Calgary Transit


Calgary Transit is the public transit service which is owned and operated by the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 2018, an estimated 105.3 million passengers boarded approximately 1,155 Calgary Transit vehicles.

History

What would eventually become Calgary Transit began as the Calgary Street Railway on July 5, 1909, with twelve electric streetcars serving what was at the time a city of 30,000.
This streetcar service expanded throughout the next thirty years until 1946, when the company was renamed to Calgary Transit System as electric trolleybus vehicles began replacing the local streetcars. Eventually the electric trolley lines were phased out together — to be replaced by diesel buses. In 1972, CTS assumed its current name of Calgary Transit.
Between the early 1970s and 2000, Calgary Transit had a three tier bus service. Standard bus routes were identified with white bus stop signs. Blue Arrow bus routes, marked by blue signs, provided limited stops, and all day service to suburban neighborhoods from the city centre. Express service was indicated with red signs and provided extremely limited bus service to the far reaches of the city during peak hours only. These tiers have been slowly phased out, since Calgary Transit began expanding CTrain lines and capacity and implementing BRT service.
In 2012 Calgary Transit planners presented mayor Naheed Nenshi's council with a tentative 30-year plan 'RouteAhead' to enhance the capacities of Calgary Transit.
On December 13, 2012 Craig Hardy, became the one hundred millionth rider of the year, a record never reached in its 103-year history. He received free transit for a year and was celebrated by mayor Nenshi.

CTrain light rail system

On May 25, 1981, Calgary Transit became one of the first transit systems in North America to operate a light rail system — the CTrain, on which construction had begun in 1978. The original line ran from Anderson station to 8th St SW in Downtown Calgary.
On April 27, 1985, a northeastern-bound line was opened, running from 8th St SW to Whitehorn station, and on September 4, 1987, a northwestern-bound line was opened in time for the 1988 Winter Olympics, running from downtown to University station.
On September 3, 1990, a 1 km extension of the northwest line to Brentwood station was opened; on October 9, 2001 two new stations — Canyon Meadows station and Fish Creek–Lacombe station were added to the south line; on December 15, 2003, Dalhousie station was added to the northwestern line.
On June 28, 2004, two new stations for the south line opened: Shawnessy station and Somerset–Bridlewood station.
On December 17, 2007, an extension was made to the Route 202 northeast line from Whitehorn to the new McKnight–Westwinds station.;
On June 15, 2009, Crowfoot station was added on the northwest line located directly west of Crowfoot Town Centre in the median of Crowchild Trail.
On August 27, 2012, Martindale and Saddletowne stations were added to the northeast line, making the total of stations on this line to 10.
On December 10, 2012, the West LRT opened, with six new stations and Downtown West–Kerby station in downtown. Since it is Calgary's newest LRT line in 25 years, it is an extension of Route 202. After this opening, the CTrain system total length is now long.
Future extensions include the North Central line and the Southeast line running from North Pointe Bus Terminal, down Centre Street, through downtown, into the communities of Ogden, Douglasdale and McKenzie in the southeastern portion of the city, finally ending at the South Health Campus in Seton. Phase one of the North Central Line will travel from 16th Ave. north to Shepard, in the SE. The route will travel underground from 16th Ave N to 12 Ave. SW, and on an elevated guideway through Inglewood/Ramsay. Estimated travel time is 34 minutes. Construction started in 2018 on works to enable future rail construction.
On July 18, 2007, Calgary Transit officially unveiled a new red and white livery for its CTrain, articulated buses and every new bus or train coming into the system.
On August 27, 2008, a train en route to the Somerset station collided with a construction crane in between the Dalhousie and Brentwood stations. Six were injured in the accident, including one child.
On February 18, 2009 Calgary Transit celebrated the 1,000,000,000th rider, randomly selecting a passenger, Shelly Xiao during a ceremony at the 1 Street SW CTrain station.

Bus rapid transit

On August 30, 2004, Calgary Transit opened a bus rapid transit line to operate future CTrain routes, using conventional buses until articulated buses entered service on June 25, 2007. The BRT system consisted of a single route, Route 301, serving the northern and western parts of the city. A subsequent route, Route 305, was added in 2008, serving the Bowness and 17th Avenue East corridors. A third route, Route 302, entered service on August 31, 2009, along a proposed southeast LRT corridor.
The BRT is considered to be the successor to the Blue Arrow service introduced to the 1970s: both were a series of limited-stop routes that were to be intended to be replaced by LRT service in the future — however, the Blue Arrow service was never a true BRT, the modern BRT includes priority at traffic signals, enhanced passenger waiting areas and offers a shorter travel time to the downtown with greater capacity articulated buses. The Blue Arrow name all but disappeared in 2000 in order to unify all bus stops under one common scheme, but certain Blue Arrow routes are still in service to this day. In fact, Route 305 replaces a Blue Arrow route.
On September 28, 2009, Council approved the Calgary Transportation Plan, fulfilling Council's priorities of "a city that moves." The CTP identified over 20 corridors that would serve as the City's future Primary Transit Network. These corridors laid the foundations of Calgary Transit's future BRT network. Preliminary functional studies were undertaken – specifically for 17 Avenue SE and the Southwest Transitway – to explore the feasibility of major transit capital projects for the near future. On January 11, 2011, Council approved the Bus Rapid Transit Network Plan, which outlined 11 BRT projects that the City plans to pursue in the short, medium, and long terms respectively.These plans included the introduction of 9 new BRT routes: the Airport BRT, which would connect the Downtown Core with Calgary International Airport; the Southwest Transitway BRT, which would connect the Downtown Core with Mount Royal University and Woodbine; the Southwest Crosstown BRT, which would connect Westbrook Station with MRU and Quarry Park; the North Crosstown BRT, which would connect Saddletowne Station with 16 Avenue N and the University of Calgary; the 17 Avenue SE Transitway BRT, which would connect the Downtown Core, Inglewood, 17 Avenue SE, towards the East City Limits; the 52 Street E BRT, which would connect Saddletowne and South Health Campus through the Southeast Industrial Area; the Sage Hill BRT, which would connect Brentwood Station with the Sage Hill Transit Hub using the Shaganappi HOV; the 162 Avenue S BRT, which would connect Somerset-Bridlewood Station with Providence; and the Southeast Crosstown BRT, which would connect Somerset-Bridlewood Station with South Health Campus through Marquis of Lorne Trail. The plans also included enhancements of existing routes 301, 302, and 305.
The Airport BRT was actualised on July 27, 2011 with Route 300. This line was introduced after Calgary's Mayor promised to make the airport more accessible via public transit. On March 12, 2012, BRT service was cut significantly in Calgary. The 302 now run with shuttle buses, during off peak hours and weekends. The 305 does not run on weekends at all. These are both due to low ridership. The Southwest Crosstown BRT was actualised on December 10, 2012 with the Route 306. This route runs from Westbrook Station to Heritage Station, connecting MRU and Rockyview Hospital.
On December 2012, Council approved the RouteAhead Plan, which outlined the major transit capital projects the City would pursue for the next 30 years. RouteAhead identified the BRT routes Southwest Transitway, North Crosstown, Southwest Crosstown, 17 Avenue SE, 52 Street E, and Sage Hill as the key priorities for the City.
Plans not included in RouteAhead – like the 162 Avenue S BRT and the conversions of Route 300 and the 17 Avenue SE BRT into a LRT – were identified as projects to be conducted beyond the 30-year RouteAhead timeframe. RouteAhead also foreshadowed the plan of a new BRT route: the North Regional Context Study/144 Avenue N BRT, which would connect Tuscany Station with the planned Stoney Station, passing through communities north of 144 Avenue North and CrossIron Mills.
On November 19th, 2018, Calgary's BRT network received an overhaul, and saw the introduction of three new lines. The new lines were incorporated under the MAX branding: MAX Orange, connecting Brentwood Station with Saddletowne Station, passing through 16th Avenue N; MAX Teal, connecting Westbrook Station with the Douglas Glen Transit Hub, passing through MRU, Rockyview Hospital, Heritage Station, and Deerfoot Meadows; and MAX Purple, connecting the Downtown Core with East Hills, along a dedicated transitway along International Avenue. The former route 306 was reincorporated under MAX, and busses are now labelled as "MAX Teal." In order to make the new service unique from existing "BRT" routes, new stops now have heated shelters, real-time information, elevated sidewalks, and security cameras. MAX Purple is also the only service in Calgary to run on a dedicated transitway.
Expected in fall of 2019, the Southwest MAX line, anticipated to be MAX Yellow, will open to the public, and will be the second bus service in Calgary to operate in a dedicated transitway. This route will run from the Downtown Core to Woodbine, passing through MRU and 14 Street SW. As the Currie Barracks area of Calgary develops, the route will eventually be re-routed to serve that area.

Bus routes

Current service and fleet

Calgary Transit operates 155 bus routes using 1,155 vehicles. All buses are low floor and wheelchair accessible. The light rail vehicle fleet includes the system's original Siemens–Duewag U2 cars, 110 Siemens SD-160s, and 63 Siemens S200s. Calgary Transit's 72 original style SD160s were delivered in three orders between 2000 and 2007 and have all since been retrofitted with Air Conditioning and the newer red and white livery. In June 2010, 38 new restyled Siemens SD160s, featuring factory equipped AC and various cosmetic and technical changes over the previous series, began to arrive. In January 2016, the first of 63 Siemens S200 cars began arriving which entered service in July 2016.
The CTrain system along with several mainline bus routes provide the backbone of the system while many feeder bus routes and express services act to complement this backbone service. Service frequency on the CTrain and busier bus routes is typically from 5–30 minutes with operating hours of about 5 am – 2 am. Most feeder bus routes run at 15–45 minute intervals with similar operating hours on most routes and reduced on others. In addition there are many rush hour only services, some are feeder routes and some are express routes, these usually run 10–30 minutes apart.

Fares

Calgary Transit currently operates as a single fare zone, with a flat rate fare for all standard service including bus, BRT, and the CTrain. As of January 2020, a single adult fare is $3.50, or $2.40 for youth. Books of 10 tickets are available at par to 10 fares. Monthly passes are also available, with youth passes for $77.00, and adult passes for $109.00. Seniors pay $145.00 for a yearly pass which is valid from July 1 to June 30 of the following year and which entitles them to travel at any time. Service on Christmas Day is free of charge. Starting New Year's Eve 2014, extended service until 3:00 a.m. on the CTrain and select bus routes requires regular fare. In order to transfer from one transit vehicle to another, proof of fare from the CTrain, or a transfer from a bus is required. A transfer or proof of fare is valid for 90 minutes from the time of issue, for any transit service.
In cooperation with many of the post-secondary schools located in the city, a Universal Pass program is offered to all students, paid as part of their tuition.
Detailed Fare Table:
Fare TypePrice
Cash Fare or Adult Single Ticket $3.50
Youth Cash Fare or Youth Single Ticket $2.40
Children Under 5 Free
Book of 10 Adult regular Tickets$35.00
Book of 10 Youth Tickets$24.00
Day Regular Adult Pass$11.00
Day Youth Pass$8.00
Monthly Pass $109.00
Youth Monthly Pass$77.00
Monthly Pass $5–50
Senior Citizen Annual Pass $145.00
Senior Citizen Annual Pass, Sliding Scale
UPass – ACAD, Mount Royal, SAIT, St. Mary's$125.00
UPass – University of Calgary $130.00

Connect Card

The "Connect Card" is the name of Calgary Transit's proposed electronic fare smart-card. After two years of work and after installing smart-card readers on every bus and at all CTrain stations that were supposed to start working in the summer of 2012, Calgary Transit cancelled the deal with its contractor, Spain-headquartered Telvent. The City of Calgary announced on November 8, 2012 that crews will remove the new smart-card machines out of all Calgary Transit 1,000 city buses and 160 LRT pay machines after repeated glitches and delays.
About one year later, the City then announced that they would relaunch the initiative, again with Telvent as the provider. In June 2015, the City of Calgary decided to scrap the Connect Card project and attempt to recover costs from Schneider Electric.

Facilities

There are six major Calgary Transit facilities to store and maintain the transit fleet, as well as run several operations departments to keep the system running:
The Calgary Transit Public Safety and Enforcement Section is the enforcement agency for Calgary Transit. Formed in 1981, as special constables under the Police Act of Alberta, special constables had most authorities given to regular police constables. In 2008, the new Peace Officer Act replaced the old police act. Officers were then renamed as "peace officers" under this act and given full peace officer powers in the Province of Alberta.

Mandate

The main duties of a Calgary Transit peace officer are to protect the public using the system, its employees and its assets. Officers must respond to requests for assistance from customers and employees which include arresting persons found committing criminal offences on or in relation to Calgary Transit facilities, vehicles and property.
Other duties includes public education, regular patrols of the transit system, customer relations and issuance of violation tickets.

Officers

PS&E peace officers have similar powers of a police officer to enforce federal statutes and various provincial statutes while in the execution of their specifically appointed duties, as they pertain to Calgary Transit property. Officers enforce the Criminal Code of Canada, the Gaming and Liquor Act of Alberta, the Traffic Safety Act of Alberta - non-moving violations, the Provincial Offences and Procedures Act, Trespass to Premise Act, the Petty Trespass Act of Alberta and all municipal by-laws for the City of Calgary.
PS&E officers have a memorandum of understanding with the Calgary Police Service that gives transit peace officers extended authority to arrest and detain individuals with outstanding warrants and execute these warrants. This extended authority also allows for transport of arrested individuals to the Calgary Court Services Section or Calgary Remand Center.
Currently, the force deploys 71 officers with full peace officers status. All officers are equipped with handcuffs, OC spray, collapsible batons and protective body armour.
In June 2009, a new mountain bike unit of eight officers was created and deployed. Officers went through an intensive week-long training program through the internationally-recognized Law Enforcement Bike Association.
PS&E partners with the local municipal police force, Calgary Police Service, in enforcing laws in the Calgary area on transit properties. As with most agencies, PS&E utilizes its own radio service; and a centralized call taking and dispatch centre.

Commuter Rail

Calgary Transit briefly experimented with a commuter train in 1996. The service consisted of a single line, running from a platform at 162 Avenue SW to Anderson station, where commuters could transfer to the CTrain network. Running every 20 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours, the free service carried an average of just over 800 people per day. The city didn't lay any new track, but ran the trains on the CPR freight line running alongside the South Line's tracks. Siemens RegioSprinter diesel multiple units were used as the rolling stock. With a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour, the train could cover the roughly 7 kilometres in a matter of minutes. The city ultimately decided not to implement permanent commuter rail. The CTrain system was later extended along the same corridor, with more stations and regular service.
In recent years, transit planners and some politicians have discussed adding commuter service to Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore and other nearby cities and towns, but no firm plans have been made.