Grand River Transit

[Bytor]

I wonder if it would make more sense to have it go from Fairway Station to YKF? That feels more convenient to more people.

[ac3r]

Not really.

The Sportsworld terminal is closer to the 401 and 8 highways, GO buses, local buses and eventually a nearby LRT station and sits between two cities. It has significantly more useful transportation connections for both local and regional airport users. Fairway is more of a small local node served only by the LRT and a handful of local bus routes. A significant amount of people flying in and out of YKF are not from Waterloo Region, they're from all over the surrounding area, so being able to take a GO bus or drive on the 401 to get dropped off to catch a bus to the airport has much more utility.

[clasher]

Why would someone drive to sportsworld to get dropped off instead of just getting dropped off at the airport?

[ac3r]

There are plenty of reasons. The point is that Sportsworld makes more sense, especially if they also build that GO train spur from Cambridge. It would be a short bus or LRT trip to Sportsworld, then to the airport. There's just a much greater number of possible transit connections there.

[dunkalunk]

I wonder if it would make more sense to have it go from Fairway Station to YKF? That feels more convenient to more people.

The real issue is that ION is one stop too short. It'll require another transfer to get from Fairway to Sportworld and then Sportsword to anywhere else. What should be a 15 minute drive from Downtown Kitchener to the Airport is a 1+ hour long bus ride.

YKF is an intermittent destination, but that same transfer penalty applies to anyone working or going to school in the Cambridge Industrial park.

[dunkalunk]

Just throwing some spaghetti at a map. If I were to add more service to Breslau and the airport tomorrow here's how I'd do it.



Extend Routes 5 and 34 from Bridgeport and Bingemans to the airport via Breslau
Modify routing of Route 23 to follow Morrison Road and Grand River Blvd to cover service area of Route 27 Chicopee
Create a new route directly down Fairway Rd connecting Fairway Station to the Airport

In future, service could connect directly with the GO station in Breslau off Greenhouse Rd.

[KevinL]

To celebrate Ion's 5th anniversary, all GRT service will be free of fare on the weekend of the 22nd-23rd. https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/ion-5th-birthday.aspx

[Acitta]

GRT Business Plan
Grand River Transit's business plan will provide a roadmap to guide transit service investments from 2025 to 2030 and beyond. The GRT Business Plan builds on transit priorities identified through the Region’s Strategic Plan(External link) and Budget(External link) consultations. It will focus on how to make transit easier to use, where and when GRT can serve you better, and how and where GRT should prioritize frequency and speed.

There are three different pieces to the GRT Business Plan that we will ask for your input on throughout 2024:

Conventional Bus and Train Business Plan

Guide the expansion of conventional bus and train services over the next five years, ensuring GRT can meet the needs of a rapidly-growing population and support the Region’s commitment to reducing emissions.
MobilityPLUS and Kiwanis Transit Business Plan

Guide the improvement and expansion of Specialized Transit Services within Waterloo Region throughout the next five years.
Township Transit Strategy

Develop and evaluate ideas to expand transit services in the townships over the next five years, providing residents with better access to essential services and employment opportunities.
Business plan launch event
Join us on June 27 at 7 p.m. for a virtual townhall to launch of the GRT business plan. We'll introduce all three plans, and you'll have an opportunity to share your ideas and vision for the future of our transit services.

Share your feedback
Map your ideas for all three plans using the map tool below
Share your feedback on the Conventional Bus and Train Business Plan by filling out the survey below
Ask any questions using the Q+A tool below