Grand River Transit iXpress

iXpress is a bus rapid transit service in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, operated by Grand River Transit. As of April 2014, it consists of four routes, one serving the Central Transit Corridor between Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge, Ontario, one linking south Kitchener with Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, one linking Conestoga Mall with RIM Park, the universities, and The Boardwalk in the region's west end, and the final linking Cambridge Centre with Sportsworld and Conestoga College.

History

The Region of Waterloo was selected as one of eight municipalities across the country to receive funds from Transport Canada. The Region is eligible for up to $3 million in funding, one-third 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.

The iXpress began service in 2005, to address growing demand due to the implementation of the U-Pass for Wilfrid Laurier University students, and general corridor growth throughout the Central Transit Corridor (King Street). It was originally called the CTC Express Bus Service. Service operated during weekdays only, operating every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes midday.

Saturday service was added on June 30, 2007, operating every 30 minutes throughout the whole length. September 4, 2007 showed the implementation of the U-Pass for University of Waterloo students. This, in return, introduced Sunday service and weekday evening service across the whole length, also operating every 30 minutes. 2009 saw service increases to every 15 minutes during weekday middays, and every 15 minutes on Saturdays between Conestoga Mall and Fairview. 2011 saw service increases to every 10 minutes between 7:00am and 7:00pm weekdays, weekend evening service, service increase to every 15 minutes on Saturdays on its whole length, and extra trips from Laurier to Conestoga Mall on Sundays. 2012 saw Saturday service extended to 11:30pm and Sunday service extended to 9:00pm and starting earlier at 8:00am.

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 being introduced in 2015. The plan was eventually scaled down in order to put more emphasis on the LRT proposal with the Cambridge stubs largely eliminated, and the timeline was also spread out, with all routes expected to be implemented by 2018.

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 plan was eventually dropped, and GRT decided to stick with the iXpress trademark, with route numbers being added to signify between the different iXpress routes.

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. Service on route 201 operates every 30 minutes at all times, except every 15 minutes during peak periods outside the Summer schedule.

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; both it and route 202 now terminate at Conestoga Mall. Route 202 operates every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night and weekends.

Route 203 began service on April 28, 2014, serving the Maple Grove Road and Franklin Boulevard corridors in the City of Cambridge. On September 2, 2014, route 203 was extended to Conestoga College via Highway 401. Route 203 operates every 30 minutes weekdays only.

Routes

• 200 iXpress
• 201 iXpress
• 202 iXpress
• 203 iXpress

Fleet

iXpress uses the same fare and ticketing structure as the rest of GRT’s bus routes. The buses do not bear GRT’s usual livery, but instead are white with a large iXpress logo on each side. These buses can be occasionally seen running regular routes, when the fleet is short on operable standard-livery vehicles.

All buses with iXpress livery are Nova Bus LFS models purchased in 2004, 2009 and 2010. iXpress-liveried buses are generally only used on route 200, with routes 201, 202, and 203 using regular buses. Occasionally, a bus not painted in iXpress livery is used on route 200. Rarely, a bus other than a LFS can be seen on the route, usually a New Flyer D40LF, an Orion VI or an Orion VII.

Active fleet

Fleet numbers	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Destination sign	Seating	Garage	Notes
2408-2409		2004	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 5HP552C	Luminator Horizon	39 American Seating Innovator 850	Strasburg Road	Fully low floor. 2408 has a rear wrap for "Artistic Landscaping Inc."
20901-20913		2009	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP554C	Luminator Horizon	37 4ONE Aries	20901-20910 Conestoga Boulevard 20911-20913 Strasburg Road	First 3rd gens (new rear design) in GRT and iXpress fleet.
21001-21006	File:IXpress 21002-a.jpg	2010	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP554C	Luminator Horizon	37 4ONE Aries	Strasburg Road

Retired/Transferred fleet

Fleet numbers	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Destination sign	Seating	Notes
2406-2407, 2410-2417		2004	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 5HP552C	Luminator Horizon	39 American Seating Innovator 850	Fully low floor. Transferred to regular GRT service.
2418-2420		2005	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISL	ZF 6HP552C	Luminator Horizon	39 American Seating Innovator 850	Fully low floor. Transferred to regular GRT service.

v·d·e
Facilities
Divisions	Strasburg (Kitchener) - Conestoga (Cambridge) - Northfield (Waterloo)
Stations	Ainslie - Conestoga - Conestoga College - Cambridge Centre - Fairway - Sportsworld - Sunrise Centre - The Boardwalk - University of Waterloo
Former Stations	Charles Street - Fairview Park - Forest Glen Plaza - Highland Hills Mall - Stanley Park Mall
Bus Stops	1000-1999 - 2000-2999 - 3000-3999 - 4000-4999 - 6000-6999 - 7000-7999
Vehicles	Active Fleet - Retired Fleet
Routes
Rapid Transit	301 302
Limited-Stop	201 202 203 204 205 206
Conventional	1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 50 51 53 55 56 57 58 60 61 63 65 67
busPLUS	72 76 77 79
Express	110
Specials	Industrial - Oktoberfest - School - University - University Exam
Discontinued	1 2 2 4 6 7 8 11 15 16 17 18 19 24 25 32 35 41 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 62 64 65 66 67 68 71 73 74 75 78 91 92 101 111 116 200 Kitchener GO Shuttle
Greater Golden Horseshoe Agencies