Niagara Transit

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Niagara Transit
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Niagara Transit bus in St. Catharines
ParentNiagara Region
Founded12 September 2011
Headquarters2012 First Street South,
St. Catharines, ON, Canada
LocaleRegional Municipality of Niagara
Service typeBus service, Microtransit, Paratransit
HubsWelland Transit Terminal
St. Catharines Transit Terminal
Niagara Falls Transit Morrison-Dorchester Hub
Brock University
Niagara College Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses
Fleet151[1]
Annual ridership10,900,000 (2024)[2]
Fuel typeClean Diesel, HEV
OperatorNiagara Region
Chief executiveCarla Stout
WebsiteTemplate:Official url

Niagara Transit (formerly Niagara Region Transit) is a regional public transit system operating in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. Initial service commenced on September 12, 2011, and consisted solely of inter-municipal routes. In January 2023, Niagara Region Transit assumed the operations of the three local systems within the Region; Welland Transit, Fort Erie Transit, St. Catharines Transit, and Niagara Falls Transit to form a single unified transit service for both local and intermunicipal trips across Niagara Region.[3]


History

File:NiagaraRegionTransit letters.png
Old logo (2011–2025)

Initial intercity-only services

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 three 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.[4]

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 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]

Full amalgamation of transit services

On January 1, 2023, Niagara Region Transit assumed the operations of Niagara Falls Transit and started providing local service to Niagara Falls, Welland, Fort Erie, Thorold, and St. Catharines.[6] Local passes stopped being sold in December 2022 due to the anticipated consolidation of services.[7] Some fareboxes were replaced in order to use magnetic stripe technology.[8] Fares were unified across municipalities into a single $3 flat fare.[9] Niagara Region Transit has an ageing fleet of buses and significant capital is needed to replace them.[10] In 2023, there was a labour strike by employees.[11]

In 2024, a rebranding to Niagara Transit was approved by the transit commission board.[12] The rebranding was officially launched on March 12, 2025, though rebranded buses have been circulating throughout Welland and Niagara Falls since November 2024.

File:A Niagara Region Transit passenger information system.jpg
A Niagara Transit Passenger information system at the St. Catharines downtown terminal

Services

Buses

Niagara Transit operates 99 bus routes. The 11 regional routes are numbered from 1 to 99. Local Niagara Falls routes are numbered 101–199, with weekend-only routes being numbered 201–299. Local St. Catherines and Thorold routes are numbered 301–399 and weekend routes are numbered 401–499. Welland routes are numbered 501–599.[citation needed] These local routes are descended from the three local systems that merged into Niagara Transit in 2023. As of 2024, Niagara Transit has a fleet of 165 buses.[2] All buses have bike racks and are wheelchair accessible.

Specialized transit

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.[13]

Microtransit

In 2024, NRT OnDemand services were transferred to Voyago and replaced previous local specialized transit services which were under contract to Via Mobility and BTS Network.[14] In July 2025, fares will be changed to flat fare of $3.50 for both local and intercity trips.[15]

Fares

As of July 1, 2025, single fares are $3.50 for all ages, across local and regional routes.[16] Previously, local trips costed $3 and intercity trip costed $6, including transfer between two local municipal transit services.[17] Niagara Transit does not sell day passes, but offers 10-ride and 31-day Regional passes.[18]

Governance

Niagara Transit is governed by a board of regional and local municipal councillors established by the Niagara Regional Council.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sawchuk, Bill (April 19, 2025). "The changing face of Niagara Transit riders". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."General Manager's 2024 Annual Report". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."New consolidated transit system in Niagara". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bolichowski, Jeff (September 9, 2011). "Regional transit system hits the road Monday". St. Catharines Standard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How We Go - Niagara Region, Ontario". www.niagararegion.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Tymczyszyn, Bob. "Niagara receives award for transit consolidation". The St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Longwell, Karen. "Transit becomes one integrated system across Niagara Region next month". InSauga. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Niagara Region Transit rolls out new fareboxes". Niagara on the Lake Local. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benner, Allan. "Decades-old regional transit dream becomes a reality in Niagara". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benner, Allen. "Niagara Region Transit service cuts, rising fares face opposition". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benner, Allan. "Staff shortages, union dispute led to bus cancellations at Niagara Region Transit". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sawchuck, Bill. "Dropping the word 'region' as too negative, Niagara Transit getting a fresh new look". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."NRT OnDemand celebrates one year anniversary of service launch". Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Heslop, Bonnie. "Changes coming to transit in Niagara, with Voyago taking over NRT OnDemand and Specialized Transit". iHeart Radio. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sawchuck, Bill. "Niagara bus fares harmonize to one single price". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fares". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Seburn, Paige (2025-06-10). "Regional transit introduces flat $3.50 rate, local rides now cost 50 cents more". Niagara Now. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fares". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Niagara Transit Board". Niagara Region Transit. Retrieved 2025-08-27.

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