Edmonton’s bus routes are changing. Here’s how to plan your trip

In less than five weeks, Edmonton Transit will roll out its new bus network which will mean new routes and commutes for users.

As a way to help transit users prepare for the changes, the City of Edmonton recommends using the Transit app where riders can preview what their new trip will look like.

To see a preview of future trips, users must enter a trip date that falls during the week of April 25 to May 1. Until the new network launches on April 25, the app will show existing routes and schedules if a future date is not selected.

The city encourages riders to use the Transit app rather than other digital tools such as Google Maps of the ETS Google-powered trip planning tool because they may not be accurate currently due to technical issues with the Google platform.

“When the issues are resolved with these trip planners, a notice will be put on the ETS website and attached to the ETS trip planning tool,” the city said.

“The 311 call centre uses the same Google-powered trip planner to assist customers with preview trips in the new network.”

It’s been over 20 years since Edmonton revamped its bus network.

The city has said the changes will result in more frequent bus service, more direct routes and the system being better connected in evenings and on weekends.

1:43 Public input wanted on Edmonton bus route changes

For example, several bus routes in west Edmonton have been modified to move away from the path of the Valley Line LRT construction. The city said good service will still be provided to area neighbourhoods.

“By making more direct routes, we could have more service on those routes come more frequently — or they could operate on the evenings, weekends or mid-day and not just provide a rush-hour service,” said Sarah Feldman, the ETS’ director of planning and scheduling.

“The bus network redesign is our project to change all the bus routes in the city — to provide a better network for the city we are today and into the future.”

Lorraine Turchansky lives in the Hodgson neighbourhood in southwest Edmonton and describes herself as an occasional bus user.

She’s not surprised by the changes being made, saying when she does take the bus she’s often the only person on board or one of just a handful of riders in her neighbourhood.

“There just aren’t that many people on the bus. The exception is, I think, when the school kids get on,” Turchansky said.

“But at the same time, I have a son who doesn’t drive so for him to come and visit me, he has to take a trip of well over an hour on transit to get here from downtown. I imagine it won’t be any faster with the new design.”

She said while she doesn’t use transit on a daily basis, the new changes will make a difference to her commute times when she does decide to take the bus. She is losing a stop that is located just outside of her home.

“Everyone wants a stop close by and in most cases, maybe walking a few blocks longer to a stop may not be that big of a deal but certainly when it’s really cold in winter it’s going to be harder. I think of people who have little ones, it’s going to be very difficult for them,” Turchansky said.

She said she used the new app to see how long it would take her to get to the auto body shop where she takes her car to have the winter tires changed. The shop is about 2.5 kilometres away.

“The app told me I’d be able to get there somewhere between 23 and 50 minutes, depending on the time of day and so on. I’m retired so I’m pretty flexible with my time, but before it was maybe 10 minutes to get there so it’ll be quite a difference,” she said.

“It’s going to take a while for us to have confidence in the system and to have an understanding of how to get around. That’s going to take time for everyone, whether it’s somebody like me or somebody who has to commute to work every day.”

“We’ll be taking all of that feedback, as well as the data from the on-demand service, and we’ll be going back to council every six months with a report,” Feldman said. “Our first report will be this fall.”

Councillor Sarah Hamilton, who was one of five councillors who voted against the redesign, said she’s heard from a number of residents about the new bus network.

“Concerns about the distance they’ll have to walk, concerns about service reductions,” Hamilton said, adding she looked up her own commute to work.

“I modelled that a bit and I personally do see a 15 to 20-minute increase in commute times. I recognize that’s a challenge for people.

“I’ll always be pushing for better service for people, for those minor adjustments that could make someone’s day a lot easier.”

Alongside the new bus network, the city will also launch its on-demand transit pilot project. Councillors pushed ETS to launch the alternative for communities where service was drastically reduced.

The service will see two providers run a shuttle bus program that will connect residents in some neighbourhoods to transit hubs.

There are 37 neighbourhoods that will receive on-demand transit starting on April 25. Customers have three options to book a trio:

• Download the Edmonton On-Demand Transit app
• Book online
• Book over the phone at 780-496-2400

More information on the city’s new bus routes can be found on the City of Edmonton’s website.

With files from Sarah Ryan, Global News.