Edmonton reviews $2.7M “enhanced cleaning” program for transit

How would you rate the cleanliness of Edmonton’s transit system?

For Kyle Johnson, a regular user at Davies Transit Centre Thursday afternoon it does not meet expectations.

“It’s ridiculous”, Johnson said. “I come here and (the city) can’t pick up a box on the ground. “It’s gross, it’s not clean, you don’t know what you’re touching half the time. You don’t know what could be on the seats and everything like that.”

But across the transit system, permanent “enhanced cleaning” is taking place. It was put in place during the COVID-19 Pandemic and includes workers cleaning vehicles and facilities.

It’s expected to cost $2.7 million in 2026. South Edmonton City Councillor Jon Morgan is tasking the city to look into the effectiveness of the enhanced cleaning program for transit.

“I want to make sure this is a service that is still required. If it is, I’m happy to support it. We want to make sure that our transit is safe and part of being safe is being clean”, said Morgan the councillor for ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi.

During budget discussions, the city said cleaning needs have increased while always having a basic level of work done on buses and facilities.

The city believes “clean spaces create a welcoming transit environment with fewer safety hazards.”

For Johnson, it means more than cleaning train seats and keeping the bathroom open.

“You got to worry about people puking, doing drugs and things like that and whether or not you’re going to step on a needle on the train”, he said. “If you see a mess, come clean it. That’s how it is a grocery store.”