Uwe

This is incorrect. All five arbocs are still in service.

Best news ever.

Interesting discussions. I will add my two cents now. First off the EMTSC would not have improved transit service in the region. In fact it led to many discussions as transit agencies like Spruce Grove and Leduc have agreements in place with non-commission members (Parkland County and Leduc County). Service to those areas would have been cut, resulting in no service to Acheson or Nisku. And would result in service reductions, inability of residents from those areas and Edmonton to travel to employment opportunities, such as Amazon, Hello Fresh, etc. The EMTSC was pushing outright lies that they were improving transit service when in fact for start up day there were no plans to change what is currently occurring in Spruce Grove/Stony Plain/Parkland County, St. Albert, and Leduc/Leduc County. Edmonton's service was remaining exactly the same but with the addition of two overlay routes that would mimic futuristic BRT plans. Devon was being forced to accept service to the west end of Edmonton when they preferred to travel to the Airport. Beaumont has always wanted to travel to Mill Woods/Grey Nuns area so will hopefully finally get that wish once the LRT is operational but has nothing to do with the EMTSC. As for Route 747, that operates under the Airport Accord agreement which is cost shared with Leduc (30.5%), Leduc County (30.5%) and Edmonton (39%). The EMTSC would be absorbing that route and have the same agreement in place. No change. As for the EMTSC improving service in the region is a total fallacy. This is because each municipality is responsible for its local service costs (100%) and depending on the municipality would be responsible for incremental costs for additional service. For example, if the EMTSC is hearing from the public that Leduc or Spruce Grove needs to add more commuter or local service, they would determine the cost and send that proposal to the municipalities. The municipalities would then determine if they could afford to add that service. If not then it won't happen. So all this malarkey that the EMTSC would improve service levels is a just a big nothing. The airport to downtown route was a dream want for EMTSC CEO. While I personally do not believe it is required as it would duplicate the 747 and LRT, the addition of more service is always a good thing. Money would be better spent increasing the frequency of the 747, which was in EYs report (15 minutes throughout the day). And at no time was the airport to downtown route going to be cost shared in the region, it was always allocated 100% to Edmonton. One question few are asking and no one is answering is how much are commission staff being paid. Rumour has it that the CEO is making more than Edmonton's City Manager. Not bad for a non-functioning entity.

I heard it will be called Shift Metro but unconfirmed.

The commission has to appease Edmonton or the whole thing falls apart.

Leduc's Arbocs are 2014s, same as the New Flyer Xcelsiors.

Looking at start up by March 2023. In the meantime have contracted WSP to do a network and bottom up costing analysis building on the work that EY did in 2019/2020. The WSP report will then feed an ETS analysis of what it means to them in terms on routes, assets and most importantly costs. Edmonton Council is having trepidations on the true costs of the EMTSC service, and rightly so. The EY report had Edmonton subsidizing many of the commuter services as the regional municipalities were informed that they would receive the same or more service for no additional costs. Nothing is free so not sure how a municipality, like Beaumont, could get more service without additional costs, unless Edmonton is footing the bill.

Book a ride? Bookaride.ca

Not sure about that… those express trips were 5 hrs vs the 6 to 7hrs long local trips. First bus out is not always best. Locals were always integrated into the Toronto-Peterborough service. The local portion of the trips between Peterborough and Ottawa kept running for two reasons: protecting the operating authority and freight. Running hwys 7-37-401 when you pay mileage makes sense.

Can you share some insight here? Based on historical scheduling from Greyhound and Voyageur Colonial, the express services have always been the bread and butter.

Yes. From their website: https://riderexpress.ca/locations/ Select Kingston.

https://mybreakride.ca/ - associated with the Ebus/RedArrow Betterez tickering portal.

That’s some great writing. How do you explain the departure from their recently approved service strategy?

PWT is operating Spruce Grove's on-demand service.

The Beaumont buses were stored at the PWTransit site around Roper Road since January. PWT will store and maintain the buses. ETS took their fareboxes out.