Transportation

In Transit Newsletter - January 2010

The Every Day Way to improve road safety

The ETS Please Yield campaign is back. With our new partner, the Alberta Motor Association, we’re developing new ways to encourage motorists to yield to buses re-entering traffic from bus stops.

We’ve added ‘Keep traffic flowing smoothly’ to our theme of ‘Give the Bus a Brake’ this year. Smooth traffic flow enhances both road safety and the ability for both motorists and ETS buses to get to their destinations in a timely manner, particularly when road and weather conditions are less than pleasant.

ETS operators are also part of the program, acknowledging motorists’ courtesy with a thank you wave of the hand or flashing their 4-way lights.

Look for billboards, ads at the back of ETS buses and information segments on Shaw TV starting mid month.

Quesnell Bridge Service Changes

The Fox Drive on ramp to the Quesnell Bridge northbound re-opened in December.

As a result of the Quesnell changes, routes 4, 104, 105, 106, 133, 138 and 139 returned to their regular routings but remained on their “detour” schedules.

Starting January 3, 2010, all routes noted above, including route 33, will run according to the schedules printed on the new route brochures.

Donate-a-Ride Update

Donate-a-Ride is very pleased to announce that EPCOR has joined our major sponsors group, bringing the total to 16. This very special group has a unique membership of private business, charitable organizations, unions and municipal government.

The only City of Edmonton, City Council initiated charity, Donate-a-Ride runs from December 31 until January 31, collecting funds to purchase ETS tickets for Edmonton social service agencies who distribute them to clients who need transportation.

Much of the program's support comes from 'Every Day Champions' who quietly contribute to the campaign using Donate-a-Ride envelopes on buses, through the ETS Online Store, by mail or phone to the United Way, or at the Donate-a-Ride kiosk on the platform of Churchill LRT Station.

For more information about Donate a Ride please see http://www.donatearide.ab.ca/.

Service During Dawson Bridge Repair

The 97 year old Dawson Bridge will be closed for major repairs starting January 4, 2010. As a major river crossing for commuters from east Edmonton into the downtown, it has seen transportation evolve from horse-drawn to horse-powered vehicles.

While the bridge is under construction ETS routes 1 and 88, as well as school routes 721, 764 and 830, will be detoured across the Low Level Bridge. Buses will be on detour between 84 Street and 106 Avenue on the east side of the river and between 95 Street and Rowland Road on the west. All other portions of the routes remain unchanged.

Schedules for the routes have been adjusted to accommodate the extra travel time for the detour.

In Riverdale, route 308 will have its operating hours extended to reflect the operating periods of route 1. It will operate on a 30 minute frequency from approximately 6am - 12:30am Monday to Saturday and 6am - 11:30pm on Sunday.

Check the ETS Trip Planner or call BusLink at 780-496-1600 for complete route and schedule details.

ETS has a 100% Accessible Fleet

ETS is starting the new year with a 100 per cent accessible bus fleet, following the retirement of the last of the GMC vehicles at the end of 2009.

The combination of low floor buses and LRT ensures that customers with mobility challenges have access to all areas of ETS. We were a pioneer in advancing accessible public transit in Alberta, and one of the first transit properties in Canada to adopt the low floor accessible bus type.

The recently retired ‘silver side’ GMC diesel buses were first introduced to Edmonton in 1960 and purchased in varying models until the early 1980’s. While the normal life span of these buses is 18 years, some of Edmonton’s fleet ran for 30 years - a testament to the durability of the bus known as the ‘workhorse of Edmonton Transit’.

Thanks from Stuff a Bus

A great big ‘Thanks!’ to everyone who contributed to the success of our 15th annual Stuff a Bus Campaign -- all the ETS volunteers for their time; Save On Foods stores for their participation; JOE FM radio, Global TV and the Edmonton Sun for their support and promotion; and Edmonton’s Food Bank volunteers for their enthusiasm.

This year we collected 31,000 kg of non perishable food items and $17,000 in cash donations.

And the biggest thanks of all goes to the many generous Edmontonians who once again opened their hearts and wallets to support Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch travels through Edmonton en route to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics on Wednesday, January 13.

Runners are expected to carry the torch from Hawrelak Park into the heart of downtown via the University of Alberta, Old Strathcona and along Jasper Avenue, from approximately 4 - 7pm ending with a large ceremony in Churchill Square.

Please be advised that bus routes crossing or traveling along the Olympic Torch route will experience intermittent delays.

Cold Weather Service

ETS Express buses except for routes 47 and 100 have been instructed to stop for customers at all bus stops on their routes in extreme weather conditions.

We define extreme as minus 20 degrees with a wind chill, however the decision to stop at all bus stops is made by the ETS Control Centre on an ‘as required’ basis.

Please dress for the weather, as buses are part of the traffic flow and are affected by road and weather conditions.