The City of Edmonton is moving to replace three transit centre buildings and upgrade road surfaces and sidewalks at multiple transportation hubs this month. The major improvements aim to enhance customer experience, convenience, and safety at key Edmonton Transit nodes. 

Rendering of the upgraded West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre, image via City of Edmonton

The extensive work will involve the replacement of three of the oldest bus transit buildings at Belvedere, Castle Downs and Jasper Place, projects that are expected to commence this summer and wrap up in 2018. The site activity will include additional security cameras, improved sight lines, upgraded indoor heated waiting areas, public art installations, and enhancements to building design and platforms.

Upgrades to busways and sidewalks at Stadium and Coliseum transit centres will begin this month, followed by similar work at Capilano, Castle Downs, Northgate, Lakewood, Meadowlark, Jasper Place, Westmount, and West Edmonton Mall. These projects are anticipated for completion by the end of the year.

Belvedere Transit Centre, image retrieved from Google Street View

The Edmonton Journal reported last week that the overhaul of the West Edmonton Mall transit centre had experienced some hiccups because the structure was thought to be in better shape than it actually was. The building will be deconstructed to its steel columns, with the aforementioned improvements — including more security cameras, seating, and public art — also in progress. The bus transit centre building upgrades are currently on schedule to be completed in June.

The federal-provincial Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) has made it possible for the City to allocate $37.75 million toward improvements to transit centres. The City has 46 PTIF projects currently planned or underway, totalling a budget of $297.3 million. More information about ETS improvement projects can be found on the City's website.