The Edmonton Radial Railway (ERR) (also known as the Street Railway Department) was a streetcar service that operated in Edmonton, Alberta, from 1908 to 1951. It was Edmonton's first public transit service, and later evolved into Edmonton Transit Service. Beginning as a small agency with of track and four streetcars, the ERR would eventually operate more than 70 streetcars on over of track, reaching most areas of the city. At its peak in 1929, the ERR served more than 14.1 million passengers. The service suffered from under-investment during the Great Depression, as the city could not afford to replace old streetcars, tracks, or other infrastructure. Starting in 1932, streetcar lines were phased out in favour of trolley and gas bus routes, and by August 1949 only one core line was left. The last day of public streetcar service was September 1, 1951. Until Edmonton's Light Rail Transit service opened in 1978, all transit routes were delivered by buses. History In 1893, an ordinance permitting Edmonton to construct and operate a tramway was passed. The concept remained stagnant for the next decade, and Edmonton city council approved the borrowing of $224,000 for the creation of a streetcar system in 1907. Construction of the initial trackway and related infrastructure commenced soon after. The Alberta Legislature passed the Edmonton Radial Tramway Act in 1908, permitting the city to provide tramway service to communities located within of the city. The ERR's name stemmed from its radial, or "out-and-back", model; all streetcar lines terminated at Jasper Avenue and 101 Street, and radiated outward to various areas of the city. Shortly prior to the start of service, Edmonton purchased the Strathcona Radial Tramway Company Ltd. for $135,000, thus gaining the ability to provide streetcar service to the City of Strathcona as well. Regular service commenced on November 9, 1908, with a fleet of four streetcars operating on of track. On its first day of operations, the ERR served approximately 3000 riders. The service quickly grew in popularity as a mode of transportation, and it became known as "the pride of Edmonton". By 1911, daily ridership increased to around 4784 passengers. Motormen, conductors, and other streetcar workers unionized in 1911, under the banner of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America Local Division No. 569. The ERR served more than 10 million passengers in 1912, and Edmonton purchased 47 new streetcars. The original