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Bus fees next school year
Mon, 9 Jun, 2025
Starting in the 2025–26 school year, fees to ride the bus to school will go up.
- If your child rides the yellow bus, fees will go from $30 to $50 a month
- If your child uses Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), fees will go from $55 to $60
Edmonton Public Schools aims to keep transportation costs affordable, to accommodate all students who need it, and to provide the same level of service as we do now.
The costs to operate buses and hire drivers have been increasing, and student enrolment is growing. These factors, combined with changes to provincial funding, mean we need to raise fees to provide the same level of service students and families currently rely on.
About transportation costs and funding
In September 2025, the cost of a yellow bus route is expected to go up by about 11 per cent on average compared to a year prior. Since 2020, these costs will have increased by about 43 per cent. Transportation fees paid by families cover approximately 25 per cent of the Division’s transportation costs; provincial funding covers the other 75 per cent.
Edmonton Public Schools expects overall less funding from the province in the coming years because of changes to who is eligible for transportation. The province determines who is eligible for busing based on how far a student lives from a school.
Starting in September 2025, elementary students who live at least 1.6 kilometres from their designated school are eligible for transportation. Currently, students only need to live up to one kilometre to be eligible.
In the 2025–26 school year, Edmonton Public Schools will continue to offer service to students who live at least one kilometre away. Transition funding from the province will allow us to offer the same levels of service next school year.
More information
We understand an increase to transportation fees can be challenging for many families. If you are unable to afford bus fees, reach out to your child’s school to discuss your options.
