New GRT bus route to connect Wilmot Township with Kitchener

Waterloo Region has approved the implementation of a new pilot transit program that would provide bus service between Wilmot Township and Kitchener.

The proposal calling for a public transportationconnection betweenNew Hamburg and Baden with Kitchener was approved during a Wednesday regional council meeting.

The Grand River Transit bus route is slated to begin Monday and will continue providing weekday peak service until at least March 31, 2017.

• New GRT bus to run between Wilmot Township and Kitchener

The route will use smaller contracted vehicles while it is under evaluation and monitoring to find out exactly how popular the service will be with residents, according to the region.It has been dubbed the BusPlus Route 77 Service under the GRT transit system and will operate out of Kitchener's The Boardwalk satellite terminal.

"A unique feature of the route will be a flex option that will allow the route to serve a larger area by serving parts of the route upon request only," the region said on their website.

Regional officials noted the new service was created thanks to a 2015 grant from the province. Wilmot Township is expected to receive $99,700 in financial assistance from the Ministry of Transportation andis one of 22 communities in Ontario to receive funding to boost community transportation.

Success of the program will be determined at a later date, which has not been provided.