Guelph Transit
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| Slogan | On your way |
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| Founded | 1895 (Street Railway) |
| Headquarters | 170 Watson Rd S. |
| Service area | Guelph |
| Service type | Bus service, Paratransit |
| Routes | 26 |
| Hubs | 3 |
| Fleet | 70 buses |
| Daily ridership | 20,000 |
| Operator | City of Guelph |
| Website | Guelph Transit Website |
The Guelph Transit Commission is a small public transportation agency that operates transit bus services in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1929 after the closure of the Guelph Radial Railway Company streetcar lines, Guelph Transit has grown to comprise over 70 buses serving 28 transit routes.
The main terminus is located downtown at Guelph Central Station and at University of Guelph, with a smaller facility at Stone Road Mall. GO Transit buses and trains on the Kitchener corridor and Via Rail also stop at Guelph Central Station. Greyhound and regional bus services continue to use the temporary Guelph Bus Terminal at Wyndham and Fountain St.
The City of Guelph is located approximately 55 miles (89 km) west of Toronto. Nicknamed the Royal City (reflecting the House of Hanover, known in its native Germany as the House of Welf), Guelph's street railway operated from 1895 until 1939 along five routes. It was also the western terminus of the Guelph line of the Toronto Suburban Railway.
By the late 19th century, Guelph had become such a size that public transportation had pretty much become a necessity. Serious discussion concerning a street railway began in 1875, and the Guelph Street Railway Company was formed in 1877. The company failed to get a franchise for its proposed horse-car line, and the idea was abandoned.
In 1894, Guelph City Council granted a street railway franchise to local businessman George Sleeman for a term of twenty years, for which the Guelph Railway Company was incorporated in April 1895. Construction began immediately thereafter, using 56 pound rail. The initial route of the GRC was south along Woolwich Street, through the downtown and along Dundas Road, with a second line running from the Sleeman owned Silvercreek Brewery on Waterloo Avenue, to the Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk (later Canadian National) Railway stations. Total distance of these two lines was approximately 4 1⁄2 miles (7.2 km). Electrical equipment for 600 volt operation, three closed and two open cars were supplied by the Canadian General Electric Company. A stone car-barn and powerhouse were also built. The carbarn later served as the garage for the Guelph Transportation Commission buses until the 1970s, and still stands today at 371 Waterloo Avenue.
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Wikipedia