The City is planning and designing for Edmonton’s future city-wide Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Routes B1 and B2.
About the Project
Bus Rapid Transit planning as part of the Mass Transit Implementation project (BRT Routes B1 and B2) is underway.
Funding for this concept planning work was approved by City Council as part of the 2023-2026 Capital Budget.
Targeted public and stakeholder engagement will begin in late fall 2025, building upon previous engagement undertaken as part of the BRT strategy project. The concept plans are anticipated to be complete by fall 2027.
Funding for future phases of design and construction will be put forward as part of the next Capital Budget cycle.
Bus Rapid Transit Route - B1
The B1 BRT route (map) will create a key north-south connection between Castle Downs and Century Park via Downtown, Whyte Avenue and the University. This route is made up of the following segments:
- B1 North: connects Castle Downs to Downtown by way of 153 Avenue, 97 Street and 101 Street (south of 118 Avenue).
- B1 Central: connects Downtown to Whyte Avenue by way of 101 Street, Bellamy Hill, Walterdale Hill and 109 Street, resulting in using Walterdale Bridge as the recommended river crossing. Other river-crossing alternatives will be explored through further planning.
- B1 South: connects Whyte Avenue to Century Park by way of Calgary Trail and 23 Avenue.
Bus Rapid Transit Route Route - B2
The B2 BRT route (map) will create a key east-west connection between West Edmonton Mall and Bonnie Doon via the University of Alberta. This route is made up of the following segments:
- B2 West: connects West Edmonton Mall to South Campus by way of 87 Avenue, Whitemud Drive, Fox Drive and Belgravia Road. The route crosses the North Saskatchewan River using the Quesnell Bridge.
- B2 University: connects South Campus to the University of Alberta by way of 109 Street and 87 Avenue.
- B2 Whyte Avenue: connects University and Garneau areas to Bonnie Doon by way of Whyte Avenue. Public realm considerations and improvements outlined in the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy will be considered in this segment of the B2 BRT during future stages.
Timeline
We are currently in the Concept Stage for BRT routes B1 and B2.
- August 2024: The recommended alignments for the BRT routes were presented at the August 27, 2024 Urban Planning Committee (item 7.2).
- Spring 2025: Concept planning begins
- Fall 2025 - Fall 2026: Public and stakeholder engagement at segment and route level
- Fall 2027: Final Concept Design
Public feedback helped shape the Mass Transit Planning Principles for the bus-based mass transit network. These principles will guide the development of the concept plans.
Definitions
- Alignment: The streets, avenues and roads that the BRT route uses.
- Road right-of-way: Public space designated for the movement of people, vehicles and goods, from property line to property line. Road right-of-way may also accommodate street furniture, trees and utilities.
- Street configuration: The physical layout of the road right-of-way, defining where each mode of travel is located.
- Segment: A section of the BRT alignment.