DATS Service Improvement Update

Edmonton’s paratransit, the Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS), provides an essential service for people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities to get around the city.

DATS trips so far in 2024 have averaged 3000 trips per week! 

Earlier this year, Council asked the City Administration to further explore opportunities to improve the rider experience on DATS. This builds on multi-year work that started in 2019 and the update on service enhancements was brought to committee in September 2024. The update included a breakdown of the 9 previously identified service enhancement actions, as well as the timelines for implementation of these actions. Actions include implementing a more flexible and cost effective service model, allowing DATS riders to book trips based on appointment times, provide more flexibility to address individual rider needs, and more. Check it out here!

The same update showed that there is an overall increase in rider satisfaction - which is fantastic! However, they also highlighted further opportunities to enhance rider experience beyond the 9 actions. This could include expanding service hours, increasing availability for same-day trip bookings, and shortening the pick-up window to allow for greater schedule reliability and capacity. 

As all three opportunities would require additional funding, areas for enhancements beyond current service levels are not being explored at this time. However, I’ll look to prioritize service enhancements in future budget discussions related to transit to ensure DATS users have continued flexible transportation options and independence. 

Do you use DATS? Please let me know your experiences and if any of these changes would improve your experience.