Green Mountain Transit

Green Mountain Transit (GMT) is the regional public transit system based in Burlington, Vermont, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of two more localized transit systems: the Chittenden County Transportation Authority and the Green Mountain Transit Authority. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,774,100, or about 7,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. It is the largest public transit agency in the state of Vermont.[3]

Green Mountain Transit
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016) (as CCTA, 1973; 51 years ago (1973))
Headquarters101 Queen City Park Road44°27′01″N 73°13′13″W / 44.45028°N 73.22028°W / 44.45028; -73.22028
LocaleBurlington, Vermont
Service areaChittenden County; The Capital District; Franklin and Grand Isle Counties; Stowe and Lamoille County; Mad River Valley
Service typeBus service, commuter bus service
Routes16
Fleet143 buses
Daily ridership7,300 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Annual ridership1,774,100 (2023)[2]
Websiteridegmt.com

Chittenden County area

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Transit center and routes

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GMT's Downtown Transit Center, which generally serves local routes, is located in downtown Burlington on Saint Paul Street, between Pearl and Cherry Streets, with adjoining space along Pearl Street. All of the commuter and express routes (56, 86/286, 96) generally operate from Pearl Street in the vicinity of Saint Paul Street.

Local routes (NextGen)

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In June 2019, pairs of local routes were combined, given color-coded route names and through-routed via the Downtown Transit Center (DTC) with new schedules; see "Former routes" below for more information. Most local routes operate seven days a week (certain holidays excluded) with 20-minute or 30-minute service patterns during weekdays between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, with weekday service ending at about 10:30 PM. Saturday service operates within 30 to 60 minute headways between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM with service ending between 6:00 PM and 10:30 PM. Sunday service operates within 45 to 75 minute headways during the day between 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM.

Route Terminals Streets traveled Notes
1

Williston

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Williston
Walmart
Main Street, Williston Road (South Burlington, Williston), Marshall Avenue
  • Daily service.
  • Serves University Mall.
  • Formerly part of the Red Line.
2

Essex Junction

Essex Junction
Amtrak Station
Colchester Avenue, East Allen Street (Winooski), College Parkway (Colchester), Pearl Street (Essex Junction)
  • Daily service.
  • Some rush trips serve GlobalFoundries in Essex Junction.
  • Formerly part of the Blue Line.
5

Pine Street

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Burlington
Green Mountain Transit Offices
Queen City Park Road and Home Avenue
Saint Paul Street, Pine Street
  • Daily service. One weekday AM trip toward DTC serves Lakeside.
  • No DTC-bound service after 6:15PM, southbound buses may be marked as "TO GARAGE".
  • Formerly part of the Green Line.
6

Shelburne Road

Shelburne Museum South Union Street, Shelburne Road
  • Daily service.
  • Some Shelburne-bound rush trips extended to Vermont Teddy Bear Company.
  • No later evening service on Saturdays.
  • Sundays, Shelburne-bound buses terminate at Market 32 in Burlington.
  • Formerly part of the Blue Line.
7

North Avenue

Burlington
Northgate Apartments

Northgate Road and North Avenue
North Street, North Avenue
  • Daily service.
  • No later evening service on Saturdays.
  • Heineburg Housing served by Northgate-bound buses hourly during daytime hours.
  • Formerly part of the Red Line.
8

City Loop

Clockwise Loop
(See Notes)
North Avenue, North Street, Archibald Street, North Prospect Street, Maple Street, Battery Street
  • No evening service.
  • Weekdays, alternate buses serve Fern Hill or McAuley Square (about the halfway point of the loop) and are signed as such. Saturdays, all buses serve both stops.
  • Pre-June 2008, known as "Old North End Loop" with bi-directional service.[4]
  • Formerly the Gold Loop.
9

Riverside/Winooski

Winooski
Champlain Mill
(See Notes)
Elmwood Avenue, Riverside Avenue, then:
Counter-clockwise Loop: Barlow Street, Main Street (Winooski), Weaver Street, Malletts Bay Avenue
  • No Sunday service.
  • No later evening service on Saturdays.
  • Alternate Winooski-bound buses serve 83 Barlow Street or the Courtyard.
  • Formerly part of the Green Line.
10

Williston/Essex

Williston
Walmart
Essex Town
Sand Hill Road and River Road
(See Notes)
Marshall Avenue, Maple Tree Place, Essex Road, Park Street (Essex Junction), then:
Clockwise Loop: Main Street (Essex Junction), Essex Outlet Fair, Center Road, Sand Hill Road, River Road (Essex Town), Maple Street (Essex Junction)
  • No evening or weekend service.
  • Loop starts/ends at Essex Junction Amtrak Station.
  • Sand Hill Road/River Road is at about the 2/3 point in the loop.
  • Created from the former #10 (Williston-Essex) and #4 (Essex Center) routes.
  • Formerly the Orange Line.
11

Airport

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
  Burlington International Airport College Street, Colchester Avenue, UVM Medical Center, Dorset Street, Kennedy Drive, then:
Counter-clockwise Loop: Kennedy Drive, Airport Drive, White Street, Hinesburg Road
  • Daily service.
  • No evening service on Saturdays.
  • Service is fare-free between DTC and UVM Medical Center.
  • Serves Union Station.
  • Burlington Airport is about the midpoint of the loop.
  • Limited service to Country Park.
  • Created from the former #11 (College Street Shuttle) and #12 (South Burlington Circulator) routes.
  • Formerly the Purple Line.

Commuter and express routes

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Commuter and express routes operate weekday rush periods only unless otherwise noted and are limited stop.

Route Terminals Serves Notes
56

Milton Commuter

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Milton
Town Office Park & Ride
Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, Milton
  • Travels via US 7.
  • Additional midday service.
86

Montpelier LINK Express

Montpelier
Main Street and State Street
Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, Richmond, Waterbury, Montpelier
  • Travels via I-89.
  • Additional midday service.
  • Short-turn Waterbury express labeled "286".
96

St. Albans LINK Express

St. Albans
Highgate Commons
Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, Georgia, St. Albans Travels via US 7 and I-89.
97

Barre LINK Express

Barre
255 North Main Street (Barre District Court)
Burlington, Richmond, Waterbury, Barre Travels via I-89 and VT 62. Route has been suspended since March 2020.

Shopping specials

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These are shuttle buses that each operate one day per week, in the morning, to/from senior housing centers. The general public is welcome on these routes.

Route Terminals Serves Notes
Hannaford Shopping Special South Burlington
See "Serves"
University Mall
Hannaford
Pillsbury Manor, The Pines, Country Park
  • Tuesday service only.
  • Shown as route 16 on GMT’s online Remix map.
Market 32 Shopping Special Winooski
See "Serves"
South Burlington
Market 32
The Courtyard, 83 Barlow Street, Spring Garden,
Fern Hill*, McAuley Square*, Downtown Transit Center*
  • Wednesday service only.
  • Shown as route 20 on GMT’s online Remix map.
Burlington
See "Serves"
10 North Champlain Street, 3 Cathedral Square, Decker Towers, Heineberg Housing, McKenzie House, 101 College Street
  • Thursday service only.
  • Shown as route 19 on GMT’s online Remix map.

(*) denotes Burlington destinations

Former routes

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On June 17, 2019, GMT converted all the previously-numbered routes to colored through-routed (via the DTC) services. A short time thereafter, due to passenger feedback, GMT added the route numbers back in with the color scheme. The Red Line was composed of the 7 and 1 routes, the Blue Line with the 6 and 2, the Green Line with the 5 and 9 and the Orange Line with the 10 (and the later addition of the 4, which was originally the Silver Loop after conversion). The 8 became the Gold Loop. On June 14, 2021, due to more customer feedback, the GMT eliminated the color designations in favor of the previous numerical ones.[5]

Route Terminals Streets traveled or Areas served Notes
1V

Williston Village

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Williston Village
Williston Town Hall
Main Street, Williston Road (South Burlington, Williston), then:
Clockwise Loop: Industrial Avenue, Mountain View Road, North Williston Road
(see Notes)
  • Weekday rush periods only along with one mid-day trip.
  • AM trips clockwise loop through Williston Village, PM trips counter-clockwise.
  • Only serves University Mall AM/mid-day Williston-bound trips.
  • Discontinued June 17, 2019.
3

Lakeside Commuter

Burlington
Lakeside

Lakeside Avenue and Central Avenue
Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Lakeside Avenue, Pine Street
  • Weekday AM rush periods, DTC-bound only.
  • Discontinued December 2, 2024 and replaced with one weekday AM trip via route 5.
4

Essex Center

Essex Junction
Amtrak Station
Clockwise Loop: Main Street (Essex Junction), Essex Outlet Fair, Center Road, Sand Hill Road, River Road (Essex Center), Maple Street (Essex Junction)
  • Weekdays only, no late morning service.
  • Rush trips serve IBM by on-board request.
  • Became Silver Loop on June 17, 2019, and subsequently added to the Orange Line (route 10).
12

UMall/Airport

South Burlington
University Mall
(See Notes)
Burlington International Airport
(See Notes)
Dorset Street, Kennedy Drive, then:
Counter-clockwise Loop: Kennedy Drive, Airport Drive, White Street, Hinesburg Road
  • Daily service.
  • Burlington Airport is about the midpoint of the loop.
  • The last three PM trips Monday–Saturday and all Sunday trips are extended from University Mall to the Downtown Transit Center via Main Street. This is similar to the service pattern of the original Airport (1) route.
  • Previously known as the South Burlington Circulator.
  • Folded into the Purple Line (extended route 11) on June 17, 2019.
18

Sunday Service

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Counter-clockwise Loop: Pine Street (SB), Shelburne and South Union streets (NB), Pearl Street, Mansfield Avenue, Riverside Avenue, North Avenue (NB then SB), North Street
  • Sunday only, alternate trips serve Lakeside; covers Burlington neighborhoods served by routes 5, 6, 8 and 7 (in that order).
  • The first morning trip serves public housing and churches only.
  • Discontinued June 17, 2019.
36

Jeffersonville
Commuter

Burlington
Downtown Transit Center
Jeffersonville
Post Office
Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex Outlet Fair, Jericho, Underhill, Cambridge, Jeffersonville
  • Travels via VT 15.
  • Discontinued December 2, 2024.
46

Route 116 Commuter

Hinesburg
Town Hall Park & Ride
All trips: Burlington, South Burlington, Hinesburg
Middlebury trips: Starksboro, Bristol, Middlebury
  • Travels via VT 116.
  • Middlebury trips operated by neighboring agency Tri-Valley Transit (TVT).
  • Discontinued October 7, 2024, with all service transferred to Tri-Valley Transit.
Middlebury
Merchants Row
76

Middlebury LINK Express

Middlebury
Academy Street
Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Vergennes, Middlebury
  • Travels via US 7.
  • Discontinued July 1, 2021, with all service transferred to Tri-Valley Transit.

(NB): Northbound; (SB): Southbound

Fares

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As of May 20, 2024, the fare is two dollars, with a four dollar daily cap, and a fifty dollar monthly cap. Discounted fares for people under 17, over 60, or who are disabled are one dollar, with a two dollar daily cap and a twenty-five dollar monthly cap. Fares can be paid using the Ride Ready app, a smart card, contactless payment, or cash. However, the fare cap only applies when using the Ride Ready app.[6] Fares will not apply on rural services.[7]

Fleet

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Most of the GMT fleet is made up of Gillig low-floor transit buses, although a number of New Flyer and Proterra buses are used. MCI long-distance buses and various shuttle buses built on Ford E-350 chassis have been purchased for intercity routes and transit service in outlying towns, respectively.
Note that this list is incomplete.

Fleet Number(s) Year Manufacturer Model Notes
2xx
4xx
unknown Chevrolet 3500 Full fleet number range unknown.
Ford E-350
910-916 2007 Gillig Low Floor 35' All except 913 have been retired.
920-925 BRT 40' 921, 923, and 925 have been retired.
926-928 2009 927 has been retired.
930-936 2012 MCI D4500CT
940-941 2008 Gillig Low Floor 40' 941 has been retired.
942-949 2009 948 has been retired.
950-962 2010
963-971 2017
972-973 2019
4211-4213 2021
4221-4223 2022
5221-5223 2022 Low Floor 35'
990-991 2020 Proterra Catalyst BE40 First electric buses in the state of Vermont. More buses expected to be bought in 2021–2022.
4231-4236

4241-4245

2023

2024

New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2024 buses are electric.

[8][9][10][11][12][13]

The Capital District, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Stowe and Lamoille County, Mad River Valley areas

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Route list

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Capital District:

  • 80 City Route Mid-day
  • 81 Barre/Hospital Hill
  • 82 Montpelier/Hospital Hill
  • 83 Waterbury Commuter
  • 84 US 2 Commuter
  • 85 Hannaford Shopping Shuttle
  • 86 Montpelier LINK Express (see Chittenden County Area)
  • 87 Northfield Community Shuttle
  • 88 Capital Shuttle
  • 89 City Commuter
  • 90 Health Center in Plainfield Shuttle
  • 91 Barre Hospital Hill Demand Response
  • 92 Montpelier Circulator
  • 93 Northfield Commuter

Franklin/Grand Isle Counties:

  • 96 St. Albans LINK Express (see Chittenden County Area)
  • 109 Price Chopper Shopping Shuttle
  • 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle
  • 115 Alburgh / Georgia Commuter
  • 116 Richford / St. Albans Commuter

Lamoille County/Stowe/Mad River Valley:

  • 120 Valley Floor
  • 122 Mount Ellen
  • 124 Mountain Condos
  • 125 Access Road

Fare schedule

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50% discount fares are available to children ages 6 through 17, seniors aged 60 or more, and disabled passengers. LINK Express riders are not eligible for any discounts when riding such buses. Bus-to-bus transfers are also available, and are valid one hour after receipt and are not valid for round trips.[14]

Capital District local routes fares

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This list includes the City Commuter route.

  • $1.00 per one-way trip ($0.50 for discount qualified riders)
  • $9.00 for adult 10-ride pass ($4.50 for discount qualified riders)
  • $33.00 for adult monthly pass ($15.00 for discount qualified riders)

Mad River Valley and Stowe/Lamoille

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  • Single local fare $1.00
  • 10-ride pass on local routes $9.00
  • Unlimited ride monthly pass on local routes $33.00
  • Single fare between towns on commuters $2.00
  • Single fare within towns on commuters $1.00
  • 10-ride pass $16.00
  • Monthly commuter pass $67.00
  • Regional seasonal routes in Stowe/Lamoille are fare free

Franklin/Grand Isle

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  • Single local fare $0.50
  • 10 ride local pass $4.50
  • Unlimited ride monthly pass $16.50
  • Single fare between towns on commuters $1.00
  • Single fare within towns on commuters $0.50
  • 10-ride pass $8.00
  • Monthly commuter pass $33.50

References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-06-03/green-mountain-transit-fares-return-burlington-chittenden-county-as-financial-uncertainty-looms
  4. ^ CCTA System Map via the Internet Archive. Retrieved on 2014-05-02.
  5. ^ "GMT System Name Changes". Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  6. ^ "Fares: Effective March 6, 2024". ridegmt.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  7. ^ "Fares: Effective March 6, 2024". ridegmt.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  8. ^ "Green Mountain Transit, BED unveil first two electric buses". Vermont Business Magazine. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  9. ^ Syed, Maleeha. "VTrans survey to address transportation access in rural Vermont". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  10. ^ https://ridegmt.com/wp-content/uploads/link-express-bus-bike-storage.jpg [bare URL image file]
  11. ^ "green mountain transit express buses – Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  12. ^ "Chittenden County Transportation Authority – CPTDB Wiki". cptdb.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  13. ^ "Green Mountain Transit Board of Commissioners Meeting January 2024 Packet" (PDF). p. 9.
  14. ^ Fares and passes[permanent dead link], Green Mountain Transit Authority. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
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