Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission

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Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission
EMTSC Logo.jpg
Founded2021
Commenced operation2023 (Planned)
Headquarters300, 106 Street Tower. 10055 106 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2Y2.
Service areaEdmonton Metropolitan Region
Service typePublic Transit
Chief executivePaul Jankowski
Websitehttps://emtsc.ca

The Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission (EMTSC) is a regional public transit service which serves eight municipalities within the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. The EMTSC is currently developing its operational and planning capabilities, with initial service delivery scheduled to begin in early 2023.[1]

History[]

The Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission (EMTSC) traces its roots to 2017, when the cities of Edmonton and St. Albert signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the creation of a regional transit services commission.[2] In February 2020, thirteen municipal councils voted to investigate the potential for a regional transit services commission (RTSC).[3] Nine of these municipalities, including Edmonton, St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, and Leduc, later submitted an application to the provincial government to establish the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission.[2] The town of Morinville opted out soon after the application was submitted, chiefly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

The commission was given ministerial permission to operate on 28 January 2021.[5] The impetus for the commission's formation was the region's rapidly growing population, and the increasing interconnectivity of its member communities and their work forces.[6] Paul Jankowski, formerly the Commissioner of the Transportation Services Department for the Regional Municipality of York, began his tenure as the EMTSC's first CEO on 17 May, 2021.[7] In November 2021, the Board of Directors voted to move the planned commencement of operations from late 2022 to early 2023.[1]

Service Area[]

Current membership of the EMTSC

The EMTSC serves six cities and two towns:[2]

Four regional municipalities are "non-voting, non-paying, advising stakeholders" which do not receive service from the commission:[4]

Operations[]

A board of elected representatives from each member community is conducting the initial setup of the commission, and working with the commission's inaugural CEO to develop its operational and planning capabilities.[8] The EMTSC will begin service in September 2022.[9] Edmonton's local transit services and LRT network will not initially be transferred to the commission due to their size and operational costs.[6] The commission's board will re-consider the inclusion of Edmonton's LRT network and local bus services, along with regional paratransit services, in 2026.[6] Member communities are expected to save approximately $2.2 million on transit costs annually.[10] Communities will continue to plan and pay for their local transit routes, while the commission will determine how those routes will be serviced.[6]

Launch plan[]

The commission is currently in phase two of its launch plan, which contains five phases in total.[6]

Phase one[]

Phase one, pre-implementation, was in effect from the time that the interim board was formed until the commission was given ministerial permission to operate.[6] During this time, the interim board focused on gaining provincial approval of the commission, drafting transition assessments and recommendations, and recruiting a CEO.[10]

Phase two[]

Phase two, also known as "formation and set-up," is when the commission will establish its initial workforce, infrastructure, policies and procedures.[6] Phase two will last for the entirety of 2021 and into 2022, and includes goals such as the creation of the commission's strategic and business plans, establishing lease agreements for transit-related facilities, and finalizing the regional service design.[6][1]

Phase three[]

"Preparation for service deployment" will occur in phase three, which is expected to be in effect for the first half of 2022.[6] This is when the commission will onboard the remaining resources needed for it to roll out regional transit services in September 2022.[6] Key objectives of this phase include the development of a brand and marketing identity, transitioning all municipal transit services to EMTSC control by June 2022 (with the exception of local ETS services and municipal paratransit services within the region), and planning fleet deployments.[6][1]

Phase four[]

Phase four, which will start in early 2023, marks the beginning of transit service delivery by the EMTSC.[6] It will occur in phases until the end of 2023.[6] During this phase, the EMTSC will focus on maintaining customer service and communications, analyzing the successes and failures of the rollout as it progresses, and recruiting more staff as the commission expands its services.[6][1]

Phase five[]

The final phase of the commission's launch will begin by the end of 2023, with a focus on improving its services in preparation for its absorption of ETS local services, and municipal paratransit services.[6] During this time, the commission will focus on surveying riders, identifying service improvements such as the standardization of vehicle features (e.g. drivers' shields, Wi-Fi enabled buses, etc.), and revising local transit routes to meet specific guidelines.[6] This phase will last until 2026, when the commission aims to adopt ETS local services and become the sole deliverer of transit services within its member communities.[6]

Fares[]

Fare levels will be determined by the commission's board of governors, and the service will eventually use SmartFare technology to enable riders to pay by tapping fare cards or credit cards.[6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Annual Organization Board Meeting". Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  2. ^ a b c "Regional Transit Services Commission reaches major milestone with application to the Province / City of St. Albert". City of St. Albert. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  3. ^ "Edmonton city council votes to formally join push for new regional transit services commission". Global News. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ^ a b "Morinville drops public transit pilot project". StAlbertToday.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  5. ^ "Approval Received to Legally Form a Regional Transit Services Commission / City of St. Albert". City of St. Albert. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Ernst & Young LLP (January 22, 2020). "Accelerating Transit in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region: Building a Regional Transit Services Commission" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-06-19. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Regional Transit Commission appoints first CEO". fortsaskatchewanrecord. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  8. ^ "Regional Transit Commission appoints first CEO". fortsaskatchewanrecord. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  9. ^ "Regular Board Meeting". Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  10. ^ a b Ernst & Young LLP (June 1, 2020). "Accelerating Transit in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region: Building a Regional Transit Services Commission Addendum" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-06. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

External links[]

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