5 Edmonton bus routes may get late night service in 2015

New late night bus service could roll out in September 2015 if Edmonton city council approves a new plan outlined by administration.

In a report prepared for the Nov. 13 meeting of the transportation committee, the first phase of the plan would extend bus service on five routes from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., seven nights a week.

This phase of the rollout would cost $1.3 million to implement and another $496,000 to operate from September to December 2015.

The routes are:

• Route 1 (West Edmonton Mall to downtown)
• Route 4 (Lewis Farms to Capilano)
• Route 8 (Abbotsfield to Mill Woods)
• Route 9 (Eaux Claires to Southgate, with an extension to Century Park transit centre)
• Route 505 (a new route that replicates LRT service from Clareview to Central stations)

The second phase is slatedto start in September 2016,giving 24-hour coverage on these five routes.

The cost of the first phase has been added to the proposed 2015 operating budget, which still needs to be discussed bycouncil.

Council has been looking at extending transit service past 1 a.m. to help hospital, health care and other shift workers get home.

Late night buses would also give bar patrons a safe way to get home without having to rely on taxis, which are in short supply on the weekends, especially on Whyte Avenue.