The way forward for Calgary Transit’s downtown free-fare zone may very well be beneath the microscope as a pair of metropolis councillors search an in-depth overview into the decades-old initiative.
A notice of motion, drafted by Ward 6 Coun. John Pantazopoulos and Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Yuletide, requires “a complete overview” of the downtown free fare zone, together with the implications of eliminating it.
“The free fare zone got here into pressure again in 1979, when it was only a bus free fare zone. It was a pilot challenge,” Yuletide advised World Information. “It was when bus fare was 15 cents and it ran from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m., and so issues have modified.”
Former Calgary mayor Ralph Klein working the CTrain to commemorate its first day of operations on Might 25, 1981.
World Information
Amongst issues which have modified to warrant a overview, based on the movement, are downtown exercise, transit utilization, security issues and fare compliance.
It says Calgary Transit continues to face challenges associated to public security, fare evasion, ridership and “the potential long-term goal of transitioning towards a closed transit system.”
The movement requires metropolis administration’s overview to incorporate the “operational, monetary, ridership, and security impacts” of reforming the downtown free fare zone, together with the implications of creating the world as a “fare paid zone.”
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“There’s no predetermined end result. On the finish of the day, it is perhaps an growth, it is perhaps a contraction,” Pantazopoulos mentioned. “This, coupled with the fare evaluation the Metropolis of Calgary is conducting, will make sure that we’ve got a greater transit system not solely at the moment however tomorrow and the years forward.”
The movement comes after metropolis council narrowly voted 8-7 in opposition to eliminating the free fare zone throughout price range deliberations in December 2025. That transfer got here simply weeks after TD introduced it was pulling out of its sponsorship of the zone.
Transit officers mentioned on the time that six million Calgarians both begin or finish their journey within the downtown core, and the transfer might generate a further $4 million yearly for Calgary Transit.
Nevertheless, Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming warned that “much less folks will take transit” within the downtown core if the free fare zone is eradicated.
Though Pantazopoulos voted in opposition to the transfer, Yuletide voted in favour of scrapping the free fare zone. On Monday, he advised World Information the movement, for him, is about being “intentional about transit subsidies.”
“We’ve got completely different areas of transit that we’re subsidizing; a giant one is our low-income transit move, and I believe that’s the place we must always actually focus our energies on transit subsidies,” Yuletide mentioned. “We wish to flip over each rock in relation to how we’re financing our transit system.”
Fare income modifications, enforcement and fare compliance, the potential for a tiered or various fare construction, and price implications are amongst among the monetary impacts the movement asks metropolis administration to discover.
It additionally requires engagement with transit customers, together with downtown workers, residents, college students and guests, in addition to metropolis companions, just like the Calgary Downtown Affiliation, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Calgary and Vibrant Communities Calgary.
“Clearly, there shall be a dialog on security and operations, however I believe the individuals who have essentially the most to win or lose goes to be the downtown companies,” mentioned David Cooper, principal at Main Mobility.
A map of Calgary Transit’s downtown free fare zone.
World Information
The free fare zone stretches alongside 7 Avenue via the downtown core between the Downtown West/Kirby station and the Metropolis Corridor/Bow Valley School station.
At $4 per trip, some transit customers consider the free fare zone ought to stay as is.
“This stretch of transit down right here needs to be free so folks can get round without having tickets,” mentioned Craig Cachia, who added that the entry to transit incentivizes folks to return downtown.
“If security would improve, then I’d say it’s undoubtedly value it,” mentioned Aidan Danielewicz, who usually makes use of transit downtown. “As of now, the place I’m paying to get on transit, it doesn’t really feel protected to me.”
The movement shall be launched for a technical overview on the metropolis’s govt committee Tuesday, earlier than a full debate of council later this month.
If it’s accepted, metropolis administration shall be requested to return with suggestions and potential implementation plans by June.
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