Edmonton's accessible public transportation service marks half a century of operation.
Edmonton Celebrates 50 Years of Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) 🚌💫
Hooray for Edmonton's Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS)! This 50-year-old paratransit service has been a lifeline for individuals with disabilities, offering door-to-door transportation when other public transit wasn't an option. 🎉
For those who can't use other forms of transit due to physical or cognitive disabilities, DATS provides invaluable access to the community, services, and employment. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, who once worked for DATS in the '90s, praised the service as essential for Edmonton's most vulnerable residents.
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As part of the anniversary celebration, DATS invited riders on a tour of the main DATS facility garage, showcasing various types of Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) vehicles, and introducing them to employees. From buses to accessible minivans and taxis, the DATS fleet adapts to meet the specific needs of each client.
"Our staff, our drivers, the folks in our call center – they build meaningful relationships with the folks that use our service," said Paul Schmold, the paratransit service manager with ETS.
The program first begun in 1975 as a two-year pilot, and by 2024, DATS provided over 930,000 trips. A new plaque marks the anniversary at the Percy Wickman garage, paying homage to this disabled former MLA and Edmonton city councillor.
Wickman's contributions were "crucial" to the creation of DATS, as well as wheelchair accessibility on LRT, according to the city. Although further details on Wickman's role and DATS' original fleet composition haven't been archived, it's clear that Wickman played a significant part in making Edmonton more accessible for all.
Keep on rolling, Edmonton! Here's to 50 more years of DATS serving our community 🌟🚌🎉!
- The news about Edmonton's Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) reaching its 50th anniversary has been sent across various platforms, offering insights into the city's evolution in terms of home-and-garden lifestyle, transportation, and finance.
- To honor this momentous occasion, the industry of transportation in Edmonton invites everyone to join the celebration, including those who appreciate updates on local happenings, as found in our News App.
- In the spirit of appreciation,paratransit services like DATS offer their riders exclusive access to the main DATS facility garage, where a diverse range of vehicles, such as buses, minivans, and taxis, can be viewed, reflecting the adaptability of the service to meet the unique needs of each client.
- As a testament to its ongoing impact, DATS has enabled over 930,000 trips since its inception, expanding the accessibility of the community, services, and employment options for individuals with disabilities within Edmonton.
- Moreover, the DATS program would not have been possible without the contributions of resilient individuals like Percy Wickman, a former MLA and city councillor, who worked tirelessly to ensure accessible transportation solutions were made available, making Edmonton a more inclusive and functional home-and-garden for all its residents.
