Transit service to airport on city agenda

What happens to Route 747 is the question coming to the city’s community and public services committee Monday.

The Edmonton Transit Service route has taken passengers from Century Park LRT station to the Edmonton International Airport since April 2012, funded by an annual $500,000 subsidy from the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority.

But that agreement expired April 30 and city administration is asking the community and public services committee what to do until a new agreement can be reached.

While Edmonton is working to come up with an agreement between the city, Leduc County, the City of Leduc and the airport, regional partner funding isn’t going to be available in the short term.

Raising the fare and keeping the current service is estimated to have a net cost of $1.01 million, with an 11 per cent reduction in ridership, while integrating Route 747 with current ETS service is estimated to cost $1.83 million with a potential increase of 17 per cent in ridership.

On a reduced service model starting on April 29, maintaining the fare would have an estimated net cost of $880,000 in 2018 and $760,000 in 2019.

Raising the fare would have an estimated net cost of $730,000 in 2018 and $620,000 in 2019. Integrating the route would have an estimated $1.51-million net cost in 2018 and $1.36 million in 2019.

Currently, a trip on Route 747 is $5, or two ETS tickets, for one-way travel. There is a monthly pass for $100 that offers unlimited trips.

The service currently runs about 20 hours per day.

Options administration has given to the committee include reduced service, increased fare costs and operating it as a regular transit route.