Burlington Transit: Celebrating 50 Years!

Since 1975, Burlington Transit has been proud to serve the community, supporting growth and helping to make Burlington a great place to live, work and play. For 50 years, we have connected people and places within Burlington across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to delivering reliable, accessible service that strengthens our community today and into the future. 

Celebrating 50 Years of Service!

Limited Edition PRESTO Cards

To mark Burlington Transit’s 50th anniversary, Burlington Transit is releasing a limited edition commemorative PRESTO card. Cards will be available at Burlington Transit’s Customer Service location in the Burlington GO Station, 2101 Fairview St. The anniversary card works just like a regular PRESTO card.

Fifty trees for 50 years

Burlington Transit will be planting one tree for each of our 50 years of service near bus stops across the city to improve the customer experience, support growth of the urban tree canopy and the City’s Climate Action Plan.

Burlington Transit: 50 Years of Service — By the Decade

1970s: Laying the Foundation (1975–1979)

• 1975 – Burlington Transit is officially launched in September, transitioning from regional/private providers (HSR, Canada Coach, Gray Coach, GO Transit).
• 1978 – A new operations facility opens at 3332 Harvester Rd., giving the system a permanent home base.

1980s: Growing with the Community (1980–1989)

• 1980s – Expansion of routes to serve new neighbourhoods as the city grows.
• 1987 – The Downtown Terminal at John Street opens, creating a central transfer hub for Burlington Transit riders.

1990s: Modernization Begins (1990–1999)

• Fleet modernization includes acquisition of low-floor and accessible buses to begin improving system accessibility.
• Increased integration with GO Transit services, improving commuter connections to the GTA.

2000s: Accessibility and Regional Focus (2000–2009)

• Further expansion of accessible services and low-floor bus fleet.
• Introduction of real-time information tools and route improvements.
• Growth of inter-municipal connections with Oakville Transit, HSR and GO.

2010s: Technology and Service Redesign (2010–2019)

• 2010 – Launch of the PRESTO, enabling seamless transfers across regional transit systems.
• Mid 2010s – Burlington establishes co-fare integration with GO Transit, providing free or discounted transfers for connecting risers using PRESTO.
• 2015–2018 – Transit becomes increasingly integrated with regional transportation planning and Smart Commute programs.
• 2019 – Burlington Transit launches a major network redesign, moving to a grid-based system with frequent service on key corridors.
• 2019 – launch a fare pilot allowing seniors to ride free during tthe day, later evolving into all day free travel for seniors in 2023.

2020s: Resilience, Innovation and Community Investment (2020–2025)

• 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic causes temporary service changes and fare suspensions.
• 2021 – 2022 - launches real-time trip planning tool and gradual service recovery, restoring ridership and improving customer experience. 
• 2023 – Ridership hits a record high with 2.97 million trips, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
• 2023 – Free fares introduced for seniors (all day) and youth (evenings and weekends).
• 2024 – Nearly $17 million in funding secured for new fleet investments, including zero-emission buses and specialized vehicles.
• 2024 – Ridership hits another record high with 3.6 million trips provided showing community support and system growth
• 2024 – Burlington’s existing co-fare model becomes part of a unified regional fare system, enhancing travel across GTHA
• 2025 – Burlington Transit celebrates 50 years of service with public events, community storytelling and a commitment to evolving with community, connection and climate in mind.