Edmonton Transit Service shuffling routes to add 50,000 annual hours of service

Edmonton Transit Service is rearranging its schedule to add 50,000 annual hours of service in the hopes of improving service on busier bus routes. 

One of the routes ETS is beefing up is the 747, from the Century Park Transit Centre to Edmonton International Airport. ETS is also adding 20 new buses to its fleet. 

"New multi-day Arc passes and more frequency on the airport route are helping to make transit more appealing to visitors," ETS branch manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald said in a news release Monday.

A new route in Keswick and Glenridding Ravine is starting in late April, replacing on-demand transit in that area.

Here's a look at some other changes:

• Regular service in Riverdale, Belgravia/Windsor Park and Lendrum/Malmo will be replaced with on-demand transit service in June.
• Some school routes with lower ridership will see service reduced, and routes with very low ridership will be cancelled or replaced with on-demand transit in September. Some busy school routes will run more frequently.
• Conventional service hours removed from low performing routes will be reallocated to routes with higher ridership to improve service.

The city said more information about specific changes will be available in April and May. 

"We're taking a data-driven approach to putting our resources where they are needed most," Hotton-MacDonald said in the release.

"Changes are also driven by budget, as well as the City of Edmonton's transit service policy and service standards."

Edmonton's city plan anticipates a time where half of all trips are made by transit and active transportation. 

Last year, ETS transported 61.6 million riders, according to the city.