Calgary City Council Proposes Transit Policy Reviews
Calgary city councillors are pushing for significant changes to the city's public transit system, with two key motions set for discussion at the executive committee meeting on Tuesday. The proposals focus on extending transfer periods and conducting a thorough review of the downtown free fare zone.
Extending Transfer Times for Commuters
The first motion seeks to extend public transit transfer periods by an additional 30 minutes, potentially increasing the current transfer window to two hours. This change would provide greater flexibility for transit users who need to make multiple stops or connections during their journeys.
This extension could significantly improve the commuting experience for daily riders, particularly those who use transit for shopping, appointments, or other errands that require multiple stops within a single trip.
Comprehensive Free Fare Zone Review
The second motion, co-sponsored by Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Yule and Ward 6 Councillor John Pantazopoulos, calls for an extensive analysis of the downtown free fare zone along Seventh Avenue. This review would examine multiple aspects of the long-standing policy.
The motion requests that city officials investigate:
- Financial impacts on transit revenue and operations
- Effects on CTrain ridership patterns and overall usage
- Fare compliance rates and enforcement challenges
- Passenger safety considerations throughout the free zone
- Impacts on downtown vehicular traffic and congestion
Background and Council Perspectives
The push for review follows December 2026 budget deliberations, where council narrowly defeated an amendment from Ward 10 Councillor Andre Chabot to eliminate the free fare zone. The vote resulted in a 7-8 decision against scrapping the program.
"We put our minds together and thought we needed a fulsome report on the free fare zone – what could look different, what needs to be done, what feedback and what organizations are really affected by this?" explained Councillor Yule.
Despite having voted differently on Chabot's amendment, Yule and Pantazopoulos collaborated on the current motion, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data before making any permanent decisions about the fare zone's future.
Historical Context and Current Status
Calgary's free fare zone has been a fixture of the transit system since the LRT began operations in 1981. Even before the CTrain's introduction, a local bus route offered free boarding along Seventh Avenue dating back to the 1960s.
The current free fare zone allows Blue and Red Line passengers to board without payment between City Hall/Bow Valley College station and Downtown West/Kirby station. TD Canada previously sponsored the zone before terminating its naming rights contract with the city last fall.
Consultation and Alternative Approaches
The motion specifically requests consultation with downtown stakeholders and transit users to gather diverse perspectives on the free fare zone's impacts. Additionally, it asks city officials to present viable alternatives to the current structure.
Potential alternatives could include:
- Modified fare programs targeting specific user groups
- Incentive-based approaches to increase transit usage
- Hybrid models that maintain some free access while generating revenue
- Programs designed to benefit downtown commuters, tourists, and event attendees
Councillor Yule emphasized the importance of data-driven decision making, stating, "Ultimately, as a new council, we want to be that data-driven council and this is one of the ways for us to have the proper information to make decisions on major changes to those legacy pieces we have in our city."
The councillor remains open to persuasion based on the review's findings, acknowledging that the data might support maintaining, modifying, or eliminating the free fare zone entirely.
