An FYI to all Edmonton folks:
The High-Level Bridge is closed for roadwork overnight this week, 9:30pm to 6am. Started yesterday, the website says it's supposed to be back to normal by Thursday. (which is a relief, there was no end date on the construction signs!)

This means that the southbound #9 bus is detouring to take the Groat Road bridge. All #9 buses will likely be way off schedule after 10pm.

The bus I took home last night had extra trouble because there is also a construction road closure on 100 Ave west of 109 St, on the buses' usual detour route. Detours on detours!

The driver ended up in a dead end, talking on the radio to try to figure out an alternate route, then asked if someone could get off & spot him as he tried to do a left turn in reverse to redirect. But my awkward waving was not enough to help him make that manouever. 😬 He eventually took a loop around which included squeezing down a single lane with scaffolding taking up the other side of the street.

#YEG #YEGtransit

Any Edmonton folks have an inside scoop on the details of the "Arc Card fraud" story?

Combining information from the CBC & Journal articles, the story seems to be:

• One particular ARC fare card machine was either issuing or topping up Arc cards without processing payments.
• Someone noticed & they/others used the bug to get 300 cards worth a total of $65K.
• $45K of free fares were used before city staff cancelled these cards.

The parts not explained:

• What was the bug in the machine? My guess is faulty communication between the payment-card machine & the main computer. Like maybe you type in the wrong PIN & transaction is cancelled, but the card is still issued. But it's not clear.
• Was there actual fraud for profit, reselling these cards to unsuspecting other people? Or was it more someone telling all their friends how to get free ARC cards from this buggy machine? Based on the disinterest by police, I'm guessing the latter.

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-bus-bandits-45000-transit-arc-cards
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-arc-card-transit-fraud-9.7160051

#YEG #YEGtransit #TakeETS

Ah, man...

Improvements to bus routes on Whyte Ave are being implemented in such a way that they're going to eliminate the "scramble" crosswalks (light-controlled crosswalks where all pedestrians in all directions walk at the same time, meaning walking diagonally is allowed).

(In order to keep moving the buses express, they don't want them ever waiting for a cross-traffic cycle plus an extended pedestrian cycle. They are adding sidewalk bump-outs & turn restrictions to help with the safety issues about drivers turning into the crosswalks.)

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/transit-priority-measures
https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/transit-priority-measures-whyte-ave.pdf

via https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:uk6b4z3pnfmjjve4x4sik236/post/3mi56kxw2zs2v
as shared by @HyL's bluesky account

Edit: I originally referenced "bus lanes" on Whyte Ave, but the current plan doesn't include proper bus lanes. The buses will travel in the middle lane, mixed with cars, and stops will be at sidewalk bump-outs into the parking/patio lane so that the bus doesn't have to pull over. (There's still future plans for an express route, though?)

#YEG #YEGtransit

The Edmonton Arts Council (EAC), on behalf of the City of Edmonton, is seeking artists/artist teams residing in Canada to create canopy art for six LRT stops on the Valley Line West LRT. One artist/artist team will be selected for each location.

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/calls-funding/calls-to-artists/public-art-call-valley-line-west-lrt-canopies

#yeg #yegArts #yegTransit

Shoutout to the hardworking ETS drivers and peace officers for getting everyone to and from home safe tonight!

#yeg #yegtransit

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-transit-arc-card-9.7007970

Discovered by accident today that debit/credit tap is now accepted on Edmonton transit arc terminals. :o

It even honors fare caps if you use the same card consistently!

Definitely thought this would take longer!

#yeg #yegtransit

Need some #yegtransit #DATS #disability advice.
My elderly mother does not want to (and probably shouldn't) drive in the winter. My lives in a care home halfway across the city. It's a 20-25 minute car ride between them, but looking at transit options, transit would be awful - 45-65 minutes, at least 2 transfer, including crossing 101 St and 111 Ave. In the winter. With a cane or walker.

CAN she take transit? Yes. Does this exclude her from using DATS? Probably.

Is it reasonable to expect an elderly person with limited mobility to take a 45-65 minute transit commute as described above, both ways, 2-3 time/week?

Any advice or suggestions?

(I really wish they hadn't place my dad where they did, it's too far. 😞)