operates during the Fall and Winter terms only)
201 Fischer-Hallman iXpress (operates every 15 minutes for the fall and winter terms. No service from May until September  30 minute midday and 15 minute rush-hour)
202 University iXpress  (operates every 15 minutes dfor the fall and winter terms. 30 minute midday and 15 minute rush-hour)
203 Mid-Region iXpress (During the AM and PM rush-hours the 203 operates between Cambridge Centre, the L.G. Lovell Industrial Park, Hespeler, Sportsworld and Conestoga College Doon and Cambridge Campuses for the fall and winter terms. No service from May until September)
204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (Summer and Christmas time, every 30 minutes 15 minute peak)

What bothers myself the most is when a new route gets implemented, it get's peak hour service only, that gives the folks that live in the area limited service and cannot get to doctors appointments, spend time with family and friends or catch a movie during the day. In my personal opinion, there should be no peak hour service. Everything should be operating, even just hourly service to the neighbourhoods would be better than having peak service. In other cities outside the Region, for example Brampton, everything operates, there is no peak hour service.

As a person that enjoys transit, I believe that there should be no peak hour service, everything should be operating because it's all about moving people and getting them around the Region quickly with reliable transportation.

Entry #47: Route 77 Wilmot and the Possible Expansion to other Townships

Starting next Monday (April 25) GRT's new BusPlus pilot project, route 77 Wilmot will begin servicing The Boardwalk in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Wilmot Township communities of Petersburg, Baden and New Hamburg. When reading more information about this new pilot project, the Regional planners are calling for 80-90 people a day (10-11 customers per hour). When the Regional planners put that in the report for the project, this will probably become a full conventional bus (40 foot bus). A new feature for this project is the flex routing. Flex routing is when a customer has to phone into GRT and they will be sent to a dispatch agent and the agent will determine if the route can do the flex routing. Personally, I am not a fan of the flex routing (just because of it takes the route out of it's way, and if successful, the flex routing would not work for a full 40 foot bus.) 

After hearing about the project, and knowing this route will do very well, the main question that came into my head was, what about the other townships? Taking a cab from North Dumbries (Ary), Woolwhich (Breslau, Maryhill, Conestoga, Elmira, and St. Jacobs) and Wellesley (Wellesley, St. Clements, Heidlburg, Linwood) can get very very expensive.  With this being the second township bus route, the first being route 21 Elmira, and shown that the 21 is very successful, why not give the 21 30 minute service during the week and Saturdays, even introduce hourly or maybe 40 minute Sunday service to see what ridership is like. I know this is all being very thoughtful and giving bus service to the townships would provide a direct link to spending time with family and friends, getting to part-time and full time jobs, see a movie, do errands in the city, going to the Airport and making connections to other GRT routes so people can move around the Region easily and quickly. 

Personally, I believe that route 77 will be a very successful route and will turn out to be a second route 21, busy and people can make other connections with other GRT routes and move freely throughout the Region.