Edmonton Transit System - Night Service

Night Service

ETS currently terminates service on all bus routes and the LRT by approximately 1:30 am on weekdays and midnight on weekends (though many routes cease running significantly earlier than this). In January 2008 the Transit Riders' Union of Edmonton managed to draw significant public and media attention to the dire need for extended late night transit service, ideally having transit operate 24 hours a day. The push was so successful that Transportation Manager Bob Boutilier conceded during the debate that it was not an issue of 'if' the city would provide 24 hour transit, but an issue of 'when'. The 24 hour service debate arose once again in June 2008 as part of an ETS service review where it was deferred to budget. It remains unclear at this time whether the city plans to extend transit hours later into the night, though several groups including the Transit Riders' Union of Edmonton and the Old Strathcona Business Association are continuing to push the issue.

A late night pilot service (561 Night Ride on Whyte) was proposed for Fridays and Saturdays, from September until November 2011, under contract to Responsible Hospitality Edmonton. The pilot project was to provide transit service between Old Strathcona, the University of Alberta and Southgate Centre between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m., but is postponed until stakeholders and community members can be consulted.