GRT Business Plan

Frequent transit network

• Service every 10 minutes weekdays from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., and service every 15 minutes all other times, on 16 key routes in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo
• Riders will benefit from improved transfers and save up to six minutes during peak times and up to eight minutes during off-peak times
• Proposed frequent transit network routes include:
• 301, 302, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 7, 8, 12, 16, 20, 51, 53, 61

• Map illustrates the proposed frequent transit network concept using current network and routes

  • Final network subject to change through annual reviews and approval process for service, infrastructure, operations, and budget

• Strategic transit priorities achieved: 
  • Frequency, Speed, Customer-driven innovation, Strategic new coverage, and Simple and intuitive transit
    

 Strategic new coverage

• New routes and route adjustments to improve GRT’s coverage of new and growing communities, and industrial areas as the GRT bus fleet grows
• Riders will gain access to new or improved services on key corridors near their neighbourhood and workplace
GRT’s focus areas for new coverage include:
• Cambridge industries
• Southwest Kitchener
• North Waterloo
• Strategic transit priorities achieved:
  • Customer-driven innovation, Strategic new coverage
    

 Consistent schedules

• Make schedules more consistent all day, with frequency improvements on many local routes
• Riders will enjoy more consistent travel times and improved transfers, all day, every day
• GRT will focus on:
  • Improved evening schedules
  • New and improved weekend service
  • More consistent schedules all day during the weekday as the GRT bus fleet grows
• Strategic transit priorities achieved:
  • Frequency, Speed, Customer-driven innovation, Strategic new coverage, and Simple and intuitive transit
    

 Highway express

• A proposed limited-stop “super express” service connecting Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo to improve speed and transit freedom
• Service every 15 minutes, all day, every day
• Four stops at major stations that provide connections to each community:
  • Cambridge Centre, Pinebush, Sportsworld, Conestoga
• Riders will get more time back in their day, with potential time savings of up to 35 minutes between Cambridge and Waterloo
• Transit trips across the tri-cities could compete with car and rideshare
• Supports ridership growth ahead of Stage 2 ION and Cambridge-Guelph passenger rail projects

• Map illustrates proposed highway express concept using current network and routes

  • Final network subject to change through annual reviews and approval process for service, infrastructure, operations, and budget

• Strategic transit priorities achieved:
  • Speed, Customer-driven innovation and Simple and intuitive transit

 Overnight network

• Introduce 24/7 bus service on most of GRT’s busiest routes across Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo
• Overnight service every 30 minutes on core routes, with industrial trips to support 24/7 operations (areas shaded in blue on map)
• Customers studying or working late night/overnight shifts will have transit options all night long, all week
• Operational adjustments for transit security and station and stop improvements will be considered to support safe and inclusive trips for overnight operators and riders
• Preliminary proposed overnight network routes include:
  • Routes 301 (modified bus service integrated with routes 7 and 91), 302 (modified service integrated with route 51), 201, 202, 204, 8, 12, and industrial trips
• Map illustrates proposed overnight network concept using current network and routes
  • Final network subject to change through annual reviews and approval process for service, infrastructure, operations, and budget
• Strategic transit priorities achieved:
  • Speed, Customer-driven innovation and Strategic new coverage
    
    

• Customers are satisfied with MobilityPLUS services overall; the service allows customers to feel independent and confident
• Customers have good experiences with operators and dispatchers
• There is growing demand for MobilityPLUS service, and GRT is facing challenges in meeting the demand for trips
• Customers like the ability to book trips online
• Customers are unhappy with trip lengths and drop-off times
• Customers feel rushed when boarding vehicles

 Key strategic priorities have been identified for the MobilityPLUS and Kiwanis Transit Business Plan:

• Improve GRT’s capacity to meet growing trip requests
• Continue to improve MobilityPLUS service and customer experience
• Investigate technology solutions to improve service
• Better understand customer needs and improve customer communication
• Improve coordination between MobilityPLUS and Kiwanis Transit

• Implement new end-to-end technology that handles eligibility and operations, to improve scheduling and collect better data on unmet trips
• Hire additional staff to support transition to new technology system and better customer experience
• Investigate microtransit and comingling, where flex routes and vehicles could serve both MobilityPLUS customers and non-MobilityPLUS customers in low ridership areas
• Integrate tracking of accessible taxis within specialized software
• Better engage with a broader customer base with diverse disabilities
• Establish channels for MobilityPLUS and Kiwanis Transit to better coordinate services where appropriate