Granby will introduce a new public-transit route on Aug. 3 that will serve Denison Street East and a swathe of residential and institutional stops as the city implements a multi-year redesign of its bus network.
Ridership growth drives change
The launch of the Circuit Est — the city’s new East Route — comes after a pronounced increase in use of municipal transit. According to the city’s published figures, combined ridership on bus and taxibus services rose by 82 per cent between 2022 and 2025. The reported number of passenger trips by bus increased from 197,387 in 2022 to 383,070 in 2025.
| Year | Bus passenger trips |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 197,387 |
| 2025 | 383,070 |
Mayor Julie Bourdon framed the expansion as a response to that growth and a reflection of council priorities since she took office.
“An important step in the network redesign,” said the mayor, noting improved public transit has remained a priority.
Route, stops and future plans
The East Route will link the downtown terminus with the Lemieux Street terminus, serving a mix of downtown, institutional and residential locations. Noted stops on the route include the Paul-O.-Trépanier Library and the courthouse area, as well as several points along Denison Street East.
- Downtown terminus to Lemieux Street terminus
- Centre and Boivin streets; Parc and Dufferin streets
- Paul-O.-Trépanier Library; courthouse area
- Prince and Glen streets; residential streets including Iris, Potentille, Nénuphar, Sagittaire, Hémérocalle, Lys-Blanc and Pétunia
The municipality is already planning an extension of the route along Robitaille Street, targeted for the summer of 2027.
Part of a broader redesign
The East Route is the first public announcement tied to Granby’s long-term plan for a bidirectional network centered on a downtown hub. Work to identify transit needs began in 2021 and included five public workshops led by the firm Civilia in 2023. Those sessions helped the city identify shortcomings and informed several scenarios that were later reviewed and narrowed to the chosen long-term plan.
Municipal councillor François Lemay, who oversees sports infrastructure, parks and sustainable mobility, said the East Route is the beginning of several announcements tied to the redesigned system and emphasised the project reflects significant municipal investment.
For residents, the change aims to broaden access to transit across neighbourhoods and respond to the sustained increase in passenger demand. The city will continue to phase in elements of the redesigned network in the coming years.
