This upcoming Family Day, for the first time in its history, St. Albert Transit will run buses on a statutory holiday.
Transit will offer its Sunday service, which includes dial-a-bus pickup and delivery plus Route 201 to and from Edmonton.
“We’re excited about this,” said transit director Bob McDonald. “We want to offer a fuller service to our customers so they can grow to depend on transit.”
Holiday service has been transit’s top priority since a 2008 survey revealed it as the top wish of transit users. This past budget cycle, which ended in December, was the first time city council has provided funding, approving $11,500. This will allow service on three holidays this year — Family Day, the August civic holiday and Remembrance Day.
“We’re pleased to have this opportunity to pilot service on the [holiday] and hopefully work toward where we’re able to offer service pretty much every day of the year which is ultimately what we would hope for,” McDonald said.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said it’s important to offer as many transit options as possible, which is why he’s pushed for the U-Pass for post-secondary students, a handibus pilot in St. Albert and bus shuttle service for special events during the summer.
“Anything and everything that we can do to make sure that people are expanding their use of the transit system is important,” Crouse said.
Transit will operate four buses on the holiday but there will be no one at the transit office so McDonald is encouraging transit users to check the transit section of the city website for scheduling information.
The dial-a-bus option will be available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will connect riders directly to bus drivers, who will be have their phones turned on for a 10-minute window from 35 to 45 minutes after the hour.
Route 201 operates between Village Transit Station and downtown Edmonton via 118 Avenue.
