In Transit Newsletter - December 2009
The Every Day Way to Donate a Ride
Donate-a-Ride is back this year with Councillor Kim Krushell returning as the Chairperson.
Program information and donation envelopes will be out on the buses in mid-December. The actual campaign runs from December 31, 2009 to January 31, 2010, with the launch at City Hall on December 30.
This special program continues to grow, this year supporting 59 local charities.
The only City of Edmonton, City Council initiated charity, Donate-a-Ride is a unique partnership of private businesses, municipal government and charitable organizations.
Donations can be made using envelopes on all ETS buses, by mail or phone to the United Way or Citizen Action Centre in City Hall, through the ETS Online Store at www.takeETS.com or at the Donate-a-Ride kiosk on the platform of Churchill LRT Station.
ETS Holiday Service
Our special ETS holiday service hanger contains all the information you’ll need to know for your transit travel over the Christmas and New Year periods. It’s available on both buses and LRT vehicles in mid-December.
Although schools and major centres such as the University and many government offices are closed during the Christmas holiday period, a number of businesses remain open. We’ve adjusted service levels to meet these reduced travel requirements.
Our ETS hanger contains information on service from December 21 to January 2. We’ve included school service information too. Remember, school passes are accepted on ETS every day of the week.
Transit Information is available at 311 during the holiday period.
The ETS Customer Services Centre, including Commendations & Concerns and Lost & Found will close at 4:30 p.m. on December 24. On December 25, 28 and January 1 the office will be closed. Regular hours apply for all other days during the holiday.
Check the ETS Trip Planner or call BusLink at 780-496-1600 for holiday service information.
Happy Holidays from all of us at ETS. We look forward to serving you in 2010.
Take ETS to a Safe New Year’s Eve
Start your New Year on a safe note -- take transit to your New Year’s Eve celebrations.
By offering FREE service on New Year’s Eve, ETS and our partners St. Albert and Strathcona County transit systems plus CBC radio 1 and TV are encouraging people not to drink and drive. ETS free service starts at 6pm on December 31, continuing until 3:30am on January 1.
Service information for the system you’ll be using is available from the ETS Trip Planner, St. Albert Transit at 780-418-6060 or Strathcona County Transit at 780-464-7433.
Money collected in ETS fare boxes on New Year’s Eve is given to the Donate-a-Ride campaign.
Winter U Pass
The new Winter U-Pass sticker (W-10), valid starting January 1, 2010, will be available to eligible students attending U of A and MacEwan this month.
Information about U-Pass distribution sites on the U of A and MacEwan campuses is available from www.ualberta.ca/u-pass and www.macewan.ca/upass.
The U-Pass has been very well received at both institutions and we’re looking forward to continued success with the program.
Please be advised that students traveling on buses and LRT after January 1 who are not able to show their new Winter Term U-Pass sticker risk a $110 fine for fare evasion.
Bikes on Buses Program Expands
ETS is expanding the number of routes in our Bikes on Buses program.
As of December 20, there will be 10 routes covering various areas of the city that offer bike racks for customers. Buses on routes 1, 4, 8, 9, 30, 82, 111, 128, 139 and 180 will all have bike racks mounted on them.
One of our goals for the program is to have at least one route with bike racks in every quadrant of the city.
Christmas Lights Tours
ETS volunteers are returning with our popular Christmas Lights Tours from Sunday, December 13 to Saturday, December 19. Tours leave from the west side of City Hall on 100 Street at bus stop #1364. During weeknights tours leave at 6pm, 6:15pm and 6:30pm. On Saturday and Sunday tours leave City Hall at 5:45pm, 6pm, 6:15pm, and 6:30pm.
With the end of Bright Nights this year, we’ve made some changes to the routing. We’re going to Candy Cane Lane and the Royal Alberta Museum plus a tour of the University of Alberta, Whyte Avenue and Saskatchewan Drive as well as our regular stop at the Alberta Legislature.
All tickets are $3, regardless of age. You can purchase a maximum of 8 tickets. All proceeds go to the Donate-a-Ride program.
Tickets are sold in advance only through Tix on the Square (9920, 102 Avenue), starting on Tuesday, November 24. You can purchase tickets in person, on line at www.tixonthesquare.ca, or by calling 780-420-1757. There is a $1.50 charge per transaction when buying tickets by phone or internet, and you can pay with Visa, Master Card or American Express. Tickets will not be held without payment and all sales are final – no refunds or exchanges.
Tickets must be picked up in person prior to your tour, during Tix on the Square business hours (9:30am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am - 4pm on Saturday).
Take ETS to Roar of the Rings
ETS will be extending our service hours on the LRT in support of the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings being held at Rexall Place from December 6 - 13, 2009.
This exciting event will determine Canada’s representatives at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Check the ETS Trip Planner or call BusLink at 780-496-1600 for service information.
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