Please choose between the following three options:
Skip to main menu Skip to site search Continue to current page menu and contentA seasonal parking ban on collector roads and bus routes is in effect beginning at 12:01am on Wednesday January 22, 2020. The ban remains in effect until declared over.
Main page content begins here
An alternative transit service could complement regular bus service so more Edmontonians can get to where they need to go conveniently and safely.
In some neighbourhoods, an alternative transit service could be an accessible on-demand van. For many of these communities, it could be a better fit because of the design of neighbourhood roads, ease of access in and out of the community, and current levels of transit use. It can also be a way to introduce public transit to newer communities until the neighbourhood is built out and can support regular bus service. An alternative transit service could be a cost-effective way of providing public transit in a way that meets the needs of the community it serves.
Communities being considered for an alternative transit service are being considered in two groups. If City Council approves and funds an alternative transit service, this decision would determine which communities will receive service.
Group One Communities
Communities in Group one currently have regularly scheduled bus service.
Group Two Communities
Communities in Group two are newer neighbourhoods that do not have regularly scheduled bus service.
If approved by City Council, an alternative transit service in Edmonton could be an accessible on-demand van. This option was selected based on several factors, including feedback from participants in our public engagement workshops. They told us what they expect from the service and ETS determined an on-demand van could be the best way to address their concerns:
ETS is doing a detailed cost analysis of delivering an alternative transit service in-house versus partnering with the private sector. A report is due back to the City Council’s Urban Planning Committee in February 2020. The committee will decide whether to recommend one of these options go to City Council for approval and funding. If the service is funded, ETS intends to conduct a two-year pilot project to evaluate its success.
The City of Calgary and Town of Cochrane are also using a similar on-demand alternative transit approach in their communities.
A flexible, accessible on-demand alternative transit service would allow riders to request a pick-up or drop-off from either a designated stop in the neighbourhood or the designated transit hub. They would make this request through a smartphone app, online or by telephone. A van with a trained driver would carry residents between the stops in the neighbourhood and the transit hub. ETS would require vans be accessible for individuals with mobility challenges and families with strollers.
The public engagement period for the proposed alternative transit service concluded in October 2019. You can read the What We Heard reports on the public engagement page.
ETS will report back to City Council’s Urban Planning Committee in February 2020 with a detailed cost analysis of delivering an accessible on-demand service.
Public transit benefits both the community and individuals, so up to 60 per cent of ETS’ operating costs are covered through municipal taxes and the remainder through fares. In order for ETS to provide the best value to all taxpayers, it regularly evaluates the performance of its routes to match the service to the demand. In some neighbourhoods, an alternative transit service may be a better fit.
ETS is seeking direction and funding from City Council to launch an alternative transit service in communities identified for this service.
If City Council chooses to fund an alternative transit service in newer communities, ETS will consider several factors. They include:
The Transit Service Standards set guidelines for when ETS considers making changes to service. The changes are prioritized based on several factors including available resources.
If more than 20 per cent of their population must walk more than 600 metres to the nearest transit stop and there are more than 20 existing customers beyond the 600 metre walk to regular service, ETS reviewed the neighbourhood as a possible alternative transit candidate. Implementation of alternative transit is subject to further direction and funding from City Council.
In newer communities, ETS considers several factors. They include being more than 600 metres from existing transit service, their road network design may not be able to support a 40’ bus and they must have at least 200 occupied dwellings.
ETS reviewed the Gainer and Girard Industrial neighbourhoods as possible candidates for alternative transit. Implementation of an alternative transit solution is subject to further direction and funding from City Council.
No decisions have been made about whether an accessible on-demand service would be delivered by ETS or a partnership with the private sector. ETS will be reporting back to City Council’s Urban Planning Committee in February 2020 with a detailed cost analysis of delivering the service.
ETS is committed using accessible vans with space for at least one wheelchair so individuals with mobility challenges could use the service. It would also have enough from for families who are using strollers.
Accessible on-demand transit is new to Edmonton, so ETS wants to make sure the service is successful before expanding it to other communities. It also provides enough time for transit users to use the service, and evaluate what works and what ETS could improve.
| Online | Contact 311 Online |
|---|
| Telephone | In Edmonton: 311 |
|---|---|
| TTY | 780-944-5555 |
End of page content. Please choose between the following five options:
Back to main menu Back to current page menu and content View current page breadcrumb Back to site search Continue to page footer content