New GRT bus to run between Wilmot Township and Kitchener

Wilmot Township is about to get its first Grand River Transit bus route, a bus that will run between New Hamburg, Baden and Kitchener.

The township is one of 22 municipalities across Ontario to get provincial funding under a new grant program to improve community transportation. Wilmot will get $99,700 to fund the bus route. 

"It feels great, it feels like a whole door opening up for people that we serve in our community," said Trisha Robinson, the executive director of the Wilmot Family Resource Centre, in an interview with Craig Norris on The Morning Edition Monday. Robinson has been asking for the bus route for years. 

"We had a woman come in and her husband was in the hospital and she didn't drive. She couldn't go visit him and it was really difficult," said Robinson.

Robinson said that the new route is important because not everyone who lives in a rural community is able or even wants to move to a city to get services. 

"This means that a youth maybe can get to a recreation program," said Robinson. "This means a father can take upgrading courses, this means a woman can back to school." 

"I think it will help our community feel more connected," said Robinson.

The new bus route is scheduled to start in January of 2016.