Editing Edmonton Transit Service (section)

== Fares ==
Fares can be paid with cash or an [[Arc card]]. As of 1 February 2020, the cash fare is $3.50, and exact change is required on ETS buses. Children 12 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult (otherwise they pay a youth fare).<ref name="fares">{{cite web |url=http://www.edmonton.ca/ets/fares-passes.aspx |title=Fares |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/ets-unveils-new-fare-for-2020 |title=Some Edmonton transit passes for seniors double in cost in February |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=8 January 2020 |last=Cook |first=Dustin |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> Due to the rollout of the Arc card, sales on paper tickets and passes were discontinued on 9 November 2024.<ref name="paperfares">{{cite news |author=Stephen, Allison |title=You soon won't be able to buy bus tickets and passes for Edmonton Transit |url=https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/edmonton-transit-service-bus-tickets-passes |date=27 September 2024 |website=Daily Hive |publisher=Zoomer |access-date=29 September 2024 |archive-date=29 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929033743/https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/edmonton-transit-service-bus-tickets-passes |url-status=live}}</ref> However, paper tickets with an expiry date of 31 December 2023 and family/day passes with an expiry date of 31 December 2024 will continue to be accepted until 31 December 2025.<ref name="paperfares"/>

ETS provides several discounts for students and the disadvantaged:
*Low-income seniors (below $30,526) can get a free annual pass.<ref name=FaresThirdParty>{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-transit-to-increase-price-of-tickets-passes-in-february |title=Edmonton Transit to increase price of tickets, passes in February |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=9 January 2018 |last=Theobald |first=Claire |access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="seniorfare">{{Cite web |title=Senior Transit Fares |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/senior-fares |access-date=29 September 2024 |website=City of Edmonton |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930043851/https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/senior-fares |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Low-income seniors (between $30,527 and $33,579) can get a discounted annual pass for $139.<ref name="seniorfare" />
*Qualified low-income adults can get an Arc card with monthly fare cap of $35–$50.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/subsidized-transit.aspx |title=Ride Transit Program |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=29 September 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930044045/https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/subsidized-transit |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Edmonton Public Schools|Public school]] and [[Edmonton Catholic Schools|Catholic school]] students can purchase monthly passes from their schools at a subsidized rate.
*[[Post-secondary]] students at approved post-secondary institutions may purchase a monthly pass at a discounted rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/post-secondary-pass.aspx |title=Post Secondary Pass |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
*Since 1 September 2007, ETS has partnered with the [[University of Alberta]], [[NorQuest College]], [[Northern Alberta Institute of Technology]] and [[MacEwan University]] to provide students with a [[Universal Transit Pass]] (U-Pass), allowing unlimited access to [[Fort Sask Transit]], [[St Albert Transit]], [[Strathcona County Transit]] and ETS bus and light rail systems for a single (four month) school term. As of 2021, students pay $180 per a four-month semester.<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/universal-transit-pass-upass |website=City of Edmonton |access-date=29 September 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930044513/https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/universal-transit-pass-upass |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Arc card ===
{{Further|Arc card}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! style="width:150px;"|
! style="width:125px;"|Youth (18 and under)
! style="width:125px;"|Student (25+)
! style="width:125px;"|Adult (25-64)
! style="width:125px;"|Senior (65+)
|-
! Pay-as-you-go (90 min)
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="4" | $3.75
|-
! Daily cap
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="4" | $10.25
|-
! Arc ticket (90 min)
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="4" | $3.50
|-
! Arc ticket (24 hour)
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="4" | $10.25
|-
! Monthly cap
| $73
| $73
| $100
| $35
|-
! Annual cap
| colspan="3" {{N/A|N/A}}
| $385
|}

Edmonton first approved funding for a SmartFare program in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=$30 million for new buses and fare technology|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/30-million-for-new-buses-and-fare-technology|access-date=2021-06-09|website=edmontonjournal|language=en-CA}}</ref> Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, and Strathcona County are among the other communities which are also participating in this system.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=England |first=Luke |title=Fort Saskatchewan joining Smart Fare program |url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-saskatchewan-joining-smart-fare-program |access-date=2020-05-23 |website=FortSaskOnline.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Smart fare was set to launch in early 2021, but its rollout was delayed by the closure of the Canada–United States border during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|title=Border closure due to COVID-19 puts brakes on Edmonton transit's smart fare system|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7322260/smart-fare-edmonton-transit-covid-19-border-delay/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref>

On 8 June 2021, it was announced that the SmartFare payment system would be branded as [[Arc card|Arc]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|title=Going digital: Edmonton reveals Arc card smart fare transit payment system|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7932130/edmonton-transit-arc-card-smart-fare-system/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref> Post secondary students became the first riders to use Arc when their institutions began issuing cards in fall 2021.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=2021-06-08|title=Arc (formerly Smart Fare)|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/smart-fare.aspx|access-date=2021-06-09|website=www.edmonton.ca|archive-date=17 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617233548/https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/smart-fare.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> A pilot test including 500 adult fare-paying users began on 1 January 2022, and the results were reviewed in March 2022, but access to Arc was not expanded at that time.<ref name=":17" /> Arc was rolled out to adult fare-paying riders on November 21, 2022.<ref name=":112">{{Cite web |last=Boothby |first=Lauren |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Edmonton's tap Arc transit cards available to adults next week |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmontons-tap-arc-transit-cards-available-to-adults-next-week |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}}</ref> Subsidized fare groups, including seniors, youth, junior high and senior high students, customers who purchase low-income passes, DATS riders, and users of regional paratransit services, will receive access to Arc in 2023.<ref name=":112" />

Fare vending machines which sell Arc cards and Arc tickets, and allow users to load money to their accounts, are at various major locations in the region, including all [[Edmonton LRT]] stations, some transit centres, and the [[Edmonton International Airport]].<ref name=":17" /> The machines accept cash, debit, and credit cards. Riders can also purchase Arc cards and add money to their account balances online.<ref name=":17" /> Each rider's balance is stored on their account, rather than on the Arc cards or Arc tickets themselves, meaning that if an Arc card is lost or stolen, its balance can be transferred to a new card if the owner had registered their account.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=2021-06-08|title=Coming soon: Arc|url=https://transforming.edmonton.ca/coming-soon-arc/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Transforming Edmonton|language=en-US|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609025243/https://transforming.edmonton.ca/coming-soon-arc/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Arc cards include daily and monthly fare-capping; frequent riders who reach a fare threshold will ride for the remainder of that period for free of charge.<ref name=":18" /> Arc tickets work similarly to Arc cards, but are one-time use only, and are sold in 90-minute and 24-hour increments.<ref name=":17" /> Riders can still pay their fare with cash, paper passes and tickets, but paper tickets and passes will eventually be phased out; cash will always be a payment option.<ref name=":16" />

=== Commuter and regional service fares ===
Some routes have different fare structures due to the distance they cover or because they enter different municipalities outside of Edmonton.

==== Spruce Grove ====
[[File:Spruce Grove Transit Bus Route 560 Spruce Grove.jpg|thumb|right|Spruce Grove Transit bus on route 560 to Spruce Grove]]
Fares effective 3 December 2023 for route 560 to [[Spruce Grove]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://webdocs.edmonton.ca/transit/route_schedules_and_maps/sc1/RT560.pdf |date=3 December 2023 |title=Route 560 Schedule and Map |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=29 September 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930051933/https://webdocs.edmonton.ca/transit/route_schedules_and_maps/sc1/RT560.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! style="width:150px;"|
! style="width:150px;"|Local within Spruce Grove
! style="width:125px;"|To/From Edmonton
|-
! Ages 5 and under (with a paid passenger)
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="3" | Free
|-
! Cash fare (Ages 6+)
| $3
| $6.25
|-
! Arc monthly cap (Adult)
| $65
| $135
|-
! Arc monthly cap (Youth under 19)
| $45
| $100
|-
! Arc monthly cap (Student)
| $65
| $100
|-
|}

Fares do not include transferability to ETS. No additional fare for U-Pass holders.

==== Beaumont ====
[[File:Beaumont Transit Bus Route 540 Beaumont.jpg|thumb|right|Beaumont Transit bus on route 540 to Beaumont]]
Fares effective 2 April 2024 for route 540 to [[Beaumont, Alberta|Beaumont]]:<ref name=BeaumontFares>{{cite web|title=Tickets & Passes|url=https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/home-neighbourhood/commuting-public-transit/bus-transit/tickets-passes/|publisher=Town of Beaumont|access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bus & Transit |url=https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/web/20240930045541/https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/home-neighbourhood/commuting-public-transit/bus-transit/ |publisher=Town of Beaumont |access-date=29 September 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930045541/https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/web/20240930045541/https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/home-neighbourhood/commuting-public-transit/bus-transit/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! style="width:150px;"|
! style="width:125px;"|Student
! style="width:125px;"|Adult (13-64)
! style="width:125px;"|Senior (65+)
|-
! Cash & Arc fare
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="3" | $4.50
|-
! 10 ticket pack
| style="text-align: center;" colspan="3" | $40
|-
! Monthly pass
| $70
| {{N/A|N/A}}
| $70
|-
! Arc monthly cap
| {{N/A|N/A}}
| $80
| {{N/A|N/A}}
|-
|}
Children under 12 ride free (with an accompanying fare-paying passenger). Beaumont tickets, passes and transfers cannot be used on regular ETS services. The U-Pass is accepted on route 540 through the [[Arc card]].<ref name=BeaumontFares />

==== Edmonton International Airport ====
[[File:ETS Bus Route 747 Airport.jpg|thumb|ETS bus on route 747 to the Edmonton International Airport.]]
Fares for route 747 to the [[Edmonton International Airport]], effective 14 May 2018:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/edmonton-international-airport.aspx |title=Edmonton International Airport Service |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=14 May 2018}}</ref>

*One way trip: $5 or two adult ETS tickets
*Monthly pass (with no transferability to regular ETS service): $90
No additional fare for holders of a UPass, Leduc Commuter-Plus pass, or Leduc route 10 to route 747 transfer

One way fare reduced back to $5 on 1 May 2018 (after it rose to $10 on 1 February 2018), when an increase in joint funding from the City of Leduc, Leduc County, and the Edmonton International Airport was agreed upon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-airport-bus-fare-drops-back-to-5-as-part-of-regional-deal |title=Edmonton airport bus fare drops back to $5 as part of regional deal |publisher=Edmonton Journal |last=Stolte |first=Elise |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

==== Sherwood Park ====
Some Strathcona County Transit tickets/passes/transfers are valid on ETS and vice versa. These are the details effective 1 February 2024:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.strathcona.ca/transportation-roads/transportation/tickets-passes-fares/ |title=Tickets, Passes & Fares |publisher=Strathcona County |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>

*Sherwood Park Commuter tickets/passes/transfers are valid for use on ETS
**These are special tickets/passes/transfers purchased for or obtained from Sherwood Park commuter routes
*ETS tickets are valid on Sherwood Park commuter services for an additional $2 and on Sherwood Park local services for an additional $1
**Tickets for use solely on route 747 are not valid on SCT
*ETS monthly passes (excluding the seniors pass and courtesy pass) and day passes are valid on all Sherwood Park services for an additional $1
**Passes for use solely on route 747 are not valid on SCT

==== St. Albert ====
Some ETS tickets/passes/transfers are valid on StAT and vice versa:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stalbert.ca/city/transit/fares/ets-strathcona/ |title=ETS & Strathcona Transit Passes |publisher=City of St. Albert |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>
*ETS monthly passes (excluding the seniors pass and courtesy pass) are valid on all St. Albert services for an additional $1
*ETS tickets and transfers are valid on commuter St. Albert services for an additional $2
**Only valid on commuter routes between Edmonton & St. Albert
*StAT commuter tickets/passes/transfers are valid on ETS (local versions are not valid)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/regional-service.aspx |publisher=City of Edmonton |title=Regional Service |access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>