Students raise capacity concerns after 500X switches to smaller buses
A switch to smaller buses on Edmonton Transit’s 500X route has some MacEwan and NorQuest students concerned about crowded commutes.
Route 500X parked at Meadows Transit Centre Photo credit: Riley Neilson
Smaller buses on Edmonton Transit’s 500X route are raising concerns about crowding among some MacEwan University and NorQuest College students who rely on the route to get to and from campus.
The concerns follow two recent changes to the 500X, including a new downtown route introduced April 27 as part of Edmonton Transit’s spring service changes, and the unannounced replacement of the 18-metre articulated buses with smaller buses this fall.
Andrew Gregory, manager of planning for Edmonton Transit Service, said in a statement the downtown routing change was “implemented in alignment with construction impacts in the area, and improves service reliability and minimizes travel delays on the route.”
NorQuest student Santroop Singh said his walk has changed more than the commute itself.
“It’s a similar walk before it was [to] the right side, now it’s left.”
Beginning with the fall service changes on Aug. 31, articulated buses that had operated on the 500X were replaced by smaller buses.
MacEwan Student Alex Sear said crowding has not affected his evening commute, but he can see how it could be a problem earlier in the day.
“If you’re getting off at 3 or 5, it would be busier, but I get off at around 8, so for me it’s completely fine.”
Gregory said in the statement that “The deployment of articulated buses is prioritized to serve routes and corridors with the highest ridership. As a result, these buses are currently mostly used on Routes 8, 110X, and 900X. Route performance data is publicly available in the transit route report cards at edmonton.ca/TransitReports.”
In the latest report card, covering Aug. 31, 2025, to Nov. 29, 2025, the 500X averaged 2,544 daily rides, well below the 8 and 110X bus routes but just ahead of the 900X route, which averaged 2,452 daily rides.
MacEwan student Jessica Zivanovic said she has noticed crowded buses and questioned how the change was communicated.
“The lack of communication is definitely an issue. Most days that I go, the bus is packed, like everybody is standing. So, it would be a lot better if there were more space for people to sit.”
