KITCHENER - Big changes are coming to the Grand River Transit bus system to integrate with the light rail transit line.

More than 25 routes will be changed with the extensive redesign that includes new stops, new stations, more frequent service and increased hours.

"It's a significant improvement in the quality of service that we'll be offering," said John Cicuttin, manager of transit development for Waterloo Region.

Service will be more frequent on 19 routes, and hours of service will be increased on 16 routes as the bus system moves from a hub and spoke model to a more gridlike network connected to Ion light rail stations.

The changes have been in the works since 2011. Since then, five new iXpress routes have been added.

"This has been a major undertaking," Coun. Tom Galloway, chair of the region's planning and works committee.

The changes to routes and service levels, discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday, will use existing service hours, staff and buses that will become available when Ion service begins, expected this spring. Almost 68,000 hours of services will be reallocated in 2019.

Changes to stations are part of the plan, which is focused on the central transit corridor in Kitchener and Waterloo.

The Forest Glen, Highland Hills and Charles Street terminal will no longer be needed as routes will be changed to on-street connections, often at Ion stations. New passenger facilities at the University of Waterloo, Sunrise Shopping Centre, Block Line station and Fairway station will be constructed.

There will be more than 800 stops, including 144 new stops. The plan is to make all the route changes on one day.

Service will also be significantly increased during off-peak times, including evenings and weekends, and many seasonal reductions would be eliminated to make public transit a more attractive and convenient travel option.

Holiday ridership is about 68 per cent of Sunday ridership, but service levels have been the same. The plan is to tailor holiday service to demand.

A new online trip planner will be launched to give riders a tool to find out how their trip is changing.

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky questioned the need for a new trip planner considering buses will be coming along more often to stops.

"It's so frequent, you really don't need the trip planner," Jaworsky said.

Cicuttin explained that the route realignment to a grid will open up many more opportunities to riders.

"You can get to many more destinations than you could before," he said.

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