Transit Master Plan approved by Council 

A vision for the future of Wood Buffalo’s public transit system was approved at the April 25, 2023 Council meeting. 

The full Transit Master Plan can be found here.

The Transit Master Plan will guide changes and improvements to RMWB Transit to make better connections between and within Wood Buffalo communities, with fewer transfers and faster arrivals. The approved plan also includes recommendations to improve accessibility and rural transit while reducing operating costs and maintaining affordability.  

Multi-year plan focuses on core, neighbourhood and on demand routes

The plan includes multiple phases to be implemented over several years. The recommended transit network has three major components: 

• Two high-frequency core routes 
• Neighbourhood routes to connect with core routes
• On demand routes to provide service to low-ridership areas

No major changes are planned for school routes. 

On-demand pilot routes

Phase 1 will transition Route 18 Taiga Nova and Route 61 Thickwood to on demand pilot routes, with the transition expected to be in place by 2024. 

Riders in areas served by Route 18 and Route 61 will request the service by app, online or by phone. On demand service levels and wait times are intended to match the regular Transit service levels and wait times, based upon time of day.

Further updates and notices will be provided before on demand pilot routes are implemented.

Transit will evaluate the performance of the on demand routes throughout the implementation of the plan and adjust as necessary.  

Phase 2 in the Transit Master Plan recommends the creation of a Thickwood-Downtown-Gregoire “core” route by combining Route 10 Gregoire, Route 11 Airport, and Route 16 Thickwood. This will include extending on demand services to the airport. 

Increasing Transit advertising and promotion 

This plan includes marketing and promotion of Transit routes to communicate changes to services affecting key rider groups, including secondary and post-secondary students. 

These efforts will include promotion of key routes and useful services such as live-tracking via Google Maps and the Transit App. Promotion of Transit safety and etiquette rules will continue through the ‘Ride the right way’ campaign. 

Improvements to SMART Bus service

The plan includes recommendations to expand the hours of door-to-door SMART Bus service, supported by on demand transit services. 

Updating and refining SMART Bus policies and guidelines to make them easier to understand and follow are a key component of the plan. Introducing a travel training program to help SMART bus passengers is another key component.  

The plan was created after extensive community engagement, and community feedback forms the basis of its recommendations. 

Background

In case you missed it, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is working on a plan for the future of our public transit system. The Transit Master Plan will identify actions that will improve transit operations in the region over the next 10 years.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transit Master Plan recommendations are available for review which includes recommendations provided through public engagement.