Niagara Region Transit
ParentRegional Municipality of Niagara
Founded12 September 2011
Headquarters1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way,
Thorold, ON, Canada
LocaleNiagara Region
Service areaFort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland
Service typeBus service, paratransit
AllianceNiagara Falls Transit
St. Catharines Transit
Welland Transit
Fort Erie Transit
Routesapproximately 8
HubsWelland Transit Terminal
St. Catharines Transit Terminal
Niagara Falls Transit Morrison-Dorchester Hub
Brock University
Niagara College Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses
Fleet15 buses, ranging from 40-60 feet in length
Fuel typeDiesel, HEV
OperatorNiagara Region
WebsiteNiagara Region Transit

Niagara Region Transit is a regional public transit system operating in the Niagara Region of Ontario. Initial service commenced on September 12, 2011, and consisted of inter-municipal routes. In January 2023, Niagara Region Transit assumed the operations of Welland Transit, Fort Erie Transit, St. Catharines Transit, and Niagara Falls Transit to form a single unified local transit service for the entire Niagara Region.[1]

Service commenced the morning of September 12, 2011, and costs $6 per intercity trip, including transfer between two local municipal transit services. The service cost $5 for the first six months.[2][3]

A regional paratransit service, Niagara Specialized Transit, has been in operation since November 2006 and operated by Canadian Red Cross.

In August 2020, a two-year pilot was launched to provide on-demand service for Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet and West Lincoln.[4]

History

Prior to the creation of Niagara Region Transit, inter-municipal transit in the Niagara Region was provided exclusively by local transit agencies which provided inconsistent services between local municipalities such as Welland Transit which operated a "link" route between Welland and Thorold or Niagara Falls Transit which operated a similar route between Fort Erie and Niagara Falls. On September 12, 2011, Niagara Region Transit began operating a network of 3 routes providing service between Welland, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls as a temporary pilot project. This plan also included additional funding for existing link services between Niagara Falls and Fort Erie in addition to Welland and Port Colborne.[3] This marked the first time since 1959 that a single transit agency was providing inter-municipal transit service across Niagara.

In March 2017, Niagara's Transportation Master Plan identified a lack of integrated regional transit as being one of the main obstacles preventing regular GO Train service to St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.[5] The master plan proposed merging the services and operations of the region's three largest transit agencies (St. Catharines Transit, Niagara Falls Transit, and Welland Transit) into those of Niagara Region Transit. In December 2021, the plan was approved by the required triple majority as it was supported by a majority of Niagara's municipalities representing a majority of the regional population.[5]

On January 1, 2023, Niagara Region Transit began operating local transit services in St Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland. Services remained largely unchanged with the exception of extended service hours and changes to the fare structure.[1] Although local transit agencies transferred their fleets to Niagara Region Transit, most of the buses continue to use the livery of their respective former local transit agency.

Routes

Routes were updated as of September, 2018.[6]

Regular Routes
Route Number or NameTerminalsOther Areas Served
40 St. Catharines
45 Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/St. Catharines Bus TerminalNiagara College NOTL Campus, Outlet Collection at Niagara, YMCA St. Catharines, Fairview Mall
40A Niagara College Glendale Campus
45A Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/Niagara College NOTL Campus(Runs express)
50 St. Catharines
55 Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/St. Catharines Bus TerminalThorold Stone Road corridor (Niagara Falls), Downtown Thorold, Brock University, The Pen Centre
60 Welland
65 Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/Niagara College Welland CampusNiagara Square, Lundy's Lane (connection with WeGo Red Line), Welland Terminal
60A Niagara College Welland Campus
65A Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/Niagara College Welland Campus(Runs express)
70 Welland
75 St. Catharines
St. Catharines Bus Terminal/Welland Bus TerminalThe Pen Centre, Brock University, Niagara College Welland Campus, Seaway Mall
22 Fort Erie LinkNiagara Falls Morrison & Dorchester/Fort Erie LeisurePlex
25 Port Colborne LinkWelland Bus Terminal/Port Colborne City Hall

Roster

All NRT buses are equipped with bike racks.

Fleet
ModelOperatorFleet No.
Daimler Buses North America Orion VII Next GenerationNiagara Falls Transit2190 to 2192
New Flyer Industries Xcelsior XD40Welland Transit, St Catharines Transit1140 to 1142, 1150 and 1151
Novabus LFS Generation 4Welland Transit
St. Catharines Transit
Niagara Falls Transit
Welland units 1850, 1950-51
other units unknown
New Flyer Industries D60LFRNiagara Falls Transitunit 2830 (now retired and replaced by multiple Novabus units)

As of February 2023, the vast majority of Niagara Region Transit's fleet that was acquired from Welland Transit, Niagara Falls Transit, and St. Catharines Transit has yet to be converted to the new livery and so the buses continue to use their respective former local transit agency's livery.

References

  1. 1 2 "New consolidated transit system in Niagara". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  2. Bolichowski, Jeff. "Ride on new Region transit service costs $5 — at first". St. Catharines Standard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Bolichowski, Jeff (September 9, 2011). "Regional transit system hits the road Monday". St. Catharines Standard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
  4. "NRT OnDemand celebrates one year anniversary of service launch". Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "How We Go - Niagara Region, Ontario". www.niagararegion.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  6. "Niagara Region Transit Routes". Regional Transit. Niagara Region. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
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