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“We can focus on these specific market segments, like a businesses would,” said Sarah Feldman, who led one of the largest public engagement efforts Edmonton has yet done. The team interviewed or surveyed 20,000 residents to understand what residents want from their transit system.

The strategy sets a new vision for a growing city, Feldman said. “We have a very diverse population, diverse neighbourhoods and it’s time to start thinking about how we can do something differently as we become a big city.”

This debate started in 2014, when Portland experts warned city council that transit service will only get worse if they keep trying to provide buses evenly across the city. But it was a tense debate, with some on council ready to embrace the best transit that serves the most people. Others saw transit as a safety net no one should be left without.

That’s one reason Feldman’s team spoke with so many people. A good read on public opinion should reduce the conflict on council. “They really wanted to hear back from Edmontonians,” she said.

If council approves her progress so far, the team will return next spring with a conceptual plan — express routes, inner grid and examples of local neighbourhood changes. Further sector-by-sector consultation would be needed before changes are phased in through 2018.

Feldman’s report is full of pie charts showing which groups of Edmonton residents want what out of transit. Seniors who primarily drive and live in the suburbs were most likely to choose routes that came close to their door and had few transfers. People age 18 to 44 who live in the core wanted frequent buses running in a simple grid and were prepared to hike several blocks to reach it.

Overall, 59 per cent supported a reorganization focused on benefiting the largest number of Edmontonians.