Calgarians can continue to ride the CTrain downtown for free for at least another year after city council voted Tuesday to defer a decision on the service's fate until 2027. The council voted 9-6 in favor of an amended motion to delay the vote until Calgary Transit's ongoing fare strategy review is completed in early 2027.
Council Divided Over Free Fare Zone
Originally, the council was set to decide whether to eliminate or maintain the downtown free fare zone. However, after a lengthy and contentious debate, they opted for a deferral. Council also voted 8-7 to continue consulting downtown stakeholders on the issue, and 10-5 to pursue a new corporate sponsor for the free fare zone following TD Canada's early termination of its naming rights agreement.
Criticism of the Delay
Some council members expressed frustration with the decision. Ward 11 Coun. Rob Ward called it “insanity” to keep amending the motion, while Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot described it as “Groundhog day,” noting that stakeholder engagement had already been completed. “At some point, we have to decide whether we want to give our enforcement officers the tools to make our system safer,” Chabot said.
Councillors who supported the deferral included Landon Johnston, Nathaniel Schmidt, John Pantazopoulos, Andrew Yule, Mike Jamieson, Kim Tyers, Andre Chabot, Jennifer Wyness, and Dan McLean. Schmidt argued that continued work could lead to a better outcome for the city.
Rationale for Change
Calgary Transit has advocated for eliminating the free fare zone, citing challenges in enforcing fare compliance and contributing to public safety concerns. A recent review suggested that ending the zone could increase transit revenues by up to $5 million per year, which could support cost recovery and enhance safety along the LRT network—a major concern among Calgarians.
