May 28, 2020
Today, the City of Edmonton announced more relaunch activities in response to changing COVID-19 conditions.
Transit fare collection is resuming
The City of Edmonton will resume transit fare collection on buses, LRT and DATS starting June 15, 2020.
From June 15 to 30, customers who have a March, April or July monthly transit pass can use that as payment. Those without a pass can use cash, tickets, valid transfers and family/day passes as payment. From July 1 to 31, customers can use an April or July monthly pass, cash, tickets, valid transfers and family/day passes as payment.
ETS will not produce June monthly passes, nor exchange passes. Ride Transit Program participants will receive a July pass, by mail, at no cost.
Customers can purchase fare products, starting June 15, at the ETS Online Store, designated retail sales outlets and LRT ticket vending machines at LRT stations. Fare products are not available at the Edmonton Service Centre or recreation facilities, which remain closed. Up-to-date information on fares and sales outlets is available at
takeETS.com.
Customers should board the bus through the front door, starting June 15, and are highly encouraged to follow Alberta Health guidance of frequent hand washing, covering your cough/sneeze and wearing a non-medical mask or face covering when using public transit or in locations where physical distancing is not possible. Operators and other public-facing transit employees will wear masks when leaving the shielded area on the bus or LRT cab, and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures will continue. If you are taking transit, travel in off-peak hours if possible and sit in a staggered manner.
E-scooters are coming back
The City will issue licenses to two e-scooter vendors after working with Alberta Health Services and the e-scooter companies on contract terms. The plan is a phased reintroduction, effective June 1, 2020, that is structured to evolve into full operation. If essential criteria are met, the companies can expand operations.
Additional safety measures are being put in place to ensure public safety including enhanced daily cleaning of e-scooters, the addition of public health messaging on the vendor’s app and on the e-scooters. The e-scooters will also now be corralled in designated areas to facilitate daily cleaning.
The License Agreement will be cancelled if e-scooters are found to be a source of COVID-19 transmission, if users or the company are not adhering to cleaning protocols, or if use of e-scooters is judged to be a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles.
The staged introduction approach will begin with a modest number of e-scooters followed by a stepped increase in numbers if the criteria is met. The number of e-scooters could be as many as 2,400 e-scooters at peak times.
Skateparks and basketball court changes
Since reopening skateparks and basketball courts, issues around following physical distancing and mass gathering rules have been observed. Because of this, the City will temporarily close four locations this weekend. Blue Quill and Florence Hallock basketball courts and Castledowns and McKernan skateparks will be closed from Saturday morning to Sunday evening after numerous complaints from the public and numerous violations observed by City enforcement officers.
A reminder that if you visit a skatepark and it looks busy, return another time. Individuals should only be playing a game of basketball, volleyball or any close contact sport with members of your household or cohort family. A pickup game between friends is not currently allowed.
No City of Edmonton registered summer day camps in 2020
Due to the financial impacts the City has experienced as a result of the pandemic, summer day camps will not be offered in 2020. This was a difficult and disappointing conclusion as we appreciate the important role these camps play for children and their parents.
Additional Shared Street locations added
The City is adding more Shared Street locations to help Edmontonians stay safe and ensure safe physical distancing when they are moving around their neighbourhoods.
Today, the parking lane and north side travel lane will be closed along Whyte Avenue (82 Avenue), from Gateway Boulevard to 105 Street. 102 Street from Whyte Avenue to the alley north of 81 Avenue will be converted to one-way southbound for vehicles to support temporary sidewalk cafes and retail expansions. And starting tomorrow, additional Shared Streets will open along 119 Avenue between 106 Street Service Road to 101 Street, and 101 Street from 118 Avenue to 124 Avenue.
Shared Streets are open for people who walk, bike and drive, regardless of how they choose to move around our city. Vehicle access is restricted to local traffic only along Shared Streets, and since all modes are using the same space, the speed limit is reduced to 20 km/hr.
State of Local Emergency renewed
The State of Local Emergency was renewed for another seven days. Having this mechanism in place ensures the City continues to have the flexibility to manage the delivery of City services within public health requirements during the relaunch transition. The State of Local Emergency was first declared on March 20.
