Calgary Transit

From Calgarypedia

1 Overview
2 History
3 Transit Buses and Shuttles
4 C-Train Light Rail System
5 Park 'N' Ride
6 External Links

Overview

Calgary Transit is the public transportation company in Calgary, which operates both the transit bus system and the C-Train, Calgary's light rail transit system. The bus routes reach practically every neighborhood in Calgary, while the train lines service communities in the inner city, downtown, northwest (via Crowchild Trail), southeast (via Macleod Trail) and northeast (via 36 Street NE). In a 2007 survey of Calgary transit users, Calgary Transit scored 7.9 out of 10 in the survey for service quality, satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, 21% of those surveyed noted an increase in transit use over the past year. This may be due to the increasing cost of gasoline and the increased emphasis on environmental issues.¹

History

Calgary Transit began in 1909 with the introduction of the Calgary Municipal Railway, a system of 12 electric street cars servicing a population of 30,000. The Calgary Transit System subsequently expanded in 1918 with the addition of limited stop service to outlying communities. Service continued through the Great Depression in the 1930s, while other cities' transit systems were forced to shut down. Street cars were eventually phased out in the 1940s and replaced with motor buses and electric trolley cars. The last street car taken out of service can be seen parked at Heritage Park in southeast Calgary. Calgary's light rail system, the C-Train, began in 1978 and has expanded several times since. The most recent expansions were the addition of the Somerset/Bridlewood station in the southwest in 2004 and the McKnight-Westwinds station in the northeast in 2007. Currently, there are plans for a new line of the C-Train that extends to the northwest portion of Calgary, an area currently served only by bus routes.

Transit Buses and Shuttles

Calgary Transit operates an extensive system of transit buses and shuttles that service nearly every neighborhood in the city. It incorporates 160 bus routes with around 830 buses and shuttles on the road. Over half are low-floor buses, which accommodate passengers with physical disabilities, mothers with strollers and other mobility limitations. In preparation for the expansion of the light rail system, Calgary Transit began offering some bus rapid transit lines in 2004, using articulated buses that make limited stops and run from the outer suburbs into the downtown core. From most neighborhoods, it is common for commuters to take a bus to the closest LRT station and then the train into downtown. Regular transit fare is $2.75. A ten-pack is available for $24 citywide at 7-Eleven, Mac's, Safeway, Coop and some smaller stores in downtown. Monthly passes are also available for $85.25 for adults and $52.50 for youth. Students of many of the post-secondary institutions in the city can take part in the Universal Pass (UPass) program, where the cost of the transit pass is incorporated into their tuition for a nominal fee.

C-Train Light Rail System

Calgary's light rail system runs on two lines, all of which converge downtown on 7th Avenue. Riding the C-Train along the 14 blocks of 7th Avenue downtown is free; otherwise, fares are the same as the bus (see above for rates). Line 201 runs from the far northwest at Crowfoot station, through downtown along 7th Avenue to the far southeast, ending at Somerset/Bridlewood station. Line 202 runs from the far northeast at McKnight/Westwinds station, through downtown, ending at the 10th Avenue station downtown.

The LRT is about to be extended in three directions:

the 201 NW-LRT will get one more station by 2014
the 202 NE-LRT will get two more station by 2012
the 202 W-LRT will be extended to 69th Street SW by December 2012

Park 'N' Ride

Calgary Transit offers P&R parking for $3 a day at many of the LRT stations across the city, and some bus stations as well. This allows commuters to drive their vehicles only a short distance and board the train or a bus.