Grand River Transit iXpress

iXpress is a pre-bus rapid transit service operated by Grand River Transit in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Description

Grand River Transit currently operates six express bus routes under the iXpress banner. These routes provide frequent, limited-stop service along major corridors in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. iXpress stops have upgraded amenities such as shelters with digital signs showing real-time departure information, with some stops also including bike racks and bike lockers.

iXpress uses the same fare and ticketing structure as the rest of GRT’s bus routes.

History

The Region of Waterloo was selected as one of eight municipalities across the country to receive funds from Transport Canada. The Region was eligible for up to $3 million in funding, which would cover one-third of the development cost of the iXpress service. The Region submitted the idea of a Central Transit Corridor Express bus service to Transport Canada’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTSP) in Spring 2003. The UTSP was a five-year program created to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in Canadian cities.

The iXpress bus service is a key component of the Region of Waterloo’s Growth Management Strategy. Regional Council developed this strategy in 2001 to plan how future residential and employment growth should occur. As one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, the Region of Waterloo plans to develop the community efficiently - in a way that allows community members to travel by public transit, by cycling and by walking.^[1]

The original iXpress route (later numbered 200) was introduced in 2005, operating along the King Street corridor. Service initially operating on weekdays only, every 15 minutes during rush hours, and every 30 minutes during middays. Saturday service was added on June 30, 2007, operating every 30 minutes; Sunday and weekday evening service was added in September 2007. Service was further increased to every 15 minutes during weekday middays and Saturdays.^[2]

In order to increase ridership across the region and facilitate the expected growing population, the Region of Waterloo unveiled the Regional Transportation Master Plan in 2010, which consisted of seven iXpress-style routes that criss-cross the important secondary corridors along the region (with the proposed light rail serving the Central Transit Corridor), and where they are expecting the most growth to occur. These corridors include Fischer-Hallman, University, Highland/Victoria North, Ottawa, Homer Watson/Maple Grove, Coronation, and the Cambridge stubs centered around Cambridge Centre and Ainslie Street Terminal. The routes were to be phased in, with the last route planned to be introduced by 2015. The plan was eventually scaled down in order to put more emphasis on the LRT proposal, with the Cambridge stub routes largely eliminated; the timeline was also spread out, with all routes expected to be implemented by 2018. ^[3]

There were different naming proposals for the new iXpress routes. During the public consultations in March 2011, the proposal was to name each iXpress route after a colour, with the letter X at the back. For example, Fischer-Hallman iXpress would be named Blue X, and the shelter would have blue stickers in order to identify each route. However, the idea for separate route branding was eventually dropped, with all of the new iXpress routes being identified by a green colour and individual route numbers.

Fischer-Hallman was chosen as the first corridor to have the new iXpress service, as the current route 12 serving this corridor is full during most times of the day, and residents wanted a faster service to Forest Glen, Highland Hills Mall, and the university area. During the public consultations, there were different routing proposals at the north end. Proposals ranged from having the route go all the way east on Columbia to King, south on King, west on University, and north on Phillip, to having the route go only as east as Phillip, then head south on Phillip, west on University, north on Seagram, and east on Ring Road to serve the current UW Davis Centre bus stop. Eventually, the suggested proposal was to have the route go east on Columbia, south on Phillip, east on University, and north on Hazel. This allows equal access to the north end of the University of Waterloo campus, the RIM offices along Columbia, and Wilfrid Laurier University. Route 201 began service on September 4, 2011, operating along Fischer-Hallman Road. As a promotion, all passengers rode free on route 201 during the first week of service, and every Friday until December 30, 2011. At the same time, the original iXpress route operating along the Central Transit Corridor was renumbered to route 200.

University/Erb was chosen as the second corridor to have the new iXpress service, in order to provide a seamless route along University Avenue. During the public consultations, there were different routing and terminus proposals at the east end. Proposals ranged from having the route go all along University to Conestoga Mall/RIM Park or having the route go on Bridge, and having the terminal enter at Conestoga Mall or RIM Park. Eventually, the suggested proposal was to have the route go the full length on University, and the terminal located at Conestoga Mall, in order to make use of existing facilities. Route 202 began service on September 2, 2013, serving the University Avenue and Erb Street West corridors in the City of Waterloo. At the same time, route 201 was extended to also terminate at Conestoga Mall.

Route 203 began service on April 28, 2014, serving the Maple Grove Road and Franklin Boulevard corridors in Cambridge.

Routes

Current

Former

200 iXpress

Fleet

The original iXpress route used a dedicated fleet of buses with a special livery consisting of the iXpress logo. The original fleet consisted of Nova Bus LFS buses delivered in 2004-05; due to high mileage, they were replaced by new units in 2009-10, with the original units reverting to the regular GRT livery. Occasionally, regular GRT buses could be seen providing service if a regular iXpress branded bus was not available. Following the introduction of new iXpress routes, the iXpress branded fleet was not expanded; regular livery buses were primarily used on routes 201-206, and the iXpress branded fleet continued to be primarily used on the original route (200). Over time, the dispatching of iXpress branded units became less strict, with iXpress branded units being found on the newer routes (or occasionally on regular routes), and regular livery buses were a common occurrence on route 200. After route 200 was replaced by Ion in 2019, the iXpress branded buses were released for service on the remaining iXpress routes.

Current fleet

Fleet numbers	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
20901-20909, 20911-20913		2009	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP554C
21001-21006		2010	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP554C

Retired fleet

Fleet numbers	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
2406-2417	2004	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 5HP552C	2406-2407, 2410-2417 transferred to regular GRT livery in 2009-10.
2418-2420	2005	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP552C	Transferred to regular GRT livery in 2009-10.
20910	2009	Nova Bus	LFS 40102	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP554C	Retired from a fire November 2016.