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]
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)
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.
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]
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
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.
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
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]
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 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.
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 July 1, 2021, with all service transferred to Tri-Valley Transit.
(NB): Northbound; (SB): Southbound
Fares
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
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.
The Capital District, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Stowe and Lamoille County, Mad River Valley areas
Route list
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
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
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
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