Alternative Transit

Public transit benefits both the community and individuals, so transit costs are covered 60% through municipal taxes and 40% through customer fares.

In order for ETS to provide best value to all taxpayers, it regularly evaluates the performance of its routes. If a route has a low number of passengers, buses will be moved to another location where the travel demand is higher. In the absence of regular transit service, ETS is evaluating alternative transit options for affected communities.

Demand for transit varies across the city, which is why City Council requested that ETS review the bus network to provide better service without increasing the number of buses, operators and service hours. For some communities, this means service will be removed for several reasons.

• Transit use is low--minimum threshold for riders is not met
• There is low population density--not enough potential customers
• Walking distances to the nearest transit stop are greater than 600 metres
• There are geographic constraints to providing service--buses must backtrack
   

To be considered for alternative transit, a newer community should have enough occupied dwellings that it would be efficient to provide the service. As new communities build out and funds become available, ETS will evaluate the feasibility of providing service based on the potential numbers of riders and other factors. 

Unlike "dial-a-bus" programs of the past, which relied on dispatchers directing drivers where to go, on-demand service uses technology with algorithms that can direct a driver in real time. This would cut down the amount of time riders may need to wait for pick up or be on the road. In most cases, the nearest drop off location would be a maximum of 15 minutes away upon leaving the neighbourhood.

According to the City of Edmonton's Transit Service Standards policy, a bus route must have a minimum number of riders getting on and off the bus during peak and off-peak periods. The ridership threshold for an alternative transit service would be lower than it is for regular scheduled service.

Communities that are losing transit service in the new bus network will be eligible for a pilot project 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. The pilot projects are pending a decision by City Council in November 2019.

ETS is also exploring alternative transit opportunities in newer communities that do not have transit service today, have a minimum of 200 occupied dwellings (one condominium or apartment building counts as one dwelling) and a connected road network where it is safe to operate alternative transit. They include Cavanagh, Edgemont, Graydon Hill, Hawks Ridge, Hays Ridge, Keswick, Starling and Trumpeter. Public engagement workshop dates are listed above.

In neighbourhoods where community routes are being eliminated due to a very low number of customers, ETS is looking at extending the pilot project during off-peak hours.

ETS is looking at extending this service to industrial areas that do not have transit service and will engage major employers in these areas to better understand their employees’ transit needs.