Several commuters outside of Calgary rely on regional transit options to bring them into the city — but as communities look for solutions, municipalities say cost remains a barrier.
Southland’s On-It Regional recently announced that after nearly a decade of serving the community, they will discontinue the Okotoks Commuter, which brings residents from Okotoks to downtown Calgary. The last day of service is scheduled for May 29.
“The closure of the service is due to an aging fleet with no cost‑effective replacement options. Combined with significantly higher operating costs in recent years, this service model is no longer sustainable,” the announcement read. Unused tickets will be refunded between June 1 and June 12.
Southland’s decision to end the regional transit impacts residents who access work and education opportunities in Calgary, said Town of Okotoks spokesperson Marni Hutchinson.
“In 2017, the Town participated in a pilot for commuter transit service … and the pilot ended due to underutilized services and a high cost per rider,” Hutchinson said. “At that time, the decision was made to focus on providing a local transit service within Okotoks. This is the current Okotoks Transit model in operation today. Our current focus remains on addressing the high demand for in‑town trips, through our fixed and on-demand transit options.”
Hutchinson said the opportunity could lead to a new transportation provider to step in and offer their services. “The Town is continuing to monitor developments and will share information with residents, should new options become available,” she said. “Council could consider directing a review to determine whether this is a new line of business the Town should consider.”
Funding for transit, operating and capital remains a challenge for municipalities. “Municipalities need a commitment from higher levels of government to support sustainable communities,” Hutchinson said.
In Chestermere, residents rely on either the Rocky View Handi Bus or the Calgary Transit MAX Purple extension. Chestermere Mayor Shannon Dean said they first engaged with the MAX Purple in 2021, and it was originally designed as a pilot program as a means to bring Chestermere residents to and from Calgary.
“We have an agreement with the City of Calgary with regards to the MAX Purple, and that agreement is reviewed on an ongoing basis,” Dean said. “We’re in the process of actually doing that again right now.” In 2025, the MAX Purple extension completed approximately 16,665 trips.
An examination of Chestermere’s transit feasibility study in its 2026 budget resulted in two motions.
