Slow start for C-Line between Edmonton and Leduc

There was a slow start Monday to the new transit service between Edmonton and Leduc, with the first three buses leaving empty from Century Park.

But the final southbound bus of the morning rush had about a half-dozen passengers, roughly the same number as arrived in Edmonton on the first trip from Leduc.

The numbers didn’t surprise Edmonton Transit service development director Ken Koropeski, who took time from his holidays to see how the operation began.

“We were only able to confirm that the service would start last Tuesday. It didn’t provide much time to get the ticket sales out,” he said.

“As with any new route that’s out there, it’s going to take time to develop ridership.”

Edmonton Transit is supplying buses, drivers and advice under a $450,000 annual contract with the city and county of Leduc, which run the new peak-hours route that includes stops at the Edmonton International Airport.

Michael Mang said the service began just in time for him — the mechanical engineer has just started a job near Nisku and didn’t have any other practical way of reaching work.

“I (was) just worried ‘how do I get there?,’ I have no transportation to the airport. I’m very happy. It solves a big problem. I just came here. I have no car, no friends … I want to buy a monthly pass.”

The new bus makes it easier for Eboney Irvine to meet the car pool in Leduc that will take her to her job as an educational assistant in a Hobbema-area high school.

“I was in a different carpool. It was a lot more crowded. If I wanted to get to Leduc, I had to find other means, whether it was cabs or driving.”

As she waited to leave from Century Park, she had already tried out the Wi-Fi connection, one of the benefits offered on the trip.

While she’d like Edmonton Transit passengers given a break on the $5 cash fare, possibly some form of transfer, it’s not a big concern.

“I understand they have to make enough money to prove that it’s effective.”

Bob Russell, one of the first arrivals from Leduc, was pleased he can leave his vehicle behind and go easily from the bus stop to the nearby LRT station.

He has already bought a monthly pass, which is only being sold in Leduc.

“I work downtown, and it’s just a lot more convenient than driving a car, in the wintertime especially,” he said.

“I was driving my car every day … the traffic was just terrible, at night especially.”

There are four trips leaving and departing Edmonton and Leduc every weekday evening in addition to the four runs during the morning rush hour.

Roughly every half-hour, the bus will head for Leduc from Century Park between 4:05 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., with northbound buses departing Leduc between 4:50 p.m. and 6:25 p.m.

Adult monthly passes cost $75. Service may be increased if there’s sufficient demand.