Older adult pilot program

The Older Adult Free Day Pass pilot offers one free day pass per week on GRT services for adults turning 65 this year and older, using the GRT Pay app.

The day pass can be used any day within the week for unlimited rides on conventional GRT buses, ION trains, MobilityPLUS vehicles and Kiwanis Transit.

Each Wednesday you will receive a new day pass. Passes are valid until end of service the following Tuesday.

The pilot runs from July 1, 2026 until Jan. 5, 2027.

Take these steps to ride for free:

• Download the GRT Pay app on your smartphone
• Verify your age using the online form
• Access your day pass in the Ticket Wallet each week
• Activate your day pass before you board
• Show the day pass each time you board

Download GRT Pay app 

1. Download GRT Pay from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your mobile device.
2. Create an account.
3. The email address you use must also be the same one you use when verifying your age. The email address links your account to your verification.

Read GRT Pay app terms and conditions as well as the privacy statement.

Verify your age

You must be turning 65 this year or older to participate. A one-time age verification is required to confirm your year of birth, either online or at a GRT customer service location You will need valid photo identification with your name and birthdate on it. 

Allow up to five business days for processing after completion of either online or in-person verification. You will receive an email confirming the process has been completed. 

Your first free day pass will appear in your app Ticket Wallet the Wednesday following receipt of your age verification confirmation email. 

Accepted forms of identification:

• Driver’s license
• Passport
• Health card (only accepted for in-person verification)
• Ontario Photo Card
• Senior membership cards
• Permanent resident card
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status card
• Canadian Armed Forces ID card

If you are registered with MobilityPLUS, you only need to provide your MobilityPLUS ID number to verify your age. 

Online verification:

• Complete the age verification online form.
• You will need to upload a photo of your ID and provide your email address.

In-person verification:

• Visit any of our GRT customer service locations. 
• Present your photo ID and provide your email address. 

Notice of collection

Personal information is being collected through this form for age verification for the Older Adults Free Day Pass pilot program. This information will be used to administer the program.

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001 and in accordance with the Region of Waterloo’s transit services mandate. The information will be used for the purpose of program administration, including age verification and program evaluation.

Supporting documentation provided as part of this application will be securely deleted within 10 business days of submission. Your birth year will be retained for reporting and program purposes.
Questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of this information may be directed to Renee Fonte (Assistant Manager, Customer Experience) at grtinfo@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-585-7597 extension 7347.

Use your day pass

Day passes are valid the start of service on Wednesday until end of service the following Tuesday. 

Each Wednesday you will receive a new day pass. The pass can be found in your GRT Pay Ticket Wallet. 

Unused day passes cannot be carried over to another week.

Day passes are not transferrable and can only be used by the age verified person. 

Day passes issued on December 30 are valid until Jan. 5, 2027.

Activating your day pass:

Activate your ticket just prior to boarding the bus, ION light rail, or a MobilityPLUS vehicle. 

• Open GRT Pay.
• Go to your Ticket Wallet and tap on your day pass. 
• Tap the blue 'Activate Ticket' button. Confirm that you want to activate your pass. Once it's been activated, your pass cannot be deactivated. 
• When boarding a bus, show your activated pass to the bus operator for visual validation. 
• When transferring from one bus to another, you’ll need to show your pass again when you board the second bus. To display the activated ticket, open GRT Pay, go to your Ticket Wallet where the activated day pass is located and tap it.
• Reminder, do not reach around the barrier with your mobile device.
• When travelling on ION light rail, board with your activated pass. You may be asked to show your activated pass to a fare inspector during your trip. They will scan your pass.
• When boarding a MobilityPLUS vehicle, show your activated pass to the bus operator for visual validation.
• To see when your pass expires, tap on the 'Details' button in the bottom corner. Under 'Valid Until', you’ll see the how much time is remaining on your pass.

Attend outreach events

GRT staff will be at the following community events and locations.
All events are free to attend, however some may require registration. Check each individual event for further details. 

Get to know public transit

GRT offers tips and tools on how to use transit and help you get around Waterloo Region.

• How to ride transit
• Plan your trip with Google Maps
• Travel training

Did you know?

In addition to the Older Adult Day Pass program, you may also be eligible for other transit cost-saving programs: 

• Affordable transit program: Residents with low income may qualify to save 55% on all transit fares, with no day or time restrictions.
• Ontario Seniors’ Public Transit Tax Credit: Older adults may be eligible to claim public transit expenses and receive up to $450 annually.