TAMRMS#: B06
6.2
Information Item Only
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Transit Optimization Plan
Presented by: Trever Sparrow, Senior Manager, Public Operations - Transit
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SUMMARY
In 2026, St. Albert Transit celebrated its 40th Anniversary of providing transit service with the City of St. Albert. This presentation is intended to share with Council an overview of the current transit service within the City, while sharing opportunities for improved service and operation of transit in support of Council initiatives and as the City continues its growth to a population of 100,000. The dialogue through this presentation at Standing Committee of the Whole will assist with Council understanding of what St. Albert Transit can look like over its next 40 years, offering opportunities for strengthening the timing of Capital investments and optimizing the transit service provided to the community.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
What does St. Albert Transit look to achieve for the City of St. Albert?
This is a fundamental question that forms the basis for every decision made by Administration in providing transit service to the community but is one that is not easily answered without considering how transit fits into the construct of overall community wellbeing.
At the service’s 40-year mark, St. Albert Transit provides a valuable mobility option to residents and visitors to the City offering conventional and accessible transit service as a mode of transportation within and around the community. The current service provision has been shaped primarily by two guiding documents:
• Transit Bylaw 23/2017;
• City Council Policy C-TS-01 Transit Services.
These documents define the core service standards for transit service including the implementation of transit service into growing areas of the City and the nature of the current service provision can be broadly characterized as a local network and commuter service into destinations within the City of Edmonton.
With the City’s Municipal Development Plan, Flourish, and its vision of supporting growth to a population of 100,000, public transit is a principle element within the Mobility Choices goal stated as “St. Albert supports the safe and efficient transportation network, providing a full range of attractive and healthy options for moving around” and the principle for Public Transit “Make public transit and multimodal commuting a more attractive and viable alternative to private vehicles for residents by providing a supportive public transit network”. Furthermore, the specific policies defined under 8.3 Public Transit within the MDP’s Mobility Choices goal are:
8.3.1. - Support the development of St. Albert Trail as a rapid transit corridor that provides improved connectivity within the city and to destinations in Edmonton.
8.3.2. - Work with municipal, regional, and provincial partners on the planning and implementation of local services and rapid transit facilities linking St. Albert to the planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension from Edmonton.
8.3.3. - Notwithstanding other policies in Flourish, accommodate development of a park-and-ride facility at the North Transit Oriented Development Centre, as identified on Map 3, to support a regional transportation network.
8.3.4. - Facilitate testing opportunities to improve transit service along St. Albert Trail, such as dedicated transit lanes and high occupancy vehicle lanes, as steps toward rapid transit.
8.3.5. - Encourage residential and employment growth within Downtown, Mixed-use Nodes, and generally along St. Albert Trail, as identified on Map 3, to coordinate land use with transit planning.
8.3.6. - Develop Mobility Corridors, as identified on Map 3, by:
a. Ensuring extensions and upgrades to roadways in the corridors align with City standards and include facilities for transit riders, pedestrians, and cyclists designed for safety, comfort, and universal accessibility;
b. Ensuring future Mixed-use Nodes and other community destinations are oriented to Mobility Corridors; and
c. Exploring and implementing improvements to public transit service along the corridors.
8.3.7. - Encourage new development and redevelopment that facilitates the use of public transit through interconnected street networks and pathways and by locating new dwelling units within 400 metres (walking distance) of an existing or planned transit service.
8.3.8. - Identify opportunities for improving transit access, efficiency, and level of service through street design and re-design associated with redevelopment in existing Neighbourhoods.
8.3.9. - Ensure future commercial destinations, high-density residential areas, major community facilities, and schools are located along existing or planned transit routes.
8.3.10. - Design new or retrofitted transit services and associated infrastructure according to universally accessible design principles.
8.3.11. - Explore emerging mobility technologies in transit and other forms of personal transportation through pilot projects.
8.3.12. - Design new and retrofitted streets to make adequate provision for transit infrastructure, such as shelters and other transit-supportive features at existing or planned transit stops.
In line with the Municipal Development Plan, the City’s Long-Range Mobility Choices Strategy is nearing completion, expected in late 2026/early 2027, and will provide a higher order strategy and updated recommendations to all transportation related areas within the City for the next 10 years. The work through the Mobility Choices Strategy has affirmed that St. Albert Transit is integral to the vitality and growth of the City of St. Albert and has also provided for areas of opportunity that Administration is seeking to action prudently.
Administration is currently engaged in supporting specific priority areas such as the Lakeview Business District and development in the north through the funding of Northeast Servicing. As mentioned, Transit Service is defined within Council Policy C-TS-01 and is specific in its definition of the service provided; that being fixed route service to new areas is based solely on population development of the area. This mechanism has worked in the past; however, population numbers do not always link to demand, and the immediate implementation of fixed route service is very rigid and requires the Capital purchase of a new bus. With conventional bus costs reaching all time highs, Administration believes that lower cost alternatives exist for initial transit entry into developing areas.
Administration believes that area of opportunity for becoming more cost-effective is implementing Transit Service into new and growing areas in a more cost-effective manner. A growing trend for transit service is the use of on-demand services before fixed routing enters a neighborhood, with a smaller and significantly less expensive vehicle type. This type of service introduction will allow Administration to monitor demand in a new area to optimize the timing of Capital purchasing of a larger conventional bus in support of fixed route service. This initiative can also garner additional benefits by utilizing these smaller vehicles to support the growing use of paratransit service in St. Albert by the smaller vehicles being adaptable for use by both St. Albert’s Handibus service as well as the On-Demand service. This would support transit needs of City growth but provide flexibility and demand driven data for larger cost purchases.
As such, Administration has brought forward a Transit Optimization Plan. Administration obtained Council endorsement for inclusion within the City’s 10-year Capital Plan. The funding of the Transit Optimization Plan still requires Council decision in due course; however, this presentation provides for a collaborative opportunity to discuss what Administration is proposing. In the simplest of terms, the Transit Optimization Plan consists of resourcing specific transit related initiatives to improve and optimize transit service of existing service levels and areas in its current state, towards the longer-range full build out of transit through the growth journey.
While the aforementioned is one example of an initiative that can result from the Transit Optimization Plan, its overall purpose is to further the work done from the Mobility Choices Strategy and, with Council’s support, action short-term opportunities into reality now and align those services with the longer-term vision. Transit sees opportunities to be more proactive, nimble, and effective, turning transit use into a desired option as opposed to simply need.
Another example of transit optimization relates to stronger asset utilization. An initiative of the Transit Optimization Plan could be to build programs that utilize the existing high value transit fleet in ways currently not afforded with current constraints. St. Albert Transit currently owns a coveted fleet, with the Capital investment having already been made, but is currently limited to existing service provisions where peak periods demand the requirement for the fleet. It is believed that untapped sources of revenue may exist that can help offset the expense associated with the overall transit service.
Administration will also take learnings from the Mobility Choices Strategy and further the transit growth model to ensure the City’s Capital plans are aligned to sustainable growth as opposed to immediate stop gap measures that may be reactive to current policy constraints. Capital investments such as a North Transit node Park and Ride coupled with an improved local service may preclude the need for expansion of existing facilities such as the NAKI parking lot. With mounting pressures for Capital funding, it is imperative that the timing of Capital funding aligns to the service needs of the community.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder engagement has not been completed yet specific to the Transit Optimization Plan; however, the higher order Mobility Choices Strategy did have Community engagement during the buildout of the Strategy. Additionally, targeted community engagement on specific optimization initiatives will occur. One such example would be during a potential engaging with St. Albert’s Handibus client group.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
B.5.2 Individual and Family Supports
E.1.1 Conventional Fixed Route Transit Services
E.1.2 Handibus Services
E.1.3 Public Transit Inquiries and Assistance
G.1.7 Transit Fixed Asset Management and Maintenance
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Report Date: October 13, 2026
Author(s): Trever Sparrow, Senior Manager, Transit & Fleet
Department: Public Operations
Department Director: Tim Saunders
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher