Yellowknife Transit

Yellowknife Transit
Bus on 50th Avenue
ParentCity of Yellowknife
Founded1999
Service areaurban area
Service typebus service, paratransit
Routes5
Fleet8 regular buses
2 paratransit
Fuel typediesel
OperatorFirst Student Canada
DirectorDennis Kefalas
WebsiteYellowknife Transit

Yellowknife Transit is the public transportation agency in the city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The municipally funded and controlled system is the territory's only public transport system and is operated privately by First Canada.[1] It also operates the paratransit service, Yellowknife Accessible Transit System (YATS).[2]


History[edit]

Yellowknife Transit is the fourth operator of public transit in Yellowknife. Three other privately run services had provided bus service prior to 1999, when Cardinal Coach Lines was awarded the franchise:[1]

  • Red Dusseault, 1945–1948.
  • Frame and Perkins Limited, 1948–1990.
  • Arctic Frontier Carriers Limited, 1990–1999.

As of 2008 the city was actively exploring means of improving transit service, noting that the city had a substantial number of residents who preferred to walk and ride.[3] In August 2012 the city approved a new contract with Cardinal's successor, First Canada, at a cost of $1.25 million per year.[4]

Routes[edit]

There are three regular daily bus routes which run from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays and Saturdays.[5] Two additional limited stop express services which operated along Route 1 between the northern suburbs and the downtown core during morning and afternoon peak times have been eliminated.[6] There is no service on Sunday or statutory holidays. The transfer station is located at Sir John Franklin High School.[5]

Designation Name Notes
A Borden / Forrest Weekday service from the suburbanized northwest side of the city to Downtown.
B Frame Lake / Northlands Weekday service from the suburbanized southwest side of the city to Downtown.
C Old Town / Niven Weekday service through the older east side of the city and the native community of N'dilo to Downtown.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Wyatt, David A. "Transit History of Northwest Territories Communities". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  2. ^ "Yellowknife Accessible Transit System (YATS)". Access to Travel. Government of Canada. Retrieved February 6, 2018. YATS is a component of Yellowknife Transit that provides accessible door-to-accessible door service
  3. ^ "Overhauling Yellowknife transit system poses a challenge: consultant". CBC News. January 11, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. ^ Simon Whitehouse, "New buses coming for city: Councillors frustrated by rushed vote on $1.25-million annual contract", Northern News Services, August 29, 2012. [dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Transit Brochure February 1, 2019" (PDF). Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Yellowknife Transit: Express Routes". Archived from the original on April 29, 2012.

External links[edit]