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Bus Network Redesign

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Edmonton’s bus routes will soon be changing. The newly redesigned network focuses on connecting people to places and to each other.

The Bus Network Redesign will better connect Edmontonians to where they need to go today and in the future through more efficient routes. The new network will deliver safe, fast, convenient and reliable service. It will also balance the needs of transit users and long-term City building goals by creating a more efficient system and improving service levels.

View the new bus network.

What’s New

On November 26, 2019, City Council approved Edmonton's new transit network*. It is an important step in bringing Edmonton's Transit Strategy to life. From 2015 to 2017, residents told us what they expect from their transit service. The bus network redesign is the first major step toward better meeting the needs of transit users in our city.

Every bus route in the proposed network is new. They are designed around providing:

  • Frequent routes in inner areas of the city for residents who rely on transit as their primary way of getting around
  • Express routes in outer areas of the city who commute downtown or the university area for work
  • Crosstown routes in outer areas of the city to connect city quadrants
  • Local routes to connect neighbourhoods to the frequent, express and crosstown network
  • Community routes to connect residents with local destinations, including seniors hubs

Transit users will enjoy many benefits in the proposed network:

  • Buses come more often, especially in peak hours, across the network
  • Expanded service into evenings and weekends in communities that do not have it today
  • Straighter routes with more direct service

*Please note the new routes are subject to detours and minor adjustments because of road construction, road closures or other activity. An anticipated "day 1" map will be available in early 2020 with individual route maps and schedules to follow by summer. The day 1 map will include route adjustments for the Valley Line bus replacement strategy.

Timeline

Spring 2020: Installation of new temporary and permanent bus stop signs begins.

Summer 2020: New schedules and online trip planning available for the proposed network.

Summer 2020: Public outreach to help customers prepare for the proposed network roll out.

August 30, 2020 - Launch Day: City staff on site to help transit customers use the proposed network.

Providing Feedback

The public engagement period for the proposed bus network ended in fall 2018. What We Heard reports are available on the public engagement page.

Planning the New Bus Network

Phase 1 (complete)

Spring/Summer 2018

Develop the Bus Network

In phase 1, our transit planners created the draft bus network based on the principles in the Transit Strategy.

We gathered feedback from many Edmontonians in April through June to make sure the new network would bring you to the places you want to go. Our transit planners used  this feedback to further refine the bus network.

Phase 2 (complete)

Summer/Fall 2018

Refine the Bus Network

In summer 2018, our transit planning team refined the draft bus network that was presented in spring 2018. The team altered the bus routes so that 80 per cent of addresses will be within a maximum five to seven minute walk to a transit stop and some routes were re-adjusted to connect to important community destinations. An alternative transit service is being reviewed for communities where the nearest transit stop is further away.

Phase 3

2019-2020

Prepare the Bus Network

In 2019, we started preparations to launch the new bus network. This work includes developing educational materials, creating new route brochures and making new bus stop signs among other things.

Phase 4

Summer 2020

Roll Out the Bus Network

The proposed bus network would be rolled out August 30, 2020. We will have educational materials and street teams available to help people navigate and understand the new bus system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions the City has received about the proposed new bus routes and the bus network redesign project.

Are the new bus routes final?

Yes. City Council approved the new bus network on November 26, 2019. The new routes will be reviewed after one to two years to ensure they are working as intended and meeting customers' needs.

When will the proposed bus network launch?

The new bus network is scheduled to roll out August 30, 2020. Bus schedules and online trip planning will be available by summer 2020.

When will the new maps and bus route schedules be ready?

Maps and route schedules, as well as online trip planning, for the new bus routes will be available by summer 2020.

Can I still provide feedback about the new bus routes?

Public engagement for the Bus Network Redesign ended in December 2018. The What We Heard and Did Report, which summarizes public feedback, can be found on the public engagement page.

I currently have direct bus service to work, school or shopping. Why do I need to transfer with the new routes?

The new bus network is designed to move residents across the city more efficiently. Wait times are anticipated to be shorter when transferring into the frequent network.

How will the new bus network be better?

Almost every bus route is new, and routes are straighter with less overlap. These changes will provide faster, more frequent and efficient service. Residents in inner area neighbourhoods can expect to see an increase in service throughout the day, while those in outer area neighbourhoods will see an increase in service during peak times for commuters.

What is alternative transit?

In some neighbourhoods, an alternative transit service 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 is a cost-effective way of providing public transit in a way that meets the needs of the community it serves. In Edmonton, this service would be provided through an accessible on-demand van.

How were the new routes planned?

Routes were planned based on the principles in Edmontonians’ Transit Strategy, public feedback and historical data about transit use. Many routes were straightened and some duplicate routes were combined. This increase in efficiency means ETS can provide better service overall across the network through more frequent buses and expanded service on evenings and weekends.

What is ETS' plan for bus service until the Valley Line opens?

ETS will be implementing a bus replacement strategy until the Valley Line opens. A high frequency route will mimic the Valley Line route and will stop at existing transit centres (Millgate and Mill Woods Town Centre) until the new transit centres (Davies and a new transit centre at Mill Woods Town Centre) are open. Routes that serve the new transit centres and LRT stations will be altered slightly until the Valley Line is open.

Background

In 2015, we started talking to Edmontonians about what they wanted in a transit system. A new approach was needed, based on a community conversation about the role of transit in our city. These conversations resulted in the development of the Transit Strategy.

We heard from more than 20,000 Edmontonians. We spoke with all sorts of people - motorists and transit riders, young children and seniors, suburbanites and urban dwellers, indigenous Edmontonians, people with disabilities, and many others.

What we heard from Edmontonians directly informed the development of the Transit Strategy and now the Bus Network Redesign. The elements of the Strategy - Values, Pillars, Guiding Principles, and Actions - guide how we deliver transit service and how we invest in transit over the next 10 years.

Council Decisions

July 11, 2017
  • Approved beginning work for the Bus Network Redesign project
  • Approved the Transit Strategy that reflects the priorities of Edmontonians and will modernize Edmonton’s transit system over the coming years
November 26, 2019

  • Approved the Bus Network Redesign and the Transit Service Policy

Project Updates

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Related Documents

Transit Strategy

2017

Transit Strategy What We Did Report 2015-2016

Transit Strategy What We Heard Report 2015-2016

Related Links

Public Engagement What We Heard Reports

Council Initiative on Public Engagement

Transit Strategy

The Way We Move

Find out how we're planning for future transportation needs.

For More Information

Bus Network Redesign Project

Online Contact 311 Online
Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
TTY 780-944-5555

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