Kingston Transit

Kingston Transit
Founded1962
Headquarters1181 John Counter Blvd
Service areaKingston, Ontario
Service typeBus service
Routes27
Annual ridership6 million[1] (2017)
OperatorCity of Kingston
General ManagerJeremy DaCosta[2]
WebsiteOfficial Website

Kingston Transit operates the transit service in Kingston, Ontario, Canada as well as to the neighbouring community of Amherstview, in Loyalist Township. Major transfer points are at the Kingston Centre,[3] Downtown Kingston (at the corner of Bagot and Brock streets), Cataraqui Town Centre, and Gardiners Town Centre.

Kingston Transit offers service to all three schools of higher education in the region: Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, and RMC. It also offers service to the Kingston Bus Terminal and the railway station.

History

The Kingston Public Transit System began service on July 1, 1962, when the city's Public Utilities Commission took over the operation of transit service from Kingston City Coach, a subsidiary of Colonial Coach Lines. The Kingston Transit name was adopted in 1975.

In 2017, Kingston Transit experienced a record six million rides, which was the fourth consecutive year that ridership grew by more than 10 percent.[1]

Routes

Local

Local routes operate Monday–Saturday from approximately 6:00 am to 11:00 pm and Sunday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. They run every 30 minutes Monday–Saturday before 7:00 pm, and every 60 minutes at all other times unless otherwise noted.[4]

Number Route Name Other Terminals Notes
 1  St Lawrence College – Montreal St Downtown Transfer Point
 2  Kingston Centre – Division St St Lawrence College, Downtown, Bus Terminal
 3  Kingston Centre – Downtown Transfer Point St Lawrence College
 4  Downtown Transfer Point – Cataraqui Centre Kingston Centre
 6  St Lawrence College – Cataraqui Centre Gardiners Centre
 7  INVISTA Centre – Rideau Heights Cataraqui Centre, Bus Terminal
 10  Cataraqui Centre – Amherstview 60 minute service all-day
 11  Kingston Centre – Cataraqui Centre Gardiners Centre
 12  Highway 2 - CFB Kingston – Kingston Centre Downtown
 14  Crossfield Ave / Waterloo Dr Cataraqui Centre Monday–Sunday+
 15  Reddendale – Cataraqui Woods / Cataraqui Centre Gardiners Centre
 16  Dalton & Grant Timmins – Train Station Kingston Centre
 18  Train Station Circuit Bus Terminal, Downtown, St Lawrence College

No longer in regular service.

Seasonal

Seasonal routes primarily serve Queen's University and only operate from September–April (excluding the period between last exam day in December and first day of classes in January, and Reading Week).

Number Route Name Other Terminals Notes
 8  Extra Bus St Lawrence College, Downtown No fixed schedule, route travels via Queen's University
 17  Queen's Shuttle: Main Campus – West Campus Operates night time only (until 2:00 am)
 18Q  Queen's Sunday Shuttle Bus Terminal, Downtown, St Lawrence College 3 trips per day, Sunday only
 20  Queen's Shuttle – Isabel / Tett Centres 15 minute service
Monday–Friday, day time only

Express

Express routes operate with a frequency of 10–30 minutes and have stops placed further apart than local routes.

Number Route Direction Frequency
 501  Cataraqui Centre – Kingston Centre – Downtown – Queen's University / KGH – St. Lawrence College – Cataraqui Centre Clockwise 10 minutes during rush hour
15, 20, or 30 minutes at other times
 502  Counterclockwise
 601  Innovation Dr – Rideau Town Centre – Downtown – Queen's University / KGH Southwest 15 minutes Monday–Friday, before 7pm
30 minutes all other times
 602  Northeast
 701  Cataraqui Centre – Kingston Centre – Downtown – King’s Crossing Centre West 15 minutes during rush hour
30 minute at other times
 702  East
 801  Montreal St. P&R – Downtown – Queen's University / KGH South 15 minutes during rush hour
30 minute at other times
 802  North

Dial-A-Bus

Number Service Area Hours of Operation Notes
 9  North of Highway 401 and west of the Rideau Canal Tuesday and Thursday, 10:15 am to 11:45 am, and 2:15 pm to 3:45 pm Route must be booked 1 day in advance

Fares

Category Cash Multi-ride Pass
(6 tickets)
Monthly Pass
Child (Ages 0–14) Free N/A N/A
Youth (Ages 15–24) $3.25 $13.50 $59.50
Adult (Ages 25–64) $16.50 $80.00
Senior (Ages 65+) $13.50 $59.50

Kingston Transit fares and My Card rates effective January 1, 2017.[5] Daily and Weekly passes are also available from various transit locations.

Kingston Transit employs a smart card payment system for monthly passes (My Pass) and tickets (My Tickets), which was introduced in August 2008.

Transfers are free for cash fares but must be obtained at the time fare is paid. They are valid for 60 minutes. Payments using My Tickets have transfers automatically stored inside the card.

Queen's University students, who are members of the AMS or SGPS, as well as St. Lawrence College students can ride free, as part of a U-Pass program.[6][7]

Rack and Roll

The current "Rack and Roll" system is used for bicycle transportation. If a customer wishes to bring a bicycle onto the bus, a pull-down rack is located at the outside front of the bus. The rack can currently hold 2 bicycles. It involves 2 slots which the bicycle's wheels fit into. Then, a curved hook fits around the front tire to secure the bike from falling. Rack and Roll is available during the cycling season.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kingston Transit hit a record six million riders in 2017". City of Kingston. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. ^ Press, Jordan. "Improving Kingston Transit". Kingston Life. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Kingston Centre Transit Terminal Opens". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  4. ^ "Transit Schedules & Maps - City of Kingston". www.cityofkingston.ca. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Transit Fares & Passes - City of Kingston". www.cityofkingston.ca. Retrieved Jun 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada - Queen's AMS & Kingston Transit Unveil An Enhanced Bus-It Service". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  7. ^ "AMS". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  8. ^ "Kingston Transit's Rack and Roll". Retrieved 4 February 2014. April through November

External links

Media related to Kingston Transit at Wikimedia Commons

  • Kingston Transit Official Website
  • Drawings and photos of Kingston Transit buses
  • CPTDB
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