As the city of Edmonton waits to hear about funding prospects, Mayor Don Iveson deliberates parking buses over the summer to make up for revenue loss.
Public transit in Edmonton is a precarious situation. According to Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, the city simply does not have the revenue required to keep the buses and light rail transit services running as usual. With ridership falling between 70% and 80%, Iveson "said the city has to look at all options to save money in the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic," reports Natasha Riebe. Since the onset of the pandemic, Edmonton has taken a hit of about $10 million a month in transit revenue alone.
One option on the table: canceling service for the summer to ensure the budget to run public transit during winter months when weather conditions worsen. Iveson, among other transit advocates, would prefer to increase service, arguing that parking buses would have devastating consequences for the city and people of Edmonton.
Transit services have been free since mid-March in part to prevent the spread of the virus through paper tickets. The city is considering an electronic fare payment system as a safer alternative.
For now, Iverson is waiting on a response from the provincial government after the Federation of Canadian Municipalities requested a collective $10 billion in funding through September, about a quarter of which would be used to recoup losses related to transit revenue.
FULL STORY: Edmonton could shut down public transit for the summer, mayor says
Destroyed Subway Car Windows Contribute to MTA Budget Deficit
As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority grapples with a $16 billion deficit, smashed train windows are adding to the cost.
For the Coronavirus Pandemic, Public Transit Is the Move
Now is the time to invest in public transit as the correct coronavirus pandemic transportation solution.
Micromobility Makes a Comeback
Decreased public transit ridership is bringing some transit agencies to consider partnerships with micromobility corporations.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
