Niagara Region Transit route 60/65 'Niagara Falls - Welland'

60/65	Niagara Falls - Welland
Service span		Monday to Saturday
Operator		Niagara Falls
Buses used		40', 60'

Routes 60/65 are a pair of intercity bus routes operated by Niagara Region Transit in Niagara Falls and Welland, Ontario, Canada.

Route details

Route 60/65 connects Niagara Falls and Welland. It also serves Morrison/Dorchester Hub, Niagara Square, Canadian Drive Hub, Concentrix, Welland Terminal, and Niagara College Welland Campus.

From Morrison/Dorchester Hub, route 60 buses operate east on Morrison Street, north on Dorchester Road, west on Thorold Stone Road, south on QEW, west on Highway 420, south on Montrose Road, west on Canadian Drive, loop through Niagara Square, south on Montrose Road, west on Schisler Road, west on Main Street, loop through Welland Terminal, west on Main Street, north on Niagara Street, west on Thorold Road, and north on First Avenue to Niagara College Welland Campus. From Welland Campus, route 65 buses operate south on First Avenue, east on Thorold Road, south on Niagara Street, east on Division Street, north on Hellems Avenue, loop through Welland Terminal, east on Dorothy Street, south on River Road, east on Main Street, east on Schisler Road, north on Montrose Road, west on Canadian Drive, north on Pin Oak Drive, east on McLeod Road, north on Montrose Road, east on Highway 420, north on QEW, east on Thorold Stone Road, south on Dorchester Road, and east on Morrison Street to Morrison/Dorchester Hub.

Branch 60A/65A operates express between Morrison/Dorchester Hub and Niagara College. From Morrison/Dorchester Hub, route 60A operates east on Morrison Street, north on Dorchester Road, west on Thorold Stone Road, west on Highway 58, south on Highway 406, west on Merritt Road, south on Niagara Street, west on Quaker Road, and south on First Avenue to Niagara College Welland Campus. Route 65A buses follow the reverse routing.

Branch 60C/65C operates express between Canadian Drive Hub and Niagara College. From Canadian Drive Hub, route 60C buses operate east on Canadian Drive, south on Montrose Road, west on Chippawa Creek Road, south on Moyer Road, west on Main Street, north on Highway 406, west on Woodlawn Road, and north on First Avenue to Niagara College Welland Campus. Route 65C buses follow the reverse routing. Select 60C morning trips begin service on Kalar Road, operating via north on Kalar Rod, east on Lundy's Lane, south on Montrose Road , and west on Canadian Drive to Canadian Drive Hub, then continue normal routing to Niagara College.

Branches

60 Niagara Falls to Niagara College Welland Campus
- 60A Niagara Falls to Niagara College Welland Campus (Express)
- 60C Canadian Drive Hub to Niagara College Welland Campus (Express)
65 Niagara College Welland Campus to Niagara Falls
- 65A Niagara College Welland Campus to Niagara Falls (Express)
- 65C Niagara College Welland Campus to Canadian Drive Hub (Express)

History

September 12, 2011: Service begins as part of the Niagara Region Transit pilot project.
January 2014: Pilot project made permanent.
2014: Routing in Niagara Falls shortened to end at Target Plaza (later called Morrison/Dorchester Hub).
2018: Route extended to Niagara College Welland Campus.
January 7, 2019: New branch 60A/65A introduced providing express service between Morrison/Dorchester Hub and Niagara College Welland Campus, replacing Niagara Falls Transit route 21.
January 7, 2019: Peak period frequency changed from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
Mid-2019: Articulated vehicles are introduced on some trips to address crowding.
September 3, 2019: Service span on Saturdays extended to operate from 7am to 11pm, to match operating hours of other Regional routes.
September 6, 2022: New branch 60C/65C introduced, operating between the Canadian Drive Hub and Niagara College Welland Campus.
January 5, 2025 - All trips are now operated from the Niagara Falls garage, following the closure of the Welland garage.

Vehicles

Route 60/65 uses 4 vehicles on weekdays, while branches 60A/65A and 60C/65C use 2 vehicles per branch. On weekends route 60/65 uses 2 vehicles.

Route 60/65 operates primarily with standard 40 foot vehicles, including New Flyer XD40, Nova Bus LFS, and Orion VII/VII EPA10 buses. Articulated 60 foot Nova Bus LFS Artic buses are frequently used on the 60A/65A and 60C/65C branches, and occasionally on the 60/65 branch.