Transit is an essential service. We need more service, not less, and better service that we can depend on. People need to get around the city safely, efficiently, and without additional fees.
Making the Edmonton Transit Service an accessible, fare-free system not only addresses affordability—it’s an act of racial, social, economic, and climate justice. As Edmonton builds the Valley Line, we must make the Edmonton Transit Service a fully subsidized transit system without any user fees.
Implementing accessible, fare-free transit would cause ridership to go up, decreasing air pollution in our city and lessening the burden on lower income households. Fare disputes would no longer be an issue, improving transit safety for drivers and riders. As marginalized communities are more likely to be ticketed by Transit Peace Officers, an accessible, fare-free transit system would solve this aspect of everyday discrimination. Investments in transit are investments in people and our economy.