ICYMI: Business plan for Grand River Transit proposes 24/7 service on key routes

This article was previously published on CambridgeToday.

Articulated buses, 10-minute frequency, airport service, highway connections, and some routes operating 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week are just some of the new initiatives detailed in a 10-year Grand River Transit Business Plan.

The plan, which will be outlined in a presentation to the region’s sustainability, infrastructure and development committee this week, aims to expand the transit network’s service area by 2035 to make transit “the easy transportation choice for more people.”

Implementing all the goals of the business plan now would add $80 million to the GRT’s $234 million operating budget, but those figures are presented for demonstration purposes only. 

GRT says it will refine its operating costs on an ongoing basis as staff prepares annual service expansion plans, which will be subject to council’s review and approval through the budget process.

Implementing the full plan would mean the number of full time staff would nearly double, with annual operating costs projected to rise to around $315 million in today’s dollars.

It would be offset by revenue from increased fares, provincial gas tax and advertising to the tune of about $115 million, according to the report.

The business plan identifies $798 million in major transit capital projects over the 2025–2035 timeframe, and approximately $544 million is currently accommodated within the approved 2025-2034 Transit Capital Program, the report says.

And while 2035 seems far out, some of the proposed changes could come in as little as two years. 

For Cambridge, it could mean new routes serving the city’s growing industrial park and southeast neighbourhoods.

An overnight network could offer 24/7 service on key routes with 30-minute frequency to support shift workers, students and businesses in core areas.

Highway express routes would integrate with the ION bus from Cambridge and shuttle riders between Fairway, Conestoga and Sunrise Centre stations. 

Along the frequent transit network in all three cities, GRT aims to reduce frequency to 10 minutes on weekdays and 15 minutes at all other times on 16 routes.

It would serve an estimated 400,000 people and 200,000 jobs. 

The report says the expanded service would mean, on average, residents and visitors will be able to reach approximately 38,000 more people and 15,000 more jobs within a one-hour trip compared to today.

Also proposed is a new frequent, all-day, fixed route service to Breslau and the Region of Waterloo International Airport, with connections to GO and intercity services at the future Kitchener Central Station and Sportsworld Station.

Expanded service hours are proposed for MobilityPlus and future fixed routes for North Dumfries and Wellesley would connect to GRT’s core network.

Other goals in the plan include free fares for kids 12 and under riding with a fare-paying customers and more affordable transit discounts.

The GRT says the plan was developed over the last year through workshops, attendance at community events and by collecting over 2,500 survey responses on how to improve service and customer experience. GRT says it received over 450 ideas on what the future of the service should look like.

The investment priorities identified in the business plan will guide staff in preparing future annual service expansion, subject to regional council’s annual plan and budget process.

GRT says it will also continue to source funding from senior levels of government.