Niagara Region Transit should not be confused with Niagara Falls Transit.
| Niagara Region Transit | |
| Parent: | Regional Municipality of Niagara |
| Founded: | 12 September 2011 |
| Headquarters: | 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, Canada |
| Locale: | Niagara Region |
| Service Area: | Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland |
| Service Type: | Bus service, paratransit |
| Alliance: | Niagara Falls Transit St. Catharines Transit Welland Transit Fort Erie Transit |
| Routes: | approximately 8 |
| Hubs: | Welland Transit Terminal St. Catharines Transit Terminal Niagara Falls Transit Morrison-Dorchester Hub Brock University Niagara College Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses |
| Fleet: | 15 buses, ranging from 40-60 feet in length |
| Fuel Type: | Diesel, HEV |
| Operator: | Niagara Region |
| Website: | Niagara 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] Local fares are $3 for an adult customer.[2]
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.[3] [4]
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.[5] In 2024, it was rebranded as Niagara Transit.[6]
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.
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.[7] 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.
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.[8] Local passes stopped being sold in December 2022 due to the anticipated consolidation of services.[9] Some fareboxes were replaced in order to use magnetic stripe technology.[10] Rider fares were unified across municipalities.[11] Niagara Region Transit has an ageing fleet of buses and significant capital is needed to replace them.[12] In 2023, there was a labour strike by employees.[13]
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]