Three busy intersections along Whyte Avenue are set for an overhaul, with the City of Edmonton planning to remove the pedestrian scramble crosswalks at Gateway Boulevard, 104th Street and 105th Street.
Instead, the crosswalks will be replaced with traditional crossings, along with curb extensions and new turn restrictions.
The changes are part of the new Transit Priority Measures along Whyte Avenue. The City says the scramble crosswalks slow everything down because they require longer signal times, leading to longer waits for everyone, which can affect traffic flow.
The city says the new setup is meant to keep things moving while still keeping pedestrians safe.
“Replacing scrambles will allow traffic to move more efficiently while supporting safer crossings,” the City says.
“Curb extensions shorten crossing distances, make pedestrians more visible and encourage drivers to slow down. Turn restrictions reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles. These design elements help keep pedestrians safe while improving bus travel times.”
The changes will also allow buses to stop without having to pull in and out of traffic, and for accessibility, wider sidewalks that sit closer to the curb will make boarding the bus easier.
Some on-street parking and parklet patios will be affected by the changes, the City added.
With Edmonton recording a 15 per cent increase in transit ridership between 2023 and 2024, the City says priority measures being rolled out this year are a cost-effective way to make the system run more smoothly using what’s already in place, while bigger projects like bus rapid transit are still in the works.
Other changes coming in 2026 as part of the strategy include new transit lanes between Jasper Avenue and 102A Avenue, and signal timing replacements at other locations around the city.
You can find out more about the new Transit Priority Measures on the City of Edmonton website.