RMWB Transit Master Plan

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Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

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.



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.



Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

What are your questions about Transit? Share them here and our team will respond to you.

See below for questions we’ve already received, the answer you’re looking for might be there!

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    Why are the intoxicated people allowed to ride transit? Many Passengers stopped riding transit because of unsafe environment, vulgar language, vomit and urination in the buses. Other cities don’t allow them with strong transit police presence. Your inspectors are a joke. They are never there on time when needed. Troublemakers know that drivers can’t enforce the fare, so they ride for free and cause trouble. Looks like transit is made for the intoxicated people only. Because of them, the buses are running around empty!

    CoryP asked over 1 year ago

    First off, we apologize for your experience while riding public transit.  The public’s safety is a top priority for us, unfortunately situations such as this are fairly common on public transit across Canada. 

    Transit has in the past and continues to work with our social profit networks, Bylaw and the RCMP to enhance safety for transit passengers.  We are all collectively working to focus on passengers’ safety at our bus stops and terminals.

    These instances of public intoxication and abuse are reported through to the appropriate individuals and responded to as quickly as possible by the agencies involved. Our goal is to do this in the most respectful way to all involved. 

    While transit doesn’t condone public intoxication or abuse of the ridership in any way, please remember public transit is also a safe alternative to drinking and driving.

    We are actively and continually looking at options to address public safety concerns.  These options have included reviews of other transit agencies for best practices.

    Thank you for contacting us about this issue, your safety matters to us.  If you continue to notice these issues, please report them to your driver for immediate action, then please contact Pulse to report your concerns.  Pulse@rmwb.ca or 780-743-7000.

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    When will the new routes take affect?

    Anonymous asked over 1 year ago

    The routing is designed to take place over a period of 5 years as it tries to strike a balance between existing system and our current requirements while introducing new services to various parts of the region, such as on-demand transit. 

     

    The phasing of the routes changes will be outlined in the final plan once all routing has been finalized as that is a key to determine the future of transit and the timing of any changes. 

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    What is RMWB’s plan to make busses and shelters safer from intoxicated passengers on busses and shelters? Passengers won’t even go in shelter at main when it’s cold because of all the intoxicated passengers. Does RMWB plan on hiring transit security?

    Henry asked almost 2 years ago
    We are working with social agencies to work on the situation and law enforcement to make transit safe for all.
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