Editing Edmonton Transit Service (section)

== Plans ==
=== Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission ===
{{Further|Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission}}
The city of Edmonton began exploring the development of a regional transit services commission in 2017.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Edmonton city council votes to formally join push for new regional transit services commission|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6572572/edmonton-city-council-vote-regional-transit-push/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2020, Edmonton city council voted to join twelve other municipalities to investigate the potential for a regional transit services commission (RTSC).<ref name=":2" /> Edmonton and eight other regional municipalities, including Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert, formally submitted an application to the provincial government to establish the [[Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission]] in June 2020.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Regional Transit Services Commission reaches major milestone with application to the Province / City of St. Albert|url=https://stalbert.ca/cosa/news/releases/rtsc-application/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=City of St. Albert|language=en|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121190023/https://stalbert.ca/cosa/news/releases/rtsc-application/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their proposal had to be altered after four municipalities, including Leduc County and Strathcona County, withdrew from the project.<ref name=":4" />

The formation of the EMTSC was approved by the Alberta government on 28 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dyer|first=Kelsey|date=2021-01-28|title=Regional transit commission approved by the Alberta government|url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/regional-transit-commission-approved-by-the-alberta-government-1.5286424|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Edmonton|language=en}}</ref> A board of elected representatives from each member community was conducting the initial setup of the commission, and was working with the commission's inaugural CEO to develop its operational and planning capabilities. 
Edmonton's local transit services and LRT network was planned to not be transferred to the commission at first, due to their size and operational costs.<ref name=":62">{{Cite web|last=Ernst & Young LLP|date=January 22, 2020|title=Accelerating Transit in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region: Building a Regional Transit Services Commission|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/documents/transit/Accelerating_Transit_in_Edmonton_Metropolitan_Region.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619021654/https://www.edmonton.ca/documents/transit/Accelerating_Transit_in_Edmonton_Metropolitan_Region.pdf |archive-date=19 June 2020 |access-date=January 22, 2021|website=City of Edmonton}}</ref> The commission's board was to re-consider the inclusion of Edmonton's LRT network five years after the commission was formally stood up.<ref name=":62" /> The EMTSC was expected to begin service in early 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual Organization Board Meeting|url=https://www.emtsc.ca/meeting-calender/lgzayszyn96739gt92j8654wml6exe-jme3y|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission|language=en-US|archive-date=25 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125000748/https://www.emtsc.ca/meeting-calender/lgzayszyn96739gt92j8654wml6exe-jme3y|url-status=dead}}</ref> However in December 2022, Edmonton's city council voted against contributing $13 million toward the EMTSC annual budget.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boothby |first=Lauren |date=15 December 2022 |title=Edmonton's regional transit plan is dead |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-wont-pay-for-regional-transit-council-decides-in-budget-debate |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221185339/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-wont-pay-for-regional-transit-council-decides-in-budget-debate |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2023, the EMTSC board approved the implementation of a plan to permanently close the commission, and it dissolved shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2023 |title=EMTSC Board approves wind-down plan |url=https://www.emtsc.ca/news/emtsc-board-approves-wind-down-plan |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission |language=en-US |archive-date=17 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217170201/https://www.emtsc.ca/news/emtsc-board-approves-wind-down-plan |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Metro LRT ===
Construction on phase one of the Metro Line extension, which includes a permanent NAIT station and station for the Blatchford community on the old [[Edmonton City Centre Airport|City Centre Airport]] property, started in mid-2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=2020-09-23|title=Metro Line – Northwest Extension|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/nw-lrt.aspx|access-date=2020-09-23|website=www.edmonton.ca}}</ref> The temporary NAIT station is north of [[Princess Elizabeth Avenue]], on the south side of the institute's swimming pool and hockey arena (S) wing.

=== Valley Line ===
[[File:Churchill Connector, Edmonton.jpg|thumb|The Churchill connector, which connects the Valley Line and future above-ground lines to the Churchill LRT station, under construction in 2020]]
{{Main|Valley Line (Edmonton)}}
The Valley Line will run for {{convert|27|km|mi}} from [[Mill Woods]] through downtown Edmonton to [[Potter Greens, Edmonton|Lewis Farms]], with 25 stops. Unlike the existing LRT, the Valley Line will run primarily at grade in the centre median of city streets, connecting to the Capital and Metro lines at [[Churchill station (Edmonton)|Churchill station]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Valley Line – Stage 1: Mill Woods Town Centre to 102 Street| url=http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/PDF/May-25-14_Fact_SheetValleyLine.pdf| website=Transforming Edmonton| publisher=City of Edmonton| access-date=8 April 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926020002/http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/PDF/May-25-14_Fact_SheetValleyLine.pdf| archive-date=26 September 2014| df=dmy-all}}</ref> The 11-station segment from Mill Woods to 102 Street in downtown, known as "Valley Line Southeast", was constructed first, beginning in 2016 and finishing in 2023. The southeast section cost $1.8&nbsp;billion, with $800&nbsp;million coming from the City of Edmonton, $600&nbsp;million from [[Alberta]], and $400&nbsp;million from the [[Government of Canada|federal government]]. A [[public–private partnership]] was established between the City of Edmonton and a private contracted group named "TransEd Partners" to build and operate the southeast portion of the line.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Kornik| first1=Slav| title=Edmonton groups demand more info on LRT expansion| url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1657595/edmonton-groups-demand-more-info-on-lrt-expansion/| access-date=31 August 2017| work=Global News| date=6 November 2014}}</ref>

Construction for phase two of the project, dubbed "Valley Line West", was started in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Three consortia in running for Edmonton light rail project|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/three-consortia-in-running-for-edmonton-light-rail-project/|date=2020-03-31|website=International Railway Journal|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> In 2020, the City of Edmonton selected a [[public–private partnership|P3]] named "Marigold Infrastructure Partners" to build the western section of the Valley Line,<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Edmonton selects Marigold Infrastructure Partners for Valley Line West LRT project|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7432596/edmonton-selects-valley-line-lrt-west-project-proponent/|last=Gibson|first=Carly|date=October 21, 2020|website=Global News|access-date=October 25, 2023}}</ref> and preparation work, such as the relocation of underground utilities and clearing of land along the route, began. Construction of the line formally commenced on May 27, 2022, and it is expected to be completed in 2028.<ref>{{cite web |title=Valley Line West LRT |url=https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/Details/Valley-Line-West-LRT/ |website=majorprojects.alberta.ca |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=September 17, 2021}}</ref>