Grand River Transit

[KevinT]

There was a segment on the Jennifer Campbell show (guest hosted by [I think] Jeff Pickle) around 9:30 a.m. this morning on the 6 month pilot program by Kiwanis Transit for a free local connector loop in Elmira.  I liked what I heard!

A quick google search found this:

The Record: Kiwanis Transit to launch free bus service in Elmira

[bgb_ca]

People on the beta for easygo can now load cards online.

[KevinL]

New platform layout at Forest Glen effective September, to include the 26 and the new direction for the 33, and set things a bit better overall.

[bgb_ca]

This terminal is being mothballed on ION's launch, is it not?

[timc]

This terminal is being mothballed on ION's launch, is it not?

So only another year or so, right?

[KevinL]

This terminal is being mothballed on ION's launch, is it not?

Correct, so they're likely putting in minimum possible effort on this.

[KevinL]

Cambridge high-school students will each get a free $24 EasyGo card. Part of the Transit Supportive Strategy that was agreed by the Region.

http://www.grt.ca/en/fares-passes/specia...tions.aspx

[panamaniac]

Cambridge high-school students will each get a free $24 EasyGo card. Part of the Transit Supportive Strategy that was agreed by the Region.

http://www.grt.ca/en/fares-passes/specia...tions.aspx

"Free" as in free, or as in paid for by the Region of Waterloo?

[KevinL]

Free to them, paid by the Region.

[Coke6pk]

What about my Kitchener high school children.... they don't get nothing? I need to pull a Doug Craig and complain about how Kitchener is always being ignored in this region....

Coke

[Viewfromthe42]

What would have possibly been far more effective would have been to use that same money to bring back the school special runs. When those disappeared, GRT ridership took a huge plunge, and with it, fares paid. Whatever caused schools to think that yellow school buses were the better option is surely cheaper (and with a far greater return) than giving the students all $25.

[timio]

Also of note from thirs article:
Paper tickets are no longer valid as of Jan 1, 2019.

So there's hope of going GA with these cards before then. Maybe.

[robdrimmie]

Also of note from thirs article:
Paper tickets are no longer valid as of Jan 1, 2019.

So there's hope of going GA with these cards before then.  Maybe.

The beta web site has launched, and they're no longer offering the discounted prices to beta users, so I think they're expecting to be live pretty soon. Overall the system has been very reliable in my experience (as a stored value user who rides the bus to and from work one day each week or so). I don't think this project is dependant on Ion for anything, so the outlook seems pretty good so far. It has gone on a lot longer than they claimed to think it might though.

[KevinL]

Here's something I'd not previously heard of: they are proposing a full bus terminal at the Conestoga College Doon Campus, to open by Sept 2019.

Details: http://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/conestoga...rvice.aspx

[trainspotter139]

Here's something I'd not previously heard of: they are proposing a full bus terminal at the Conestoga College Doon Campus, to open by Sept 2019.

Details: http://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/conestoga...rvice.aspx

Until it opens they are moving the 203 iXpress stop from Door 3 to the stop sign on the internal roadway near Door 6 opposite the Rec Centre.