[BrettB]

Edmontonians took 5.735 million transit trips in May 2025 compared to 5.3 million in 2024, according to the monthly Statistics Canada passenger bus and urban transit statistics released Friday.

People in Leduc (the only other agency in the region that reports to Stats Can) took 15,100 transit trips in 2025, compared to 11,800 last year.

 

[Kosy123]

Edmontonians took 5.735 million transit trips in May 2025 compared to 5.3 million in 2024, according to the monthly Statistics Canada passenger bus and urban transit statistics released Friday.

People in Leduc (the only other agency in the region that reports to Stats Can) took 15,100 transit trips in 2025, compared to 11,800 last year.

For comparison, all the other major cities' transit agencies barely grew or even declined year on year, which is impressive because I honestly don't know what we're doing different besides some increased bus frequencies and the Valley Line. We still haven't gone back to 10 min frequencies on the weekends for the Capital Line yet.

Ottawa isn't on the table since they would probably be the best case study to compare with, but still, our transit system has been getting consistent permanent growth.

 

[thommyjo]

Why ETS doesn't have tap and pay using debit cards is beyond me. They should have set this up in the first place. Nobody wants to deal with a bunch of plastic cards when only one should be needed.

Reasons you want both:

- credit is good for occasional users and tourists
- credit is good for increased throughput at stations as less infrequent users have to queue for payment machines (events especially)
- credit reduces plastic waste
- credit offers a backup if ARC card lost

- ARC is good for regular users to have fare caps
- ARC is helpful to track transit use in 1 transaction log
- ARC offers reduced fares for seniors, students, etc that a credit card can’t
- ARC reduces transaction fees that visa/AMEX/MC charge businesses (2-3.5%).

It’s not an either/or. It’s both.

Many major cities only got CC in the last 5-10 years. We are behind, but ARC was the major embarrassment to not have. Thankfully we are catching up on both and ahead of Calgary and other big cities now.

Last addition we need is digital wallets.

 

[CplKlinger]

Reasons you want both:

- credit is good for occasional users and tourists
- credit is good for increased throughput at stations as less infrequent users have to queue for payment machines (events especially)
- credit reduces plastic waste
- credit offers a backup if ARC card lost

- ARC is good for regular users to have fare caps
- ARC is helpful to track transit use in 1 transaction log
- ARC offers reduced fares for seniors, students, etc that a credit card can’t
- ARC reduces transaction fees that visa/AMEX/MC charge businesses (2-3.5%).

It’s not an either/or. It’s both.

Many major cities only got CC in the last 5-10 years. We are behind, but ARC was the major embarrassment to not have. Thankfully we are catching up on both and ahead of Calgary and other big cities now.

Last addition we need is digital wallets.

I'm getting the sense from the pilot info that credit/debit will be eligible for thise special discounted fare caps too, but I agree that it's good to have both.

 

[David A]

Reasons you want both:

- credit is good for occasional users and tourists
- credit is good for increased throughput at stations as less infrequent users have to queue for payment machines (events especially)
- credit reduces plastic waste
- credit offers a backup if ARC card lost

- ARC is good for regular users to have fare caps
- ARC is helpful to track transit use in 1 transaction log
- ARC offers reduced fares for seniors, students, etc that a credit card can’t
- ARC reduces transaction fees that visa/AMEX/MC charge businesses (2-3.5%).

It’s not an either/or. It’s both.

Many major cities only got CC in the last 5-10 years. We are behind, but ARC was the major embarrassment to not have. Thankfully we are catching up on both and ahead of Calgary and other big cities now.

Last addition we need is digital wallets.

Yes, ARC is basically a replacement for the old paper passes and tickets (ie. regular users) although I feel it was made to be more complicated for users than it should have been with caps and tap on/tap off.

However, lets just try catch up with the modern world ASAP. As a visitor rushing to catch a UP train in Toronto I appreciated how easy it was just to tap, no complex, multi step processes to figure out when I was unfamiliar with the system and needed to go quickly. This will really help encourage more occasional users here and that will help a lot.

 

[thommyjo]

I'm getting the sense from the pilot info that credit/debit will be eligible for thise special discounted fare caps too, but I agree that it's good to have both.

Oh really? In other cities I’ve been to you need to have the transit passes for monthly fares because cards can’t cap. That’d be interesting.

 

[trevorhayden]

Corona Station should be renamed O'Day-min. Bay/Enterprise Square should be renamed Phair, both after new or revived parks in the area. There is no Corona or Bay remaining. The current names make no sense.

 

[David A]

Can we just focus on maintaining and improving service instead? Unless the current names are very confusing or offensive there is no need to change them.

The whole excess focus on the symbolic naming thing, is exactly what is wrong with some or our current governments and administrations.

Perhaps it is easier than dealing with real problems, but it is mostly just a waste of time and money

 

[Offworld]

Oh really? In other cities I’ve been to you need to have the transit passes for monthly fares because cards can’t cap. That’d be interesting.

NYC caps out after a certain value is charged on the same credit card.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Can we just focus on maintaining and improving service instead? Unless the current names are very confusing or offensive there is no need to change them.

The whole excess focus on the symbolic naming thing, is exactly what is wrong with some or our current governments and administrations.

Perhaps it is easier than dealing with real problems, but it is mostly just a waste of time and money

And I would argue that with the disappearance of hudson's bay, keeping the name of the bay is actually still important as it preserves a part of history and also the hudson's bay building is still there.

 

[YEG Bus Rider]

We still haven't gone back to 10 min frequencies on the weekends for the Capital Line yet.

Assuming operating funding or maintenance isn't the issue, increased midday service on routes 54, 56, 121, 123, 903 might help make the case for more service by increasing productivity due to transfers.

15 minute service with max car lengths is technically frequent enough until crowding makes service consistently unusable.

 

[EdwardEdm]

Assuming operating funding or maintenance isn't the issue, increased midday service on routes 54, 56, 121, 123, 903 might help make the case for more service by increasing productivity due to transfers.

15 minute service with max car lengths is technically frequent enough until crowding makes service consistently unusable.

By that logic we can reduce service to every 30 minutes and run 5 car trains.
10 minute service was appropriate for LRT.

 

[Gronk!]

ETS begins adding small surcharge for big-name concert tickets at Commonwealth

Tickets for The Weeknd's July 19 concert at Commonwealth Stadium included a $1.50 surcharge from Edmonton Transit Service that was aimed at simplifying fare enforcement and encouraging people to use LRT rather than drive.

edmonton.taproot.news

 

[The_Cat]

I’m not sure if these routes exist, but I think these could be popular with local attractions:
(1) South Campus-Fort Edmonton-Valley Zoo-WEM. (I know this one exists).
(2) Valley Zoo-142 Street-Telus World of Science/Coronation-Westmount
(3) Westmount-River Valley Road-Muttart Conservatory-Capilano
(4) Leger-Terwillegar Park (Summer)-South Campus LRT

 

[EdwardEdm]

I’m not sure if these routes exist, but I think these could be popular with local attractions:
(1) South Campus-Fort Edmonton-Valley Zoo-WEM. (I know this one exists).

Not since the BNR. Both are served by On Demand.

(2) Valley Zoo-142 Street-Telus World of Science/Coronation-Westmount

Telus WOS has good access with Westmount nearby, but closer access would be better for some who can't/ don't (winter -30!) want the walk. Sounds good for On Demand.

(3) Westmount-River Valley Road-Muttart Conservatory-Capilano

The Muttart has beyond excellent access from the Valley Line. But why Westmount to Capilano? Why not from University? Or a loop via Downtown? I kind of assume you're trying to create a linked network of routes to offer one seat rides between attractions, but that's expensive when these trips can be done on regular transit with transfers. If demand was there ETS would presumably replace On Demand to the Valley Zoo and FEP.

(4) Leger-Terwillegar Park (Summer)-South Campus LRT

On Demand could be a possibility. We have On Demand to Rundle Park, but there's also the ACT Rec Centre which I believe was the main driver of that addition