Two Norwalk Transit District (Gillig BRT 35)
Founded1978
Headquarters275 Wilson Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
LocaleSouthwestern Connecticut
Service areaNorwalk, Westport, Greenwich, and nearby communities
Service typeLocal bus service
RoutesLocal fixed route services in Norwalk, Greenwich and Westport, CT, and regional connections to Stamford, Danbury, Wilton, Bridgeport, and Milford, CT
HubsNorwalk WHEELS Hub
(for Norwalk Fixed Route) South Norwalk RR Station (Norwalk Commuter Shuttles), Westport RR Station, Greens Farms RR Station (Westport Service), Greenwich RR Station (Greenwich Commuter Shuttles)
Fleet76[1]
Daily ridership2005: 6,299 (weekday); 2,927 (Saturday); 523 (Sunday)[2]
OperatorNorwalk Transit District
Chief executiveMatthew Pentz (Chief Executive Officer)
Websitewww.norwalktransit.com

The Norwalk Transit District is the primary provider of public transportation services in Norwalk, Connecticut, United States, and surrounding communities. The local Norwalk fixed-route bus transit system, known as WHEELS, is the primary service of the district linking Norwalk and its immediate suburbs. The agency also operates regional bus services as far north as Danbury (with HARTransit) and as far east as Bridgeport (with GBT) and commuter shuttles to Metro-North stations. Paratransit door-to-door services are available for residents in the service area unable to use regular transit services. Norwalk Transit contracts with local transportation service providers to perform some of the door-to-door services, and is also the provider of public transit for the Westport Transit District.

The city of Norwalk founded the Norwalk Transit District in 1978, seven years after the Connecticut Company ceased operations in Norwalk outside of their route linking Norwalk to Stamford (which continues as Connecticut Transit Stamford Route 41). The district receives local, federal and state funding from the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Routes

Norwalk Transit operates fixed routes throughout Norwalk, Westport and Greenwich, CT. A "pulse-point" system is used with all Norwalk routes meeting at the "WHEELS Hub" in downtown Norwalk to facilitate instant transfers between local Norwalk routes and regional connections such as CT Transit Route 341.[3][4] Passengers on WHEELS routes 11 and 13 can transfer in shared service areas along U.S. Route 1. Fares as of 2017 are $1.75 (US) for a 90-minute unlimited pass.

WHEELS services

8 fixed route services, 1 School Tripper and 1 Shuttle, all in the city limits of Norwalk, run as bidirectional loops from the transit hub, starting at approximately 5:00 am and ending at 8:00 pm weekdays. Weekend services operate from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Only Routes 3,7,9,10,11,13 run on Saturdays

  • 1 - West Norwalk
  • 3 - Route 7 / Glover Ave (Skips GLover Ave on Saturdays, bus turns around at Walmart Route 7)
  • 4 - Wilton Center
  • 7 - Strawberry Hill Ave / Calf Pasture Beach
  • 9 - Hospital/ South Norwalk
  • 10- South Norwalk RR Stn/ Wilson Ave
  • 11- Crosstown to Norwalk Community College
  • 13- NCC via CT Ave
  • 15- School Trip: Norwalk High
  • Highland Ave Express- Roton Middle School via South Norwalk RR Stn (Replacement for Wheels Route 12)

Evening and weekend shuttles

Two year round shuttles that operate in the evenings and all day Sunday as a replacement for fixed route service. They operating hours are Monday- Friday 7pm-10:30pm, Saturday 6:30pm–9:30pm and Sunday 8:30am– 7:30pm. There is one seasonal shuttle that runs to the beach on Sundays only during the summer months from 8:30am-5pm.

  • Connecticut Ave Shuttle: Goes to South Norwalk Railroad Station and Norwalk Transit District offices and to NCC via Connecticut Ave. Its a replica of WHEELS routes 10 and 13.
  • Main Ave Shuttle: Goes to Woodward Ave and to Main Ave\ Route 7 to Walmart where the bus turns around, its a replica of WHEELS route 3 and 9.
  • Calf Pasture Beach Shuttle (June–September): Seasonal Shuttle that runs to Calf Pasture Beach via East Ave, Its a replica of the discontinued WHEELS route 8.

Regional connections

  • Route 7 Link: Danbury-Norwalk via Route 7 . It is operated exclusively by Housatonic Area Regional Transit. Formerly a joint route operated by both HART and NTD but due to low ridership NTD discontinued their trips on January 23, 2018.
  • Coastal Link: Norwalk to Milford via Route 1. This route is operated by Norwalk Transit District in partnership with Greater Bridgeport Transit and Milford Transit District.
  • Transfers with CT Transit Route 341 at the WHEELS Hub

Norwalk commuter shuttles

Four Commuter shuttles that operate during rush hour (7am-10am and 3:30pm–6:30pm) from South Norwalk Railroad Station to their respective destinations.

  • Norwalk Hospital/Belden Avenue
  • Merritt 7/Glover Avenue
  • Westport Road/Wilton
  • Norwalk Community College/Connecticut Ave (Operates AM Rush only)

Westport commuter shuttles

Seven routes operate during peak train times to and from Westport residential and commercial areas and Sauguatuck Metro-North Station and Greens Farm Metro-North Station.

  • S1- Jesup Green/ Post Rd
  • S2- Old Hill Rd/ Newtown Turnpike
  • S3- Weston Rd/ Compo Rd
  • S4 Hills Point Rd/ Compo Beach
  • G1- North Ave/ Coleytown
  • G2- Bayberry Lane/ Sturges Highway
  • IPL- Imperial Ave Shuttle

Greenwich commuter shuttles

Two Commuter Shuttles that operate during Rush hour out of Greenwich Railroad Station.

  • Central Loop
  • West Loop

Door-to-door services

  • Norwalk Transit directly operates and contracts with a number of local operators to provide ADA and Paratrasit service for much of Fairfield County.

Fleet

Manufacturer/Model Year(s) built Fleet numbers Powertrain Notes Photo
GIllig LF 29' 2002 G101-G102
(2)		 Cummins ISL\ Allison B300R5
  • Former Greenwich Commuter Shuttle that was transferred to Shuttle Division in March 2016 and was taken out of service in August 2016, the buses are listed on the official active roster but is currently stored on the deadline awaiting disposition.
Orion VII 07.502 35' 2004 147-165
(19)		 Detroit Diesel S50 EGR/ Allison B-400R5
  • WHEELS
  • Active
  • 2003 models built in 2004
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
  • 147-152,156-157 and 165 retired
Gillig LF 35' 2006 167-169
(3)		 Cummins ISL04/ Allison B-400R5
  • WHEELS
  • Active
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
Gillig LF 29' 2008 228-229, G103-G104
(4)		 Cummins ISL07-Allison B-300R6
  • Shuttle
  • Active
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
  • 229 has "executive" style high back seating as a test for the rest of the fleet
  • G103-G104 is assigned to the Greenwich Commuter Shuttle, due to low ridership they have replaced by cutaway vans and their current status is unknown.
Gillig LF 35' 2008 170-173
(4)		 Cummins ISL07-Allison B-400R6
  • WHEELS Service
  • Active
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
Gillig LF 29' 2010 230
(1)		 Cummins ISL07-Allison B-300R6
  • Shuttle
  • Active
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
Gillig LF 35' 2010 174-175
(2)		 Cummins ISL07-Allison B-400R6
  • WHEELS
  • Active
  • These units have a GPS system with automated announcements
Gillig LF 40' 2010 176
(1)		 Cummins ISL07-Allison B-400R6
  • Coastal Link
  • Active
  • Assigned to Coastal Link
  • This unit has a GPS system with automated announcements
New Flyer XD40 2014 177-178
(2)		 Cummins ISL9 EPA13\ Allison B400R6
  • Coastal Link
  • Active
  • Assigned to Coastal Link
  • Replaced 2001 New Flyer D40LF 135 & 136
  • Fitted with GPS, security cameras, automated announcements and automatic passenger counters
Gillig LF 29' 2015 231-242
(12)		 Cummins ISL9 EPA 2013-Allison B-300R6
  • Shuttle and Westport Service
  • Active
  • Fitted with GPS, security cameras, automated announcements and automatic passenger counters
Gillig BRT 35' 2020 TBD (19 buses) Cummins L9\Allison B400R6
  • WHEELS Service
  • To replace 2004 Orion VII stock
  • To come equipped with GPS, security cameras, automated announcements and automatic passenger counters
 Coming soon
Gillig BRT 30' 2020 TBD (3 buses) Cummins L9\Allison B400R6
  • Shuttle service
  • For service increases on the Shuttle division
  • To come equipped with GPS, security cameras, automated announcements and automatic passenger counters
 Coming Soon
Gillig BRT 40' 2020 TBD (1 bus) Cummins L9\Allison B400R6
  • Coastal Link
  • Will be assigned on the Coastal Link to replace 2004 New Flyer D40LF 329
  • To come equipped with GPS, security cameras, automated announcements and automatic passenger counters
 Coming Soon

Paratransit van fleet

Manufacturer/model Order year Series
(qty.)		 Engine Service Notes Photo
Chevy Express 3500 Coach and equipment w/ lift 25' 2014 432-441 (10) Duramax 6.6L V8 Door-to-door, Westport service
  • Active
  • Equipped with destination signs
Ford E450 Coach and equipment 2018 442-471, L1-L2 (32) Ford Trition V8 Gas Door-to-Door, Westport Service, Greenwich Service
  • Active
  • Replacing all paratransit fleet
  • 452-471 equipped with destination signs

References

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