ETS Bus and General Transit Improvements

[IanO]

Either way and given the priority and expansion not good.

 

[Habibfazil]

More low income/seniors/subsidized users? More youth and students? More fare evasion? Less full cost monthly passes? And now ARC likely shifting some monthly users to $60-80/month vs $100?

Or other causes as well?

why don't they mention the scared off real and potential riders who will not take the risk.

All on the city, the bylaws are there, blame the city.

Overstating the fare evasion is a neat trick, WHAT is the real number???

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

This is the End of the Line

ETS was involved with this report about funding.

Edmonton: Page 88-90

 

[Habibfazil]

This is the End of the Line

ETS was involved with this report about funding.

Edmonton: Page 88-90
View attachment 600839

and where are the professional provided numbers of "actual fare avoiders" VS "scared off riders".

You have no idea of how many have been scared off of transit, yet you have this facination about fare avoiders, which you once again fail to provide professionally derived numbers for...

 

[thommyjo]

Yeah, i

why don't they mention the scared off real and potential riders who will not take the risk.

All on the city, the bylaws are there, blame the city.

Overstating the fare evasion is a neat trick, WHAT is the real number???

Yeah, I know dozens of uni students who literally already pay for upass who choose to drive and pay for parking. Not to mention the fox drive congestion they experience and added gas costs…

If we can’t keep uni students on transit, we ain’t doing it right.

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

and where are the professional provided numbers of "actual fare avoiders" VS "scared off riders".

You have no idea of how many have been scared off of transit, yet you have this facination about fare avoiders, which you once again fail to provide professionally derived numbers for...

What? I wasn't even thinking about fare evasion…

"If the Edmonton Transit Service does not have sufficient operating revenue to fund transit service and continues to be limited within existing operating and capital funding constraints, the City will not be able to expand or improve the network to accommodate near term population growth. This means service reductions for Light Rail Transit, and no Bus Rapid Transit network.”

 

[IanO]

Transit ridership outpaces population growth​

October 8, 2024 Edmonton is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) ridership exceeds population growth. From January to September 2024, ETS ridership has grown by 14 per cent compared to 2023, continuing one of the strongest post-pandemic ridership recoveries in the country. ETS is on track to move nearly 60 million riders in 2024, up from 53 million riders in 2023. The opening of the 13-kilometre Valley Line Southeast LRT in November 2023 has contributed to this increase by providing another option for riders to reach destinations between Mill Woods and downtown. Nearly two million trips have been taken on Valley Line Southeast LRT between November 2023 and August 2024. ETS has 120 regular bus routes, 50 school routes, three LRT lines and an On Demand Transit service. Edmonton is one of five cities in Canada with a high-frequency transit grid, meaning it provides transit in the core of our city at least every 15 minutes most times of day, seven days a week. In 2023, City Council invested in growing transit service, adding 120,000 service hours to the transit network. While these investments help ease the pressure on transit service, the gap between current service levels and the Transit Service Standards continues to expand as the city’s population and neighbourhoods grow. “We’ve been investing in the transit network and are proud to deliver equitable, accessible and convenient service that will continue to meet the needs of riders,” said Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, Branch Manager, Edmonton Transit Service. “We’re working to make it easier for people to choose transit, and are excited to see this positive response. We’re thankful for our riders and the growth we’ve been experiencing.” In April 2021, ETS launched the current bus network; year-over-year monthly ridership has increased for 42 consecutive months. In September 2024, monthly ridership exceeded six million for the first time, as ETS welcomed back students and riders returned to fall routines. Overall, ridership has exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 12 per cent since the beginning of the year. ETS continually analyzes transit performance to ensure it remains efficient and effective for riders. This includes making service adjustments five times each year, based on transit data, rider feedback, seasonal changes and ridership growth. Riders are encouraged to plan their trips at edmonton.ca/transit.​

​

For more information: edmonton.ca/transit Media contact: Belle Sidhu Senior Communications Advisor City Operations 780-446-5747​

 

[Gronk!]

Transit riders organize to push for improved service and community

A group of frequent transit users who rely on the service has formed the Edmonton Transit Riders advocacy group to spur change and build a sense of community among passengers.

edmonton.taproot.news

 

[IanO]

The bigger issue we need to discuss with ETS is that even though this recent press release is positive, net overall usage is considerably down since 2013/14 (our peak) given our population growth and stagnant usage.

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

Transit riders organize to push for improved service and community

A group of frequent transit users who rely on the service has formed the Edmonton Transit Riders advocacy group to spur change and build a sense of community among passengers.

edmonton.taproot.news

Understanding transit service & how transit service in Edmonton is actually used is important too.

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

The bigger issue we need to discuss with ETS is that even though this recent press release is positive, net overall usage is considerably down since 2013/14 (our peak) given our population growth and stagnant usage.

Immigrant, international student population growth is helping ridership...

The all time high for ridership was 89 million in 2014, down to 87 million in 2018 (page 5).

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

This'll hurt transit ridership growth. Immigrants & international students use & appreciate transit service.

Canada slashing immigration targets, eyes ‘pause’ on population growth

 

[TAS]

This'll hurt transit ridership growth. Immigrants & international students use & appreciate transit service.

Canada slashing immigration targets, eyes ‘pause’ on population growth

It's still amazing to me that our overall transit use now (bus and lrt) is about the same or less than our peak of 2014 even though our population has increased by about 300,000 or 30+%.

 

[Kosy123]

I read somewhere that LRT ridership breached pre-pandemic levels in September, I'm not sure if I read that correctly, so don't quote me on that.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well maybe not scientific but by simple observation I can tell that more people are using park n ride at Davies on the Valley Line.