The Pulse
June 1, 2026

The City of Edmonton has released two configuration options for one of its bus rapid transit routes down Whyte Avenue and in the University of Alberta area, both of which would remove street parking from most of the corridor, reduce vehicle travel lanes to one in each direction, and allow emergency vehicles to use the BRT lanes.

The city's BRT Route B2 will connect West Edmonton Mall to Bonnie Doon via the main U of A campus and Whyte Avenue. BRT typically features dedicated travel lanes, priority at intersections, and bus stations providing enhanced services over typical bus stops, the city said.

Administration is looking for feedback on the configuration of the route in the university area and down Whyte Avenue. The survey is open until June 24. There will also be open houses on June 9 and 10.

Each proposed design also includes improved pedestrian features such as wider sidewalks and new trees. Prioritize Whyte Ave, a coalition of advocacy groups and business leaders, said it was excited the BRT proposal implements some aspects of the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy. "We encourage the city to enhance and expand these proposals so that they reflect the direction provided in the Public Realm Strategy," the organization said in a blog post. "This approach ensures that investment on Whyte Ave does not turn into a decade-long series of construction projects, but rather creates better transit connectivity and public spaces within one construction project."

The design booklet for the Whyte Avenue portion of the project shows that the dedicated BRT lanes would run from 109 Street to 83 Street at Bonnie Doon Mall, either in the lane next to the curb or in the centre lane. Both options would see street parking eliminated from nearly the entire corridor. The booklet said property access and loading zones will be maintained. Sidewalks would be reconstructed and widened along much of the corridor.

If buses run along the curb, pedestrians would be able to more easily access them from the existing sidewalk, but the buses would encounter more interaction with vehicles turning right and accessing driveways, the city said. The curbside design would eliminate left turns onto 108 Street, 102 Street, and 100 Street.

The curbside option would see six stations spread between 109 Street and Bonnie Doon Mall. All stations in the curbside configuration would be shared with local buses to provide connections to other routes.

If buses run in the centre lanes, stations would be in the centre of the road, and pedestrians would need to cross to get to them. This configuration would decrease conflicts with other vehicles, the city said. The proposed design would eliminate more left turns than the curbside options — there would be no left turns onto 11 streets along the avenue.

The centre-running option would see five stations spread between 108 Street and Bonnie Doon.

• Marigold Infrastructure Partners, the consortium building the Valley Line West LRT, has been fined $120,000 after a worker was seriously injured on an LRT construction site on June 23, 2023. The incident happened as workers completed post-tensioning and a jack pressured up, causing concrete to crumble and injure the worker. Marigold pleaded guilty to violating provincial health and safety rules. The firm has 30 days to appeal the decision.
• The City of Edmonton launched the "Turn Up Downtown" campaign, featuring more than 1,000 events aimed at enhancing downtown's vibrancy from May to December. Highlights include block parties, fitness programs, and expanded LRT station activations. This initiative, part of the Downtown Action Plan, aims to foster community connections and economic growth by supporting local businesses and cultural activities, collaborating with the Edmonton Arts Council and other local groups.
• Fans attending the nearly sold-out World Cup sendoff match on June 1 at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium between Canada's men's national team and Uzbekistan should anticipate wet conditions. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Edmonton, predicting up to 100 mm of rain by June 3. Attendees can access free Edmonton Transit Service rides with match tickets after 5pm, and park-and-ride services are available at several locations, including Eaux Claires Transit Centre and NAIT. Umbrellas over 16 inches are prohibited at the game.
• PEV Edmonton has drawn participants keen on nighttime rides through the city, spotlighting the growing popularity of personal electric vehicles (PEVs) as a social leisure activity in Edmonton. The group, led by Josh Hunter, includes various e-powered devices like scooters, bikes, and unicycles. Riders personalize their PEVs with lights and modifications. Rental options from companies like Lime, Neuron, and Bird also see increased usage during evening hours.
• Bar Clementine on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton is being required to dismantle its patio to allow for city construction. Despite acknowledging the need for infrastructural improvements, owner Andrew Borley expressed frustration over the financial effect on his business and short notice of the decision.
• The family of 33-year-old Travis Smith is seeking answers after he died in the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency room waiting area on May 8. Alberta Health Services confirmed that a quality assurance review is underway but did not disclose details due to privacy laws. The family learned from police that paramedics administered naloxone to Smith before he died. The case has fueled an ongoing debate about emergency room conditions in Alberta.
• The reflecting pool at the Alberta legislature remains closed for repairs due to a leak discovered during its seasonal start-up. Initially expected to reopen by the Victoria Day weekend, the pool was half-filled but later drained for maintenance. Alberta's infrastructure department anticipates partial operations to resume in early June while it comes up with a permanent fix. The pool underwent a $20 million refurbishment, reopening on Canada Day 2024 after major issues with the mechanical and filtration systems. Other water features on the grounds, such as the dome fountain, remain operational.
• In his latest post, political commentator Dave Cournoyer highlighted the Water Not Coal citizen initiative and a related episode of the Daveberta Podcast featuring country music singer-songwriter and rancher Corb Lund. Lund urged Albertans to sign the petition before the campaign's deadline, arguing that new coal mining projects in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains could threaten vital water resources. The initiative seeks to force a government response on legislation that would prohibit new coal exploration and mining projects in the region, including the proposed Grassy Mountain and Blackstone developments. Organizers plan to submit the petition to Elections Alberta on June 10 if they collect enough signatures.
• An Alberta judge cited podcasters David Wallace and James Di Fiore for criminal contempt, accusing them of a campaign to "humiliate and demonize" former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. This was intended to discourage her wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the government. Court of King's Bench Justice Michael Lema described their actions as deliberate interference and approved a restraining order against them, mandating the removal of their videos. These actions also extended to alleged intimidation of ex-AHS board member Sandy Edmonstone.
• The Edmonton Elks announced a series of roster changes following the CFL cutdown deadline. Additions to the practice roster include defensive lineman Francis Bemiy, offensive lineman Cameron Carter, and kicker Jesus Gomez. Meanwhile, the team released several players, including running back Rushawn Baker, and wide receiver Jalon Calhoun. Additionally, wide receiver Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald and linebacker Olivier Muembi moved to the retired list.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• GHY Training Workshop: From Tariffs to Trade Confidence starting at 9:30am at ACT Aquatic and Recreation Centre
• Exploring Exercise Through an Autistic Lens starting at 12pm online
• Canada Men's National Team vs Uzbekistan starting at 7pm at Commonwealth Stadium
• Louis St. Laurent Spring Dance Showcase: Under the Lights starting at 7pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Rough Cut Comedy - Weekly Comedy Showcase! starting at 8:30pm at River City Revival House

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 5-13: Now Hear This! Festival of New Music at Mile Zero Dance and Holy Trinity Anglican Church
• June 10: Food Justice YEG Summit: From Project to Movement at ArtsHub Ortona
• June 12: Spill the Tea: Readings from the 2SLGBTQIA+ Human Library at Robertson-Wesley United Church

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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