On average, a city bus driver is attacked once a week in Edmonton
Plan could also include regional service model
On a sunny afternoon in February, a young man boarded the No. 13 bus at Castle Downs Transit Centre and got into an argument with the transit operator.
The man took offence after the driver pointed out he boarded with an expired transfer.
The situation seemed to cool off after another customer offered to pay for the man, who moved to the back of the bus.
But when the driver called transit control to advise them of the issue, the man became aggressive.
What came next is documented in a “violence against transit operator” report, prepared by the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) whenever a driver is assaulted.
“The suspect attacked the op, punching him in the face, biting him on the arm and striking him with a piece of ... cabin door that was broken off after being kicked by the suspect,” the report states.
The blow from the broken plastic left a large gash below the driver’s left ear.
The incident was one of 193 documented cases of violence against a transit operator in Edmonton since 2014, which Postmedia obtained through a freedom of information request.
The Edmonton region could see renewed bus service to the Edmonton International Airport by spring if Mayor Don Iveson has his way.
The new plan would also achieve the region’s first integrated transit system, potentially pulling together basic service for the entire south side to connect shoppers and employees with the new airport mall, scheduled to open in May.
Iveson has been meeting with all municipalities in the region. The project would include Edmonton, the City of Leduc, Leduc County and perhaps Beaumont.
“In principle, we all agree,” said Iveson in an interview Saturday.
It could rejuvenate Edmonton’s threatened airport bus service and provide access to the new outlet mall beside the airport, which will become a major employment node in the region. The mall will cover nearly 40,000 square metres (428,000 square feet), feature more than 100 stores and is expected to create about 1,000 part-time and full-time jobs.
Edmonton officials were looking to increase fares and cut back service on Edmonton Transit’s Route 747 between the Century Park LRT station and the airport to make up costs after the airport authority ended its subsidy.
But travellers already struggle to make the bus work for early and late flights. It only runs every 30 minutes during peak times and once per hour at other times. It costs $5 per person, only payable in cash, plus regular transit fare for connections.
If the route was integrated with Leduc Transit, that could increase ridership and improve the service. But creating a new service in time for the mall opening means moving at warp speed in municipal government terms.
SUPPORT FROM LEDUC
“As you know, municipalities aren’t built for speed,” said newly elected City of Leduc Mayor Bob Young.
His council did not include any increased funds for the project in their recently approved 2018 budget, but Young said they’re open to adding it later if the details work.
“I’m very interested to see what (Iveson) is proposing,” Young said. “We think there will be a lot of people who work at the mall and live in Leduc.”
The new service could also improve connections to Edmonton since Leduc Transit only runs to Century Park now during peak hours.
The new outlet mall will mean increased property tax paid by the mall to Leduc County and the City of Leduc. Young said there’s no agreement yet on how that money will be spent.
TRANSIT KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH
It’s possible some could be used to fund additional transit service, Iveson said. The airport authority might also be asked to provide space for a transit station or connection point.
Iveson said creating a quality, integrated transit system for the region is the last of three key recommendations issued by the blueribbon panel on Edmonton’s global competitiveness: Be Ready or Be Left Behind.
A report on the airport transit situation is heading to Edmonton city council’s community services committee Monday. Council needs to decide how to run the airport service in the meantime. City officials say they need an additional $500,000 in this fall’s budget to maintain service in the interim.