Norwalk Transit District
Encyclopedia
The Norwalk Transit District is the primary provider of public transportation services in Norwalk, Connecticut
and surrounding communities. The district's fixed-route bus transit system, known as WHEELS, is the primary service of the system linking Norwalk and its immediate suburbs as well as peak-hour service as far north as Danbury
(with HART
) and as far east as Bridgeport
(with GBTA
) as well as shuttles to Metro-North
stations. Paratransit services are also available for residents in the service area unable to use regular transit services.
The city of Norwalk founded the Norwalk Transit District in 1978, seven years after The Connecticut Company ceased operations in Norwalk outside of their route linking Norwalk to Stamford (which continues as Connecticut Transit Stamford
Route 41). Though an entity of its city, the district does also receive funding from the Connecticut Department of Transportation
and has both its funds and transfers synched to those of the DOT-aligned CT Transit though it has not piggybacked onto that agency's bus orders.
). Fares as of 2006 are $1.25 (US) with a free transfer which can be used on WHEELS, CT Transit, HART, GBTA, or Milford Transit.
Outside Norwalk, WHEELS offers several variable services including:
minibuses as a starter fleet; these buses were soon replaced by Scania
buses which were built in nearby Orange
when it became evident that the minibuses outgrew growing ridership. By the mid-1980s, a fleet of GMC RTS buses was purchased by the NTD in a joint order with GBTA (from whom secondhand RTS's were later acquired). In 1992, most of the earlier buses were replaced with an order from Flxible
for their METRO model.
In 2004, the aging WHEELS fleet led NTD to undergo a fleet replacement with an order for Orion Bus Industries
's Orion VII being placed to replace all RTS buses and most Flxibles; these buses are the first low-floor buses in the WHEELS fleet. Orion sister Thomas Built Buses
also won a contract for their SLF low-floor model which is used sparingly on commuter shuttles. Also used on the CDOT-funded Coastal Link and Route 7 Link services are several New Flyer
D40LF buses which came from a statewide order.
Currently, most service in the fleet including most midday and all Saturday service is provided by the Orion VII and Gillig
Advantage buses, and New Flyers leased from CT Transit providing service on the Coastal Link.
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
and surrounding communities. The district's fixed-route bus transit system, known as WHEELS, is the primary service of the system linking Norwalk and its immediate suburbs as well as peak-hour service as far north as Danbury
Danbury
Danbury is a city in Connecticut, U.S.Danbury may also refer to:*Danbury, Saskatchewan, Canada*Danbury, Essex, UK*Danbury, Iowa, U.S.*Danbury, Nebraska, U.S.*Danbury, New Hampshire, U.S.*Danbury, North Carolina, U.S.*Danbury, Texas, U.S....
(with HART
Housatonic Area Regional Transit
Housatonic Area Regional Transit, known popularly as HART, is the provider of public transportation for Danbury, Connecticut and surrounding communities. HART was founded in 1972 as the Danbury-Bethel Transit District by the two municipalities. The name was changed to HART in 1979 after the...
) and as far east as Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
(with GBTA
Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority
The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority is a transit service serving the Greater Bridgeport region of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The GBTA provides local bus service to the cities/towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Stratford, Fairfield, and Monroe....
) as well as shuttles to Metro-North
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
stations. Paratransit services are also available for residents in the service area unable to use regular transit services.
The city of Norwalk founded the Norwalk Transit District in 1978, seven years after The Connecticut Company ceased operations in Norwalk outside of their route linking Norwalk to Stamford (which continues as Connecticut Transit Stamford
Connecticut Transit Stamford
Connecticut Transit Stamford is the division of Connecticut Transit for the Stamford, area. In Stamford it provides service on 18 routes around Stamford, Connecticut, with routes centered around downtown Stamford and providing local bus service to Norwalk, White Plains, New York via the I-Bus, and...
Route 41). Though an entity of its city, the district does also receive funding from the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
and has both its funds and transfers synched to those of the DOT-aligned CT Transit though it has not piggybacked onto that agency's bus orders.
Routes
WHEELS operates fixed routes throughout its service area. A "pulse-point" system is used with all routes meeting at the "WHEELS Hub" in downtown Norwalk to facilitate instant transfers between routes plus CT Transit Route 41 (though passengers on WHEELS routes 11 and 13 can transfer earlier/later during their shared area on U.S. Route 1U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
). Fares as of 2006 are $1.25 (US) with a free transfer which can be used on WHEELS, CT Transit, HART, GBTA, or Milford Transit.
WHEELS Services
- 13 fixed route services, all in the city limits of Norwalk, which run as bidirectional loops from the transit hub, starting at approximately 5:30 am and ending at 7:00 pm weekdays and (most routes) 7:00 am-7:00 pm weekends.
- Regular Routes
- Route 1- to Fox Run
- Route 2- to Broad River
- Route 3- to Union
- Route 4- to West Rocks
- Routes 5/6- to Newtown/Wolfpit
- Route 7- to Norden Park
- Route 8- to Shady Beach
- Route 9- to Woodward
- Route 10- to Wilson
- Route 11- to Norwalk Community College
- Route 12- to McKinley
- Route 13- to Richards
- Regular Routes
- 2 "Evening Shuttle" routes which provide extra service alongside Main Street and Connecticut Avenue. These buses also meet arriving and departing trains at Metro-North RailroadMetro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
's South NorwalkSouth Norwalk (Metro-North station)The South Norwalk Metro-North Railroad station is one of three stations serving the residents of Norwalk, Connecticut via the New Haven Line and is the more significant of the three. Nicknamed "SoNo" by riders and staff, the station is the point where the Danbury Branch connects to the Northeast...
station. - 2 "Sunday Shuttle" routes which run alongside Main Street and Connecticut Avenue which are similar to the Evening Shuttles.
- Evening/Sunday Routes
- Main Ave
- Connecticut Ave
- 3 regional routes
- The Coastal Link, a Daily regional route running to Bridgeport and Milford operated with the GBTA and Milford Transit District and funded by CDOT.
- The Route 7U.S. Route 7U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
Link, a weekday route running between Norwalk and Danbury operated with HARTHousatonic Area Regional TransitHousatonic Area Regional Transit, known popularly as HART, is the provider of public transportation for Danbury, Connecticut and surrounding communities. HART was founded in 1972 as the Danbury-Bethel Transit District by the two municipalities. The name was changed to HART in 1979 after the...
and funded by CDOT. - Connecticut Transit Route 41, a weekday route running between Norwalk and Stamford operated with Connecticut Transit StamfordConnecticut Transit StamfordConnecticut Transit Stamford is the division of Connecticut Transit for the Stamford, area. In Stamford it provides service on 18 routes around Stamford, Connecticut, with routes centered around downtown Stamford and providing local bus service to Norwalk, White Plains, New York via the I-Bus, and...
and funded by CDOT.
- 6 commuter shuttle routes
- Norwalk Hospital/Belden Avenue
- Merritt 7/Glover Avenue
- Westport Road/Wilton
- Maritime Garage
- NCC/ ct ave
Outside Norwalk, WHEELS offers several variable services including:
- Routes serving the town of WestportWestport, Connecticut-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
(Route 1- Downtown/Post Road West) - Westport commuter service (Route G1- Coleytown to Green Farms Station, Route G2- Long Lots to Green Farms Station, Route S2- Old Hill to Saugatauck Station, Route S3- Riverside to Saugatauck Station, Route S4- Post Rd to Saugatauck Station)
- ADA and Paratrasit service for much of Fairfield County
- A commuter shuttle route serving GreenwichGreenwich, ConnecticutGreenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
(Central Loop)
Fleet
At its inception, the city of Norwalk purchased a fleet of Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
minibuses as a starter fleet; these buses were soon replaced by Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
buses which were built in nearby Orange
Orange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
when it became evident that the minibuses outgrew growing ridership. By the mid-1980s, a fleet of GMC RTS buses was purchased by the NTD in a joint order with GBTA (from whom secondhand RTS's were later acquired). In 1992, most of the earlier buses were replaced with an order from Flxible
Flxible
The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F...
for their METRO model.
In 2004, the aging WHEELS fleet led NTD to undergo a fleet replacement with an order for Orion Bus Industries
Orion Bus Industries
Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975...
's Orion VII being placed to replace all RTS buses and most Flxibles; these buses are the first low-floor buses in the WHEELS fleet. Orion sister Thomas Built Buses
Thomas Built Buses
Thomas Built Buses, Inc. is a bus manufacturer based in High Point, North Carolina, United States and a subsidiary of the German Daimler AG. Thomas produces school buses, activity buses/MFSAB , and commercial buses; both small and full-size buses are produced.Thomas traces its roots to 1916, when...
also won a contract for their SLF low-floor model which is used sparingly on commuter shuttles. Also used on the CDOT-funded Coastal Link and Route 7 Link services are several New Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
D40LF buses which came from a statewide order.
Currently, most service in the fleet including most midday and all Saturday service is provided by the Orion VII and Gillig
Gillig
Gillig Corporation, formerly Gillig Bros., is a manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses located in Hayward, California. Prior to 1993, Gillig had also been a manufacturer of school buses.-History:...
Advantage buses, and New Flyers leased from CT Transit providing service on the Coastal Link.