Green Line route and stations approved by City Council

Yesterday, City Council approved the full 46 km alignment and 28 stations for the Green Line LRT from 160 Avenue N to Seton. This is a major milestone for the program, and ensures that the Green Line can be built in stages as funding becomes available.

We could not have reached this major milestone without the support of Calgarians. We would like to thank the community associations and business groups along the route, and the thousands of people who took part in events across the city over the last two and a half years. Your local insight has helped shape this program – from envisioning the development potential around stations to changing the route to protect community assets, and refining locations of stations for better access for customers. We couldn’t have done this without you, and we appreciate the countless hours you have dedicated to working with us to plan the best Green Line for Calgary.

What happens now?
Our focus this summer will be to secure the funding required to start construction on the first 20 km from 16 Avenue N (Crescent Heights) to 126 Avenue SE (Shepard). We are aiming to have shovels in the ground by 2020, with the first stage of construction complete by 2026. Visit the website to learn more.

2017/2018 construction
In December 2016, the Federal and Provincial Government committed more than $250 million to fund a series of Enabling Works for the Green Line LRT for 2017/18. These projects will clear the path for future Green Line construction, and include utility relocations, land preparation, environmental remediation and transit improvements.

Some projects are anticipated to begin this summer. Please check the website for details.

Next steps – fall 2017 & beyond
We will be back in the fall to talk to communities within the stage 1 construction area to further refine the design and plan for construction.

Planning will continue on future stages of the Green Line LRT as well as the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) work in the north.

Area Redevelopment Plans and Station Area Plans will continue to be refined in the southeast, and will be presented to Council in 2018.
Fast Facts on Green Line:

Full Green Line

• 46 km – full Green Line route
• 28 Stations in total
• At full community build-out, the Green Line will carry an estimated 240,000 trips per day

Stage 1 construction

• 20 km
• 14 stations
• 8 bridges (Elbow River, Blackfoot Trail, Highfield Blvd, 46 Avenue SE, Deerfoot Trail, Bow River, 78 Avenue SE and 90 Avenue SE)
• 1 km of elevated track between Inglewood/Ramsay to 26 Avenue stations
• 4 km Centre City tunnel from 20 Avenue N to Macleod Trail
• 1 light rail vehicle (LRV) Maintenance and Storage Facility north of 126 Avenue SE (Shepard)
• Approximately 70 low floor vehicles
• $4.65 billion capital construction cost

To follow the Green Line story, visit our website or subscribe to newsletter updates.

Green Line LRT evaluates two additional alignment options for Beltline segment

Evaluation of the Beltline alignment options for the future Green Line LRT is underway, and Administration is now considering two additional alignment options to connect the Beltline and Victoria Park to the future Inglewood/Ramsay station.

We’ve included some quick facts about this update below, but you can find more information about each of the options in our Green Line LRT: Beltline Segment Update.

Quick Facts

• On April 11, 2017, City Council approved Administration’s recommendation for the Green Line to be underground in the Beltline from 2 Street S.W. to MacLeod Trail S.E. 
• Administration has not yet determined how the Green Line will connect from MacLeod Trail S.E. to the Inglewood/Ramsay station
• Administration is still exploring the MacDonald Avenue S.E. option (MacDonald Ave option) as well as the option that skirts to the north of the Victoria Park Transit Centre (also known as the bus barns or VPTC)
• Administration is now also exploring two additional alignment options: 
• Transition to 10 Avenue S Option: this would see the line jog north from the Centre Street station on 12 Avenue S to 10 Avenue S, where it would run parallel to the south side of the CP tracks until it reaches the Inglewood/Ramsay station

Transition to 10 Avenue S Option

• Staged Option: this would allow the Green Line to skirt the Transit Centre until the Centre is re-located, at which time the Green Line tracks would be re-aligned and a station would be built on the former Transit Centre lands

Staged Option

• Cost estimates, including potential land/property costs, for all four options need to be fully understood before Administration can make a recommendation. A targeted cost range for the Beltline to Inglewood/Ramsay segment has been established, and Administration needs to further quantify the capital costs and value to Calgarians of each option. 
• Administration will continue to explore these four options, which will include technical analysis and conversations with stakeholders and the communities
• Administration intends to take an official recommendation to City Council in June 2017. If further analysis is required for these options, recommendation timelines for this portion of the Green Line alignment can be modified
• City Council is ultimately responsible for approving the alignment 

What Happens Now?

Property owners who may be impacted by either of the new options will receive a letter from The City shortly.

Join us at one of two public drop-in sessions to learn more about the options and to discuss the opportunities and impacts of each:

Thursday, May 4 between 4:00 to 8:00 pm
Alexandra Dancehall – 922 9 Ave SE 

Saturday, May 6 between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Commons - 1206 20 Ave SE

Learn more about each of the options and how Administration will make a recommendation.

CTrain Operator rescues forgotten purse filled with birthday cash

Calgary Transit customer Li Feng Yang got her 75th birthday wish.

After receiving $1,300 in cash gifts from family and friends for her recent birthday, the mood went from joy to sorrow when she accidently left her purse containing the money on a CTrain during a trip to see her family doctor.

Yang was also planning to deposit the money in the bank.

She immediately notified Calgary Transit about her devastating loss.

“It must have slipped off my arm,” Yang said of her purse, which plopped onto the seat beside her. After notifying Calgary Transit, the senior said she had a “sleepless night” wondering if she would ever see the purse and money again.

Enter CTrain operator Mesfin Tadese. “I found it on the train during a walk through at 69th Street,” Tadese said. “I called it in and kept it safe with me.” The purse was turned over to Calgary Transit’s lost property unit and returned to Yang with all its precious contents intact.

“I was just so happy,” said Yang. “I’m so grateful!”

“I’m just glad she got her purse back” Tadese said. “I wouldn’t want to lose that amount of cash.”

Every day, 50 to 100 forgotten items are turned in to Calgary Transit’s lost property department. It takes teamwork behind the scenes to help with the speedy return of wallets, cell phones and other valuables left behind. Everything from musical instruments to false teeth have turned up after being mistakenly left behind on buses and CTrains. Winter is peak season for forgotten goods, most notably toques, gloves and scarves.

All found items are collected at our bus garages and secured in a metal bin for delivery to our Centre Street Lost Property office.

Lost property can be reported online at CalgaryTransit.com or by calling 403-268-1600. Owners can also call 403-262-1000 to learn if their property has been turned in. Be prepared to give a detailed description of the lost item, the date and time it was lost and the route number.

Providing transit service that is helpful is part of Calgary Transit’s Customer Commitment.

Green Line LRT project considers alternate route in Victoria Park and Ramsay

The Green Line LRT team has been evaluating alignment options in the Beltline since early last year. We began with more than a dozen options and, through several phases of evaluation, narrowed those options down to two: 12 Avenue S Surface, and 12 Avenue S Tunnel + Surface, shown in the graphics below.

12 Avenue S Surface

12 Avenue Tunnel + Surface

Over the course of our detailed evaluation, we’ve discovered significant technical and operational considerations for the alignment east of 4 St S.E. (the East Victoria Park area). As a result, we have been considering alternative options to connect the Green Line from the Beltline to the Ramsay/Inglewood area.

Considerations include:

• Victoria Park redevelopment -Canada Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is currently developing its Rivers District Masterplan, which includes potential Calgary Next facilities and consideration of future Olympic infrastructure . The Green Line will be part of these discussions to ensure the LRT supports the future area transportation network to best serve Calgarians who travel by foot, bike, bus or car
• Travel times - The alignment to the north of the Victoria Park Transit Centre would result in slower travel times for Calgarians, and costly wear and tear on LRT vehicles due to very tight turns
• Existing transit operations - Operations of the Victoria Park Transit Centre would be significantly impeded by a Green Line alignment around the north side of the facility, impacting transit service reliability throughout the city
• Budget - The Green Line does not have the budget to re-locate the Victoria Park Transit Centre, so the team is exploring alignment options that do not require the relocation. The team has also explored a tunnel option through Beltline and under MacDonald Avenue SE. This option, while technically feasible, has been removed from consideration due to cost.

The City of Calgary’s Green Line team is now exploring the option of a street-level LRT on MacDonald Avenue SE to address the challenges created by the original 12 Avenue options. The MacDonald Avenue SE options are:

12 Avenue S Surface – MacDonald Ave

12 Avenue Tunnel + Surface – MacDonald Ave

The City will present these four alignment options to City Council’s Transportation and Transit Committee on March 15, 2017. After further evaluation, we intend to take a single recommended alignment to City Committee and Council later this spring.

We are committed to working with the communities to determine how the Green Line on MacDonald Avenue SE could best be integrated into the neighbourhood to create connections and build community spaces, if this option moves forward.

There are a number of opportunities to get involved:

• The City will continue to meet with the Ramsay community association and homeowners whose properties could be impacted
• Join us at a public meeting on March 2, 2017, at 6 p.m. at The Hemmingway Room of The Commons, 1206 20 Ave SE. This presentation will be a preview of the update the Green Line team will provide to City Committee on March 15, which will include:
• An overview of our evaluation and how we arrived at the MacDonald Avenue SE option
• An overview of the trade-offs of each option
• An outline of the next steps in the evaluation and decision process 

We will provide more opportunities for public and community involvement this spring. Watch Calgary.ca/GreenLine for more information about other upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Seeking input on the Southwest BRT Project

The City of Calgary is moving into the last phase of design for the Southwest BRT project, and we’re seeking stakeholder and public input. An online tool will collect input from Calgarians beginning February 22, and a facilitated session in March will gather feedback from representatives of area community associations, institutions and citizen groups.

The input collected online will be used at the March session to inform the workshop of the themes and comments provided by their fellow Calgarians. The in person sessions will have up to three representatives from stakeholder groups to ensure a balanced conversation about the topics The City is seeking input on. Calgarians and stakeholders will be asked to provide their input on:

• Pedestrian overpass at 90 Avenue S.W. 
• Construction staging and phasing 
• Station connections (including pedestrian overpass at 75 Avenue S.W.) 
• Parking 
• Landscaping 
• Noise attenuation 

Once we’ve heard from the Calgarians living and working near the future route, as well the Calgarians who may someday make use of the city’s BRT network, we will compile and analyze all feedback, which will help inform the final design for the Southwest BRT project. Calgarians input along with technical and engineering considerations will inform the final design for the SWBRT. The City will post a “What We Heard” report which will be made available online in April.

The City is committed to providing opportunities for Calgarians to provide input into the final design for the Southwest BRT, so sign up for the mailing list to get up to date information on the online engagement that begins on February 22.

The Southwest BRT is one of four BRT projects that fill important gaps in Calgary’s primary transit network and provide reliable, efficient transit to communities. Along with the Southwest BRT, The City is implementing the North and South Crosstown BRT and the 17 Avenue S.E. BRT to provide more transit options for Calgarians.

Saying goodbye to Car 2001 – our very first LRV

On September 20, Calgary Transit began the decommissioning process on Car 2001 – the very first Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) to arrive in Calgary.

It was made by German manufacturer DUWAG and was delivered to Calgary Transit on April 18, 1980. The grand opening of the CTrain was on May 25, 1981 with Mayor Ralph Klein at the helm of the first train.

Car 2001 was in service for 35 years and has travelled over 2.5 million kilometres during that time. It’s had 44 new tires, 514 routine maintenance and service inspections, the bogies (the framework carrying the wheels and axels) were rebuilt four times and the body was refurbished once in 1998.

Decommissioning the vehicle involves removing the items of value so they can be reused to keep other LRVs running.

Over the next few years more of these original LRV cars will be retired as Calgary Transit increases their inventory of the new Mask CTrain cars. Calgary Transit is still considering whether to keep one of the old cars for historical purposes. That decision will be down the road if funding becomes available.

The new Green Line LRT: Shaping the way we move

Over the past 20-30 years the city of Calgary has seen tremendous growth, both in jobs and population. Since the creation of Calgary’s first LRT line in 1981, Calgary has grown from a city of 600,000 to over 1.2 million people. Transit ridership has followed the expansions of the LRT network, averaging 320,000 passengers per day in 2016; the highest LRT ridership per capita in North America. Now with the Green Line LRT, we have another opportunity to plan for future growth of the city by providing Calgarians with even more ways of getting around.

At our last speaker series session, the team explored “Building transit villages” and on September 20 you’ll learn more about the past, present and future of mobility options in Calgary and hear how the panelists shaped mobility in their respective cities.

Panelists include Tamim Raad, former Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority, Brian McCarter, Principal at ZGF Architects in Portland, Oregon and Allison Brooks, Executive Director of the Bay Area Regional Collaborative in San Francisco, California.

We hope you’ll join us for a brief presentation followed by our panelists who will be answering your questions on mobility trends.

Tuesday September 20, 2016
Glenbow Museum Theatre, 130 9 Avenue S.E.,
Doors open at 5 p.m., presentation starts at 5:30 p.m. Event concludes at 7 p.m.Light refreshments will be available, seating is limited so please arrive promptly

Upcoming in the series (more details coming soon):

• Calgary’s Potential – October 2016

If you missed the previous sessions, watch the video recaps:

• June 2: City shaping – Watch the video  
• June 21: Building a transit village – Watch the video

Follow the Green Line story on Twitter @yyctransport #GreenLineYYC, and for more information on the project, visit Calgary.ca/greenline. For questions about the Green Line project, please email greenline@calgary.ca.

Calgary musicians turn it up on the CTrain during JUNO Week

Mayor Naheed Nenshi with Calgary's own Steel & Timber left to right(Nathan H-Thompson, Phil Brayton & Ben Rogalsky)

During JUNO Week, Calgarians and out-of-town visitors will have the pleasure of taking in some of our City’s local musical talent on the CTrain. Musicians will play for Calgary Transit passengers and provide a sampling of the vibrant music scene we have right here in our city.



“On behalf of the citizens of Calgary and the JUNO Awards host committee, OutLoudYYC, I am pleased to welcome the JUNO Awards to our great city,” says Marco De Iaco, Chair OutLoudYYC. “There are so many wonderful Canadian musical acts playing, and I encourage Calgarians to take part in the numerous events that are taking place at both large and small venues during JUNO Week and leading up to the JUNO Awards.

JUNO volunteers will accompany the musicians to tell passengers about all the multitude of events taking place in Calgary leading up to the JUNO Awards. So if you happen to get on a train car with a little more rhythm than your regular commute, take a moment to tap your feet to the beat and say hello.

Musical acts will be playing on both CTrain lines (red and blue) between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. from Monday March 28 through Friday April 1 and include Steel & Timber, Jan Rachel and Jiggity James and the Canadian Tuxedos just to name a few.

“Calgary is a music city. We have an immense amount of talent here, and we’re so excited to showcase our performers to the world, especially leading up the JUNO Awards when so many music professionals will be visiting,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “We have a great busking scene, and there isn’t a night when you can’t go out in Calgary and see some wonderful live music at one of our many local venues.”

Calgary’s musical talent is evidenced not only by the entertainers that make it big and go on to win JUNOs and other awards, but also by the acts that remain local and help to animate our city for all Calgarians to enjoy. When we launched the busking pilot program in January, we made a commitment to help promote and showcase local up-and-coming talent. The JUNOS on the CTrain program is one of the ways we’re supporting, celebrating and elevating the profile of street performing as a cherished art form.

Find out more about what’s going on in Calgary for the 2016 JUNO Awards and JUNO Week.

Find out more about becoming a busker in Calgary at calgary.ca/busking.

With so much happening in Calgary’s music scene, it’s easy to see why 2016 has been dubbed the Year of Music!

Calgary Transit employees reunite lost four-year-old with parents

A Calgary family is thanking CTrain operators and Calgary Transit staff for helping reunite them after their four-year-old son hopped on the CTrain alone.

From left: Calgary Transit operator Parminder Ghuman, 
Daniel Petke with wife Brittni and son Kayden, 
Calgary Transit operations supervisor Shannon Dorozio, 

and operator Karey Depatie.

Daniel Petke and his wife Brittni watched helplessly as the doors closed and the train pulled away, whisking the couple’s young son Kayden away from Westbrook Station Tuesday night. But thanks to assistance from fast-acting Calgary Transit staff, the little boy was brought safely back to his parents within minutes.

It all happened quickly, said Daniel, who met and thanked the Calgary Transit employees Wednesday.

“He jumped on the train right away like he always does. I turned around and my wife was not quite right behind me, and I ran back to grab the groceries and help her onto the train. By the time I got back to the train it was shutting, and I slammed on the button, started banging on the door. I was yelling: ‘that’s my son, that’s my son.’ It was a very scary moment,” he said.

“It was right out of a movie for me: the door closed, there was nothing I could do. My son’s looking right at me, yelling, ‘Daddy!’ It was heart-wrenching just watching the train pull away.”

Daniel immediately hit the transit help phone button. Shannon Dorozio, Operations Supervisor for Call Centre/PS100 did her best to calm the frantic parents.



“Optimally, this is the type of call we like to get – it was immediate so the train hadn’t even arrived at the next station. I alerted our rail control and they contacted the driver and had him check at the next station. We have CCTV cameras monitoring at platforms, we were able to keep continuity of the train, we dispatched peace officers to start heading towards the parents to pick them up if required,” she said.

Meanwhile, as CTrain operator Parminder Ghuman learned he had an unattended child on board, he wasted no time bringing the lad into the driver’s cab with him.

“He was very happy to see me. I brought him into my cab. I was worried about the parents because I have small kids, too.”

Operator Karey Depatie was waiting to meet Kayden at the next station to bring him back to his worried parents on her CTrain.

“He was such a happy little guy to have in the cab. He was talking trains the whole time,” she said.

Thanks to great work by Calgary Transit staff, the boy was quickly reunited with his relieved parents, who say it was the longest 10 minutes of their lives.

“He got off the train with a huge smile ran into my arms and the first thing he said was, ‘Mommy, I got to drive the train!” said mother Brittni.

In her 13-year career with Calgary Transit, Karey says she’s seen half a dozen young children separated from their parents on CTrains.

She has some advice for parents: “Please hold their hands. If you’re holding their hand, no one’s getting left behind.”

Our first S200 CTrain car has arrived!

The Mask – a sleek design chosen by Calgarians – is a completely new kind of train and is a first in North America.

We have ordered 63 new Mask cars from Siemens Canada which will be arriving on a regular basis as they roll off the assembly line until they are all here by early 2017. The new state-of-the-art cars will help us in expanding four-car service making traveling more reliable and convenient for customers. Our first Mask four-car CTrain will be introduced this spring as more of the new cars arrive.

We are committed to improving the customer experience with improved comfort, passenger information, safety, security and accessibility.

The new cars are fully accessible, too. Here are some other great features:

• Heated floors for winter
• Air conditioning for summer
• New seating layout, roomier cars including leaning pad in articulated area
• Bucketless perimeter seating along the walls
• Vehicle front doors have been moved back to improve passenger flow
• Visible door lighting: green lights for doors open and red for doors closed
• Fully accessible entryway with sloped floors – no more ramps
• Double the number of interior speakers to provide more even sound coverage for announcements and reduce the effects of “loud spots”
• Glassed in operator’s compartment allows the driver to see pedestrians more clearly and enhances passenger view
• Onboard infotainment: digital monitors with route information and news updates
• LED lighting inside and out

The cars also come with enhanced security features including high resolution exterior cameras that provide 20/20 vision halfway down the train, and full camera coverage inside and out. The wide open interior concept allows for better security as peace officers can see from one train to the other.

Calgarians were asked to help choose the design of the front of Transit’s new CTrain cars by voting on three options: The Bow, inspired by the Bow River; The Buffalo, inspired by the buffalo; and The Mask, inspired by a hockey goalie mask. The winning design of The Mask represents individuality, reliability, style and protection, a fitting design to represent Calgary.

The new Mask cars are helping fulfill our new Customer Commitment to provide safe, reliable, and easy-to-use transit.

Green Line north – field investigation begins this week!

Residents, businesses, and visitors to Calgary may notice drilling activity in various locations along Centre Street North, downtown, and in Prince's Island Park starting this week. This work marks the first step in investigating potential Green Line routes in the Centre City and up towards communities in north Calgary along Centre Street.

Drilling last year for the southeast leg of the Green Line

Why are we drilling?
Geotechnical drilling is usually done before planning to build any kind of infrastructure. The idea is to test the stability of surrounding area and collect soil and rock samples to determine if there is anything in the ground that may impact future construction. The Green Line will travel up Centre Street North, and we are currently gathering technical information to help us understand the opportunities and challenges involved with building an elevated, ground level, or underground transit line.

Does this mean construction is starting on the Green Line?
No. Construction is not starting on the Green Line yet. The Green Line team will be starting public engagement on the north leg of the Green Line in January, and will be focused around stations, community integration and route alignment (underground, elevated or street-level LRT). Drilling is just the first step in understanding some of the technical considerations for the project.

Are there any environmental impacts related to the drilling?
Our crews are very careful when drilling in environmentally sensitive areas such as along the Bow River. While the drilling is loud and involves heavy machinery, the impacts on the surrounding environment are quite small. The holes that are drilled in the ground will vary in depth at each location. Trees around the drilling area will be protected, and boreholes will be filled and remediated after samples are taken.

About the Green Line
The Green Line will be a 40 km long transit line extending from Seton in the southeast to Country Hills in the north. Once constructed, it will nearly double the size of Calgary’s current LRT network, providing approximately 300,000 Calgarians with reliable and efficient transit service. The Green Line will not only move people from point A to point B – it will be a staple of the communities that it touches, creating Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas where people can live, work and play in close proximity to public transit.

Green Line stations will be built for low-floor trains, meaning they will be small in scale and seamlessly integrated into communities with strong walking, cycling and bus connections to and from each station.

Recent milestones
City Council recently approved three important milestones for the Green Line project:

1. The Green Line route alignment and location of 15 stations on the southeast leg of the line from 4 Street S.E. to Seton.
2. The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) plan for the southeast leg of the line, which included plans for future development in Inglewood/Ramsay/26 Avenue S.E., Millican/Lynnwood/Ogden, and South Hill.
3. A formal request to the Province for funding the Green Line LRT.

The recommendations presented to Council were based on a number of streams of input, including public and stakeholder engagement, technical analysis, and discussions with the development community. The project has come a long way since our first public meetings in January 2015, and we were able to develop a plan that balanced the needs and aspirations of neighbourhoods in the southeast, create a transit service that will move people efficiently around the southeast part of the city, while also providing the opportunities for new development in communities. We look forward to working through a similar process with communities in the north and downtown.

Stay tuned for public engagement opportunities starting in January 2016. Visit the website for updates on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved!

Follow the Green Line story!
www.calgary.ca/greenline
Twitter: @yyctransport #GreenLineYYC
Instagram: GreenLineYYC

Be the first to know about snow and ice control this year

We’re a winter city, which means snow and ice are a part of life in Calgary. Whether you travel by bike, car, Transit or your own two feet, it’s important to stay safe, plan your route and know how the snow will affect your daily commute.

Calgary weather can change in an instant. Stay on top of snow and ice information so you can keep on the move, stay safe, and enjoy winter.

“While we are out clearing snow, citizens can see our progress through a number of different ways. This helps them plan their commute and stay safe,” says Roads Maintenance Manager Bill Biensch.

Here are the best ways to stay informed this winter about all things snow and ice:

Road Conditions Map
The map is available both online at calgary.ca/roadconditions and in the City of Calgary Roads app. Take a look at the snow clearing status of Priority 1 and Priority 2 roads across the city, and plan your route using traffic cameras and plow and sander locations.

City of Calgary Roads App
If you find yourself checking your mobile device throughout the day, the Roads App will be your best bet for finding snow and ice info. Check the weather, see an updated map of which roads have been plowed, and read updates during snow events. The app is available for iOS, Android and Blackberry.

Twitter
Do you follow @yyctransport on Twitter yet? We tweet out snow clearing updates, road closures, safety tips, and more! If you have questions about road conditions, traffic, or other roads projects, we’ll find you the answers.

Calgary.ca/Snow
This webpage is your one-stop-shop for all things related to snow and ice clearing plus much more. Find out if a snow route parking ban is in effect, report a concern to 311, and read our snow clearing FAQs. On this page, you’ll also find information about pathway snow clearing and the Snow Angels shovelling program.

Snow and Ice Clearing Update Page
During a snow event, this page is updated daily at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Located at the top of our Calgary.ca/snow landing page, this is one of the best resources for snow and ice updates.

Calgary.ca/Winter
Explore what the City has to offer during winter! Learn about how to stay safe and keep active after the snow falls. The “Getting Around” button will link you to transit updates, winter driving tips, cycle track information, and a list of the City’s helpful apps.

Transit App
Planning your trip when the snow falls is easy with the City of Calgary Transit App. Stay on top of weather-related changes and look at route maps from your smartphone. The app is available for iOS and Android.

Calgary HandiBus now on Calgary Transit team

This week, we're celebrating a history-making moment by welcoming Calgary HandiBus to the Calgary Transit team.

The transition has been in the works since an independent study found that the HandiBus funding model was no longer viable as accessible transportation continues to grow.

Earlier this year, The City and ATU Local 583 agreed to have Calgary Transit take on the operations for accessible transit service previously provided by HandiBus for the past 40 years.

"We're excited to have them join our team," said Calgary Transit Director Doug Morgan. "They have customer service skills that we want to take advantage of and there's real benefit in bringing the two services together to learn from each other."

It took a lot of hard work to make the transition smooth, but customers should see no change to the efficient, courteous service they rely on.

"They've been delivering awesome service helping people who need it the most. They make living in Calgary better for many people. They make a big difference," said Doug Morgan.

Calgary Transit’s Clean Team sweeping up success

A new Calgary Transit initiative is making a big difference keeping CTrains clean.

The Calgary Transit Clean Team is made up of City staff who are being transitioned back into a regular work cycle after injury or other absence. These kind folks have a great attitude, enjoy interacting with the public, and help alleviate pressure on the afternoon service lane staff that were getting slammed with trash-filled trains at day’s end.

Calgary Transit Clean Team members Toddie Motta (left) and Garth Miller (right) 

Service lane attendant Toddie Motta took on the daytime train cleaning task in April 2014. She was joined by Garth Miller one year ago. Anderson Garage workers Ambrosia Barbosa, Peter Johansen, Jaspreet Sra and Pauline Watson have also joined.

Armed with canvas shoulder bags, Toddie and Garth ride the 202 line from Oliver Bowen to 69 St. Station going from one train car to the next. They pick up discarded newspapers, litter, and take careful note of stickers, graffiti and other vandalism, such as slashed seats or cigarette burns.

The afternoon sees them ride back to Saddletowne and do it all again.

Their good work is being noticed by customers, said Toddie. “We get compliments all the time. People are handing us papers now, thanking us. It’s amazing what it’s become.”

The workers are also an extra set of eyes and ears: Toddie called control for help when a nanny became separated from two children who got on the train before her. They were reunited with the help of Transit Public Safety staff.

Customers appreciate the extra presence, said Wayne Edwards, fleet coordinator Oliver Bowen. “It is added security for passengers. The customers are happier, the trains are cleaner. It’s a win-win,” he said.

Green Line SE...Demystified!

The City hosted three public workshops from March 10-12 about the Green Line SE Transitway route and development around transit stations. Approximately 400 people participated in the workshops. If you missed these sessions, check out the online survey - available until April 1.

Since the workshops, we’ve been hearing a lot of great questions about the project. Read on for further information about sections of the Green Line route that are currently in discussion.

Council has already approved the Green Line route alignment, so why is The City looking at possible alternate routes?

The plans for the Green Line SE were started in the 1980’s – so when Council approved funding for the Green Line SE in 2013, they asked The City to revisit the plans to make sure they work for Calgary today and in the future.

The project team looked at opportunities for improvement along the route. We focused on identifying areas where the route could be better integrated into communities, and potentially plant the seed for development around transit stations.

What areas of the route are currently up for discussion?

Three locations are currently under review for the Green Line SE route alignment:
• 11 Street S.E. in Ramsay
• Ogden Road
• 24 Street S.E. in Quarry Park

Why do we want to hear from SE Calgary about the three routing options?

We see opportunities to build a more integrated service that accommodates all modes of transportation, serves the community, and encourages liveable neighbourhoods. The alternate routes offer better community access to stations, seamless integration with local streets and sidewalks, and potential for future development. However, we also recognize that we need to consider the trade-off’s in terms of traffic and land impacts. We want to understand how the communities along the Green Line feel about the alternate routes, and where they see issues and opportunities.

Why are we looking at alternate routes in Ramsay?

The current Council-approved Green Line Southeast alignment in Ramsay has a number of challenges, including space constraints between Canadian Pacific Rail (CP) tracks and the neighbouring historical resource buildings. We are currently looking at this option in more detail to determine how/if this route can work within this space.

What opportunities does The City see if the Green Line runs down 11 Street S.E. in Ramsay?

Ramsay is a beautiful character community, and we believe the Transitway can offer a unique chance to extend this quality to 11 Street S.E. One of the City’s tools create more liveable neighbourhoods is the Complete Streets Guide, and the project team sees opportunities to enhance the street by tying into store fronts and businesses, and creating a pleasant and safe environment with green space, upgraded sidewalks, and better connections for pedestrians and cyclists.

Why is The City looking at an alternate route in Ogden?

The current Council approved Green Line SE alignment in Ogden shows the route running parallel to CP land. The Transitway would be on the east side of Ogden Road and would transition to the backside of the community of Ogden, extending from Lynnwood (near CN bridge crossing) through to South Hill. This option works well from a transit speed point-of-view, but misses the opportunity for community building and/or integration with the station.

Similar to the reasoning for an alternate route in Inglewood/Ramsay, we believe that there might be an opportunity to run the Transitway along Odgen Road to provide a more easily accessible station in the heart of the community. We are also looking at a hybrid option which would involve keeping the Green Line next to CP Rail with a station that fronts on Ogden Road. These could also potentially trigger revitalization and further development of Ogden Road

When will the Green Line SE route be finalized?

The route recommendations will be presented to Council in October 2015. The City will report back to communities with the final recommendations in September, prior to meeting with Council. Recommendations will be made based on input from the public, the development community, and The City’s internal groups (Transit, Planning, etc).

Visit calgary.ca/greenline for more information.

Green Line South East Transitway March Workshops

The Green Line Southeast Transitway, a dedicated road that will be used exclusively for public transit, is the newest planned addition to Calgary’s transit network. We are hosting workshops in March to hear your opinions about how the Transitway can be best placed in our communities.

Construction on the first 10 kilometres of the Green Line Southeast Transitway is slated to begin in 2017. The Transitway will eventually run for 26 kilometres, from 4 Street downtown to the community of Seton.

Participants for March Workshops Needed

The workshops taking place from March 10-12 will present possible alternate routes and discuss the opportunities, benefits and impacts of the Transitway to each community. This is your opportunity to have a sit-down discussion with the project team, discuss the route options, ask questions and identify issues.

There are three specific areas where The City is looking at making route refinements, including 11 Street SE, Ogden Road, and 24 Street SE.

Location	Date/Time
Glenmore Inn – 2720 Glenmore Tr SE	Tuesday, March 10. Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.
Cranston Century Hall – 11 Cranarch Rd SE	Wednesday, March 11. Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.
Venue 1008 – Inglewood 1008, 14th St SE Access from 14th St, off 9 Ave	Thursday, March 12 Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.

The feedback collected at the sessions will be one of the factors used to help inform the recommendations for the final Green Line SE route.

Recap of January Public Information Sessions

In January, we hosted three Public Information Sessions to reintroducing the Green Line Southeast Transitway project. Over 600 people attended the sessions and overall, public reception was positive. Enthusiasm was strong for the project to move forward and citizens expressed a distinct desire for low-profile stations that could be functional in Calgary’s ever-changing weather. Many attendees also expressed that route accessibility for surrounding communities was a top priority.

For more information, visit us at www.calgary.ca/greenline and follow us on Twitter at @yyctransport, #GreenLineSE.

Curious about the Cordon Count?

For the first time, The City of Calgary is releasing the information collected in the Central Business District (CBD) cordon count. Every May, The City of Calgary conducts a cordon count which collects data on how people travel into and out of downtown Calgary. This helps us understand how people are travelling now and how they will likely travel in the future, so we can better plan Calgary’s transportation system.


The 2014 data gives us a breakdown of how many people are driving, walking, biking or using transit.

Over time, the data has shown that less people are travelling into and out of downtown by car, and more people are using transit, walking, or biking.

Transportation Data counts all pedestrians, bicyclists, transit passengers, and vehicle drivers and passengers, entering and exiting the downtown area. Data from the downtown area is used to examine changes in the transportation mode split and to monitor the goals set out in the Calgary Transportation Plan.

The cordon count:

• Tells us how many people are walking, biking, using transit or driving vehicles
• Helps us monitor how the existing road system and transit facilities are used, and the impact of growth on these facilities
• Identifies emerging travel trends
• Assesses the need for new infrastructure
• Allows us to develop policies towards more sustainable transportation options

How the Data is Collected
The cordon count is performed at about 30 locations around the CBD over a three week time period. Data collectors are positioned at each cordon crossing location from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and they count every single person entering or exiting the downtown and how they were travelling; whether on foot, by bicycle, on a C-Train or bus, as a passenger in a car or as the driver of car.

Each location is counted on only one day per year and numbers can be impacted by weather or events happening in the area. However, because it takes three weeks to count the entire cordon, the weather and community activity averages out to provide a more accurate understanding of downtown travel activity.

Check out numbers of the cordon count to see this year’s travel trends.

Calgary Transit working towards solution with Calgary HandiBus

For the past decade, Calgary Transit and Calgary HandiBus have worked closely together to provide accessible transportation to the Calgary community. Recently, Calgary HandiBus informed Calgary Transit that they will be ceasing bus operations sometime in 2015; however, work has already begun to ensure service for people with disabilities is not impacted.

Calgary HandiBus has been providing transportation for Calgary’s disabled community through Access Calgary — a division of Calgary Transit that manages eligibility, booking, scheduling and dispatching of shared-ride accessible transportation. Calgary HandiBus is one of four service providers Access Calgary uses to provide trips for those with disabilities.


Recently, an independent sustainability study commissioned by Calgary HandiBus found the accessible transportation market in Calgary has been evolving and more options for travel are available for the special needs community, including on Calgary Transit buses and CTrains, which are now more accessible.

The study’s main finding was the HandiBus business model simply isn’t sustainable any longer as costs continue to climb rapidly. HandiBus hasn’t determined a specific date to stop operating its buses, but has committed to giving Access Calgary adequate time to make the changes necessary to accommodate customers.

While many details have yet to be worked out, Calgary Transit and Calgary HandiBus are working together to ensure the transportation needs of the disabled community will be well served.

Calgary HandiBus intends to continue as a not-for-profit organization which will advocate for the disabled community and continue to raise money to buy vehicles for organizations that provide special needs transportation, including Access Calgary.

Calgary Transit launches new and improved website

Calgary Transit launched a new and improved website today featuring real time bus information and vastly improved trip planning functionality.

New features include:

• Real-time bus information - enter a bus stop number to view bus locations
• Teletext and Teleride in real time
• A responsive design that adapts to any screen size, including smartphone, tablet or desktop computer
• A new trip planner that uses Google Maps, as well as an optional advanced trip planner that uses Calgary Transit software
• Site content available in multiple languages

Advances in technology have raised our customers’ expectations and the new website plays a key role in closing the gap between those expectations and the services we provide. We look forward to continuously improving service and the overall experience for all Calgary Transit customers.

Tuscany Station exceeds ridership estimates

Calgary's newest CTrain station is exceeding expectations in terms of ridership only a few months after opening.

Tuscany Station officially opened for service on Aug. 25, 2014. A passenger count in mid-September showed the new station is serving around 11,000 weekday customers, which exceeds the original estimate of 9,000 weekday customers.

A high percentage of customers are also getting to the station by taking the bus, walking, cycling or being dropped off. The roughly 40,000 residents in the communities of Tuscany, Royal Oak and Rocky Ridge have, at most, a 30-minute walk or 15-minute cycle time to the station. Below is a breakdown of the various modes of transportation customers are using to get to Tuscany Station:

• 36% bus
• 36% auto (26% drop off, 10 % Park and Ride)
• 25% walk
• 3% cycle

The recent survey also found that, among the 620 respondents, around 10% of customers using Tuscany Station are new transit users who previously made their trip using a car.

The customer survey also found 88% of customers reported that Tuscany Station has improved their transit travel experience, and 81% of respondents rated the bus service to the station as good or excellent.

To find out more about Tuscany Station, visit www.calgarytransit.com