Transit Service Review

The City of Spruce Grove is engaged in a multi-year process to develop a long-term plan for its transit service.  Spruce Grove’s commuter transit service has operated for five years now, initially as a pilot project and now as regular service. Ridership has grown steadily since this time with the system operating at capacity during peak times. A number of factors played a role in the City’s decision to conduct an extensive review of its service. These include:

• Rapid community growth
• Increased regional cooperation and the adoption of the Capital Region Integrated Transit Network Plan  by municipalities in the region
• Significant funding opportunities through the provincial GreenTRIP program 
• Changing provincial regulations for transit operations
• Crowding on buses during peak times
• Interest in seeing the U-Pass program adopted
• Demand for expansion of both local and commuter service

Review components

Steps in the transit planning process include:

• Collecting input through the transit survey
• Developing a long-term business case
• Working with other Capital Region municipalities
• Responding to legislative changes
• Exploring funding opportunities
• Incorporating the results of the Transportation Master Plan

Timeframe

This process began in early 2011 and is expected to finish in 2013. The review is occurring in a shifting landscape with a number of elements outside the City’s control.

Spruce Grove’s transit service is supported by a small population. Improvements to this service need to be carefully planned and budgeted for to ensure the system remains financially viable.

The City is committed to transit service however evolving this service will take time and significant resources. Community members are asked to be patient as this process occurs. 

History of the system

Commuter transit service was initiated by the City of Spruce Grove through a contract agreement with the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) in January 2006 first as a pilot project and then, following some refinements, as a regular service. The pilot phase started with two routes: one served downtown Edmonton and the University of Alberta while the other served West Edmonton Mall and Misericordia Hospital. Due to limited ridership this second service was cancelled in November 2007 and resources focused on the downtown/University of Alberta route (Route 197). The Spruce Grove & Stony Plain Transit Feasibility Study was completed in July 2007 to evaluate existing and future service, fleet and management options.