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COVID-19

New mandatory public health measures are in effect across Alberta to protect the health system and slow the spread of COVID-19. Learn more at edmonton.ca/COVID-19.

Transit COVID-19 Updates

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Customers are encouraged to travel during off-peak hours. They should keep a safe physical distance from other customers and stay home if they have any cold or flu symptoms.

Transit Service Information

Trip Planning

Customers can view scheduled and real-time trip information in the ETS trip planning tools and third-party tools. For customers who do not have access to online trip planning tools, check the online route brochures.

LRT Service
LRT is currently operating on reduced frequencies to accommodate the Stadium LRT Station Redevelopment project.

Bus Network Redesign

Edmonton’s new bus network launches April 25, 2021 and will connect you to where you need to go on more direct routes. Visit the Bus Network Redesign page to learn more about the new bus routes and On Demand Transit, or to check out the interactive map.

Health and Safety Information

Germ-Killing Technology on Transit and at Transit Facilities

Germ-Killing Push-Plates
ETS, in collaboration with a local biotechnology company, Outbreaker Solutions, is excited to pilot innovative germ-killing push-plates that are being installed on entrance and exit swing doors at some transit centres and LRT stations. Push-plate installation began at Bay/Enterprise Square LRT Station in January, as a way to further enhance safety on transit for passengers and staff. The push-plates are flat and are made of highly compressed salt. They look and feel just like a ceramic tile. The push-plates can be used to manually push open a door.  

The company has published their research that shows the push-plates are effective in killing the majority of germs, including viruses, bacteria and fungi in just a few seconds, due to the salt crystals piercing the membrane walls of the germs, effectively neutralizing them. 

Based on results from the push-plates at Bay/Enterprise Square LRT Station, it is anticipated that push-plates will be installed at nine other transit facilities. This pilot project will last six months, is at no cost to taxpayers and is a great example of how local innovation can support enhanced safety on transit.

Antimicrobial LRT Seats
From late-January to March, new antimicrobial seats will be installed on two-thirds of the LRT fleet (the newer train models). These seats will have an antimicrobial additive in the plastic that can reduce up to 99.9 percent of microbes within two hours. This additive is a one-time application that is incorporated into the plastic and is not a coating. It should last the entire life of the seat. 

Stay Safe and Healthy

We are in this together - we can help keep each other safe and healthy by following a few simple steps. Wear a mask or face covering on transit, physically distance yourself from others, travel during off-peak times if able, and continue to follow AHS guidelines. 

  • Effective August 1, 2020, wearing a mask or face covering will be mandatory indoors in the publicly accessible areas of all City-owned and operated buildings, facilities, amenities and attractions, including transit, transit centres and LRT platforms. Our focus will be on educating passengers on the importance of wearing a mask or face covering when using public transit or in public areas or facilities where physical distancing is not possible
    • Although bus shields and LRT cabs provide protection, Operators are required to wear masks at all times, including while behind the bus shield, in the LRT cab, and at our garages and transit centres.
    • Given that DATS provides door-to-door trips and often requires close (less than two metres distance) physical contact (moving, securing or repositioning the client), DATS operators are required to wear masks when assisting and driving customers.
  • We are continuing our daily enhanced cleaning and disinfecting on buses, LRT, DATS vehicles, transit centres, LRT stations, as well as high-touch areas
  • We continue to use a new disinfecting agent applied daily with an electrostatic sprayer to all ETS vehicles before they go into service. The disinfectant is known to kill COVID-19, and is approved by Health Canada. An electrostatic sprayer is also used on high-touch areas at LRT stations and transit centres
  • The adjusted service schedule for buses and trains allows for more frequent and thorough cleaning and disinfecting of transit vehicles
Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy on Transit
  1. Wear a mask or face covering - Wear a mask or face covering while using public transit or in other locations where physical distancing is not possible. Wearing a mask helps keep our community safe.

    Please make sure you properly dispose of your used masks and/or gloves into a waste bin. If one is not available, store your used materials in a plastic bag until they can be disposed of properly. 
  2. Stay home if you are not feeling well - If you are sick, please stay home. 
  3. Practice healthy hygiene - Do not touch your face, and cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Clean and sanitize your hands as soon as possible before and after a trip on public transit. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially if you have come into contact with commonly-touched surfaces, including fare machines, poles, railings, seats, doors, windows, and buttons. Consider keeping a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times.
  4. Avoid rush hour - Travel during off-peak times, if able, when there are fewer people. Rush hour for ETS is 6 - 9am and 3 - 6pm.
  5. Allow for extra travel time - Wait for the next bus or train if the current one is too full. Also, some service levels have been adjusted due to the change in demand, so double check the schedule or use a real-time trip planning tool such as Transit or Google Map.
  6. Let other customers exit the vehicle first - Whether on buses or trains, let customers exit the vehicle first before boarding. 
  7. Maintain physical distance if possible - Although physical distancing will not always be possible, spread out as much as possible when inside a bus, train or at loading areas. Family members, or a caregiver, can sit together.
  8. Talk less and quietly onboard transit - Alberta Health indicates that microdroplets are released whenever someone speaks, especially when talking loudly or yelling.
  9. Be patient, respect other customers and operators, and pay your fare - We are all in this together. Thank you for doing your part to help flatten the curve and continuing to support public transit. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How are you ensuring transit is clean and disinfected?

Any bus or train coming out of service is being cleaned before it is put back into service. 

As part of standard cleaning practices, ETS regularly disinfects and cleans buses and trains to help maintain a safe environment for staff and customers. This involves disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces. When possible, we bring in additional resources to enhance our transit cleaning activities in both intensity and frequency.

Will transit shut down entirely? What about LRT?

We are monitoring demand for transit very closely as well as heeding the updates from Alberta Health Services to determine an appropriate level of service. 

Why do the LRT doors automatically open?

ETS has limited the need for LRT passengers to manually open the LRT doors by pressing a button as the health and safety of Edmontonians is our top priority. Operators will open all doors at all LRT stations on the trains that have this functionality. This functionality is only available on ETS' newer fleet of LRT vehicles, which is roughly two thirds of all trains.

ETS Lost & Found Inquiries

Please use our online form for inquiries or call 780-496-1622 to confirm if your article has been found. Also, you will need to arrange an appointment time with the Lost and Found staff for pick up at the Edmonton Tower.

ETS Busker Permits

New Busker Permits cannot be issued at this time. Currently issued permits are extended until new permits can be issued. 

Ride Transit Program

Visit the Ride Transit Program page for more information about how to apply and how to purchase your pass.

ETS Fares

Fare changes for many fare categories take effect on February 1, 2021. Please visit the Fares page for more information. 

ETS Refunds

Visit the Fares page for more information.

For More Information

Contact ETS

Telephone

311
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/takeETS
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/EdmontonTransit/
Twitter https://twitter.com/takeetsalert

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