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St. Catharines Transit

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St. Catharines Transit
Bus 0805, a 2008 New Flyer DE40LFR.
Bus 0805, a 2008 New Flyer DE40LFR.
Founded1961
Defunct31 December 2022
Headquarters2012 First Street South
Service areaSt. Catharines and Thorold, Ontario
Service typeBus service, Paratransit
Routes29
StationsDowntown Terminal,
70 Carlisle Street
43°09′35″N 79°14′38″W / 43.15972°N 79.24389°W / 43.15972; -79.24389
Fleet75
Fuel typeDiesel, Diesel-electric hybrid
OperatorSt. Catharines Transit Commission
Websitewww.YourBus.com

St. Catharines Transit (SCT) was a public transit agency which provided bus services to St. Catharines, Ontario, and the neighbouring city of Thorold. The St. Catharines Transit Commission took over operation of transit services within the city from Canadian National Transportation in 1961.[1] In January 2023, St. Catharines Transit was merged with Niagara Falls Transit, Welland Transit, and Fort Erie Transit to form a single regional transit service, Niagara Region Transit.[2]

The Transit Operations Facility opened in 1991 and the Downtown Terminal (within a regional district building of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation) opened in 1996. The bus terminal is also served by Coach Canada for intercity coach service to Toronto,[3] with connections to a number of major cities throughout Canada and the United States.

History

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Local public transportation in the area originally consisted of horse drawn cars, subsequently upgraded to electric railway service. Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway Company, founded in 1898, was acquired by the Canadian Northern Railway in 1908 which became Canadian National Railways in 1918 and converted to bus operations after 1931. The portion of this system operating within the City of St. Catharines was transferred to the St. Catharines Transit Commission in 1961, which adopted the operating name of St. Catharines Transit in 1974.[4] All St. Catharines Transit services and equipment were transferred to Niagara Region Transit in January of 2023 to create a single unified regional transit service that included Welland Transit and Niagara Falls Transit.[2] However, buses in the old St. Catharines Transit livery can continue to be seen as not all have been converted to the new livery.

In 2022, the service began exploring an electrification of its existing diesel fleet.[5]

Former Services

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Regular routes

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The St. Catharines Transit Commission (SCT) operated most of their routes through Downtown St. Catharines, with routes meeting at the Downtown Bus Terminal. Additional main transfer points also existed at The Pen Centre, Fairview Mall, Thorold Towpath Terminal, and at Brock University.

The majority of the routes operated weekdays using one numbering scheme, while weekday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays operated with a separate numbering scheme.[6]

Though it may appear confusing at first glance, many routes interlined, meaning that they continued to other routes once reaching their terminus. This occurs in at the bus terminal in Downtown St. Catharines, and at both northern and southern terminals.[7]

Daytime Bus Routes

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Although the services are no longer operated by St. Catharines Transit, they continue to operate largely unchanged under Niagara Region Transit as of February, 2023.[2]

Route Name Terminal Terminal
301 Hospital Downtown Port Dalhousie
302 Ontario Street Downtown Lakeshore Road
303 Pelham Road Downtown Smart Centre West
304 Oakdale Avenue Downtown The Pen Centre
305 Haig Street Downtown Linwell & Geneva
306 Lake Street Downtown Port Dalhousie
307 Niagara Street Downtown Port Weller
308 Grantham Avenue Downtown Grantham Lions Park
309 Geneva Street Downtown Grantham Lions Park
310 Glenridge Avenue Downtown The Pen Centre
311 Hartzell Road Downtown St Davids & Ormond
312 Vine Street Downtown Lakeshore Road
314 Scott Street Fairview Mall Dorchester & Sheman
315 West St. Catharines Downtown The Pen Centre
316 Brock-Glenridge Downtown Brock University
317 Bunting Road Downtown Linewell & Sherman
318 Secord Woods Downtown The Pen Centre
320 Thorold The Pen Centre Thorold Towpath Terminal
321 Confederation Avenue Brock University Thorold Towpath Terminal
322 Thorold South Thorold Towpath Terminal Thorold South
323 West Brock Commuter Brock University Pelham & Louth
324 Tupper Drive Brock University Richmond & Confederation Av
331 Richmond Street Brock University Richmond & Confederation Av
332 Brock Towpath Brock University Thorold Towpath Terminal
335 Brock-Pen Centre Brock University The Pen Centre
336 Brock-Pen-Glendale Brock University The Pen Centre
337E Crosstown-East Niagara Health System Lock 3 Museum
337W Crosstown-West Lock 3 Museum Niagara Health System
338 GO Train Connection Downtown St. Catharine's GO

Weeknight, Weekend, and Holiday Bus Routes

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Route Name Terminal Terminal
401 Hospital Downtown Port Dalhousie
402 Ontario Street Downtown Lakeshore Road
403 Pelham Road Downtown Smart Centre West
404 Oakdale Avenue Downtown The Pen Centre
406 Lake Street Downtown Port Dalhousie
408 Grantham Avenue Downtown Grantham Lions Park
409 Geneva Street Downtown Grantham Lions Park
410 Glenridge Avenue Downtown The Pen Centre
412 Vine Street Downtown Lakeshore Road
414 Scott Street Fairview Mall Dorchester & Sheman
415 West St. Catharines Downtown The Pen Centre
416 Brock-Glenridge Downtown Brock University
417 Bunting Road Downtown Grantham Lions Park
418 Secord Woods Downtown The Pen Centre
420 Thorold The Pen Centre Thorold Towpath Terminal
421 Confederation Avenue Brock University Thorold Towpath Terminal
423 (Weeknights Only) West Brock Commuter Brock University Pelham & Louth
424 (Weeknights Only) Tupper Drive Brock University Richmond & Confederation Av
425 (Weeknights Only) Brock Bullet Brock University Downtown
431 (Weeknights Only) Richmond Street Brock University Richmond & Confederation Av
432 (Weeknights Only) Brock Towpath Brock University Thorold Towpath Terminal
435 Brock-Pen Centre Brock University The Pen Centre
436 (Weeknights Only) Brock-Pen-Glendale Brock University The Pen Centre
437E Crosstown-East Niagara Health System Seapark Dr
437W Crosstown-West Seapark Dr Niagara Health System
438 GO Train Connection Downtown St. Catharine's GO


Paratransit

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In addition to accessible bus routes, which enable those with reduced mobility to board a 'low floor' transit bus, St. Catharines Transit also provides paratransit services for those who cannot board a regular city bus and accessible bus service is not available.

Terminals/Hubs

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There are many terminals/hubs throughout the system, these include:

  • St. Catharines Downtown Terminal
  • Fairview Mall Hub
  • The Pen Centre Hub
  • Thorold Towpath Terminal
  • Brock University Hub

Former Fleet

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In January 2023, St. Catharines Transit's fleet was transferred to Niagara Region Transit as part of the amalgamation of local transit services in the region.

  • New Flyer Industries D40LF
  • New Flyer Industries DE40LF
  • New Flyer Industries DE40LFR
  • New Flyer Industries D60LF
  • New Flyer Industries XD40
  • New Flyer Industries XD60
  • Nova Bus LFS/LFSA

See also

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References

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  1. ^ St. Catharines Transit - History
  2. ^ a b c "Niagara Transit Commission - Niagara Region, Ontario". www.niagararegion.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  3. ^ St. Catharines tourism
  4. ^ Transit History of St. Catharines, Ontario
  5. ^ "Canada and FCM invest in electrifying public transit in St. Catharines during #EVWeek". Mass Transit. July 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  6. ^ "Routes and Schedules -- St Catharines Transit Commission". St. Catharines Transit Commission. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  7. ^ St. Catharines Transit Commission website
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