As Calgary Transit prepares for the introduction of BRT services, officially slated for next Monday, Calgarians need to know how changes will affect them. Though many perceive transit to be cutting down on community service while making access to major destinations worse, the truth is that the new network will actually improve travel times and frequency for most Calgarians. The new BRT routes will also mark a major improvement to crosstown connectivity.

In this article, we want to tell you about key information regarding service changes (beyond what is indicated by Calgary Transit). Who will benefit, who will lose, and what to expect on November 19th are all included. We have gone through all of the routes being replaced and compared them to the Calgary Transit proposed alternatives. For your viewing pleasure, we have organized our review in a quadrant-by-quadrant fashion so you can skip ahead to the quadrant you live in, and with a review of crosstown routes listed in bold (1, 9, 19, 20, 23, 38, 43, 68, 90, 302, and MAX Teal, Purple and Orange) for routes travelling through multiple quadrants. Routes that have been retired are listed at the end of each section (crosstown removals include routes 58, 66, 72, 73, 176, 181 and 182). All routes include a review of frequency, a brief description of changes, and any details we felt were important to riders.

There are also images for routes with major changes. For routes which mostly or entirely duplicate old routes, we have excluded images to reduce the size of this webpage (it is already quite large as it is). All images are from Calgary Transit and the originals can be found here.

Use the command-F, control-F, or the “Find on page” function for iPhone users (appears after selecting the box with the arrow pointing up in Safari) to search for your specific route.

NW Quadrant

8: Foothills Medical Centre-North Pointe

Frequency: Same (5-10 peak/20-30 off-peak)

This route will be extended south to the Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children’s Hospital. Though this will provide a huge amount of additional service to the Foothills Medical Centre (due to 5 minute peak frequency), we caution current users to be weary of overcrowding given the already crowded state of this route due to destinations south of John Laurie Boulevard.

Important Notes: The route will serve Foothills Medical Centre via Hospital Drive, stopping at the existing route 91 and 40 location in front of the blue parkade. Be weary of overcrowding and report it to Calgary Transit (this could lead to additional frequency, or extended hours on route 82).

31:Dalhousie-Lions Park

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

This route is being extended from it’s current terminus at the U of C to Lions Park. It will cover the gap left by the removal of route 19 in this corridor with more frequent service. Should be of benefit for current users of the route 31 and possibly a loss for users of route 19 (with an additional transfer, tempered by improved frequency). The route will also replace the southern portion of route 91 for current users near the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Those users should see an improvement in travel time.

Important notes: The route now serves Lions Park station.

91:Foothills Medical Centre-Lions Park

Frequency: Reduced peak, improved off-peak (20 minutes peak and off-peak)

Though initially slated for removal, the southern portion of the route between the Foothills Medical Centre and Lions Park will be retained and staggered with the route 40 to provide service to the Red Line. The northern portion of the route is enhanced with the introduction of routes 8 and 31, providing improved and equal frequency respectively. In fact, for the retained route, service between Lions Park and the Foothills Medical Centre should improve, due to staggering with the route 40, providing variable 5-20 minute corridor-wide frequency at all times of day.

Important notes: The route will no longer serve stops north of the Foothills Medical Centre. Route 8 will serve as a (much more frequent) replacement.

104: U of C-Sunnyside

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

This route is being extended to also service the U of C. The extension should be beneficial for students commuting to and from the Hillhurst/Sunnyside area going to the U of C. We caution to watch for overcrowding on buses travelling southbound from the U of C to the Foothills Medical Centre.

Important notes: The route now serves the U of C. Watch for overcrowding on southbound buses.

Deleted Routes: No local routes have been removed from the NW quadrant.

NE Quadrant

No local service will be altered, as the majority of new services being introduced are crosstown services. Route 95 will be retired, but will be replaced by the further-reaching route 43. Frequency should not be impacted.

Route 25 is also being eliminated, but is replaced in it’s northern portion by the new route 38, now offering two-way service. The southern portion of former route 25/38 is being replaced by route 57, offering new destinations in the Airport Industrial park, and will represent a slight improvement in frequency from 17 minutes at peak to 15 minutes at peak. As will be mentioned later, for users along Temple Dr. NE, frequency will greatly improve, with service going from 17 minutes at peak to 12 minutes at peak. Off-peak frequency remain the same.

Deleted routes: Route 25 and 95.

SE Quadrant

Route 24: Ogden

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

The route 24 will be substantially altered south of 66th Ave. SE. From 66th Ave. SE, the route will travel straight down 18th St. SE to Quarry Park, and will do a loop before heading back towards downtown. For users in Quarry Park and Ogden, the route should be substantially faster coming from downtown. The route will no longer service anywhere south of Quarry Park, including Douglas Glen, and Foothills Industrial. Service to Douglas Glen is being replaced by the Max Teal line, and route 302. Service will no longer be provided by ANY route along Shepard Road, and service in the Foothills Industrial is being replaced by route 150.

For users of the northern portion of route 24, and residents of Ogden, transit service will substantially improve, with longer service hours, and a faster route downtown. For users in the Foothills Industrial, service is decreasing slightly, with the introduction of a new route offering slightly lower frequency (route 150). For users in the Shepard area, service is being lost, as no transit service will be provided along Shepard Road.

Important notes: There will be no service provided by route 24 south of Quarry Park, and a removal of service on Shepard Road. The route now serves 18th St. SE.

Route 58: Erin Woods

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

Replacing the route 57 in Erin Woods, the route travels along a much different route north of Erin Woods, travelling via 44th St. SE rather than 36th St. SE and Southview. For residents of Erin Woods and along 44th St. SE, the new route should offer improved travel time to Marlborough Station. Service in Southview and on 36th St. SE is replaced by routes 155 and 43 respectively. All three routes will intersect with Max Purple stations, offering service from downtown to 17th Avenue. SE.

Route 87: Marlborough-Applewood

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

Replacing much of route 45 within Applewood, the route will retain local stop service along 17th Avenue. This means it will NOT operate in the transitway. The routing has changed to cover all of 17th Avenue. SE from 36th St. SE. to 68th St. SE. Service on 14th Ave. SE is now provided by route 155.

Important notes: Route will NOT operate in the transitway and no longer serves 14th Ave. SE.

Route 135: Erin Woods

Frequency: New (15 peak)

This route will be a supplemental, rush-hour only service replacing the southern portion of route 57. It will also take service off 33rd St. SE and 26th Ave. SE. This change will result in more direct rush-hour trips to Erin Woods, at the expense of users along 33rd St. SE and 26th Ave. SE. For residents of Erin Woods, multiple trips to Marlborough LRT station will be made at rush hour, via routes 58 and 135, resulting in a very high frequency. For users of the former route 57 from the Airport Industrial to Erin Woods or along 36 St. SE, the change is service will likely be a loss, with more transfers required to access route 57 from the airport. Riders will now need to access the Blue Line via Marlborough Station, and need to head north to Whitehorn. Though route 135 will be faster than the route 58 from Marlborough to Erin Woods, it will only operate at peak times.

Important Notes: This route operates only a peak times, between Marlborough and Erin Woods.

Route 155: West Dover-Forest Lawn

Frequency: Worse (23 peak/35 off-peak)

Certainly a coverage-based route, this service replaces the western portion of route 26. The route will no longer serve 16th Ave. SE, instead serving one block south, along 17th Ave. SE. This allows for connections with the Max Purple line. The route will loop around Dover in a similar fashion to route 26 today, and will loop around Ernest Morrow Jr. high school. Users of the eastern portion of the route, east of 36th St. SE should use the route 57, providing replacement service.

Important notes: The eastern portion of the route has been given to route 58. Service shifted from 16th Ave. SE to 17th Ave. SE.

Deleted Routes: Routes 26, 45, 50, 51, 125, 126, 136, and 409.

Route 26: Dover

Route 26 has been replaced by route 58 and route 155 (see above for more information). Users being served by route 155 will see a decrease in service, with frequency dropping from 15 minutes at peak to 23 minutes, and from 30 minutes at peak to 33 minutes. Users now served by route 58 should see no changes. Route reliability should improve, with congested road sections now split up between the replacement routes. It will be interesting to see how signalling for roads crossing the 17th Ave. transitway will alter travel time.

Route 45: Abbeydale/Applewood

This route is being replaced by a combination of route 67 for the most part, and by route 42/49 along 8 Ave. SE. Service should improve along 17th Ave. SE due to the introduction of the transitway. Service frequency remains the same on replacement routes.

Route 50/51: Forest Heights

This route is being replaced by a combination of routes 42/49, 127, and 155. Service is being lost on 14th Ave. SE with the exception of the route 155 loop. Service frequency will remain the same on Penbrooke Dr. and along 8th Ave. SE. For former users along 14th Ave. SE, higher-frequency alternatives now exist two blocks south, at 17th Ave. SE, and two blocks north, on 8th St. SE. Frequency will drop for users along Maryvale Dr. from 15 minutes to 30 minutes at peak. Please check the maps above for more details.

Route 125: Erin Woods Express

Route 125 has been split into the new route 135, Blue Line, and MAX Purple. MAX Purple in combination with route 135 will provide faster, more frequent service, but will require a transfer to the transitway. This will be a loss in terms of directness of service for former users, but there will also be an increase in trip frequency.

Route 126: Applewood Express

Route 126 is replaced by route 87 and MAX Purple/Route 1. Route 87 provides similar all-day frequency when compared to route 126, and MAX Purple/Route 1 will provide more frequent, faster service into downtown. Again, riders will lose a direct connection in exchange for higher frequency (and thus the freedom to make trips at additional times of day).

Route 136: Riverbend

Route 136 (peak-only service) has been replaced by routes 24, MAX Teal, and the existing 41 and 36. Route 409 has been replaced by new routes in the SE industrial area. Continue below to “SE Industrial Routes” for more information.

SE Industrial Routes:

Please note the following 4 routes are intended to replace portions of the former route 409 and southern portion of route 23. All four should offer much more direct service than the former routes. Please go here to view the routes.

Route 147: Starfield

Frequency: New (30 peak/off-peak)

This route provides new service along 50th Ave. SE and will greatly improve travel time for users along 50th Ave. SE accessing the Red Line. The route will connect to 39th Ave. station. The route also provides additional service along 42nd. Ave. SE and Highfield Blvd. Please note no service is provided after 6PM on weekdays, and no service is provided on weekends.

For current users of the route 23, this route will provided mixed benefits, offering substantially lower peak frequency and overall service hours, while halving journey times.

Important notes: No service after 6PM, and no service on weekends.

Route 148: Great Plains

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

Replacing the former routes 23 and 409 in the Foothills Industrial, the route will travel directly via Glenmore Tr. to the industrial area, providing a strong connection to the Red Line.

Important notes: None.

Route 149: Point Trotter

Frequency: New (25 peak/45 off-peak)

A new service to Point Trotter while also replacing some of route 409, this route will service the South Hill transit hub where users can transfer to the route 148 to access the Red Line, 302 to access Downtown or SE Calgary, or route 43, to access NE Calgary. The route will serve a one-way loop around 90th Ave. SE, 60th St. SE, and 80th Ave. SE. This will add 10 minutes to inbound trips.

Important notes: A one-way loop is served inbound, along 90th Ave. SE, 60th St. SE, and 80th Ave. SE.

Route 150: 114th Avenue SE

Frequency: Improved (22 peak/30 off-peak)

As the name suggests, the route provides service along 114th Ave. SE to the Dufferin Industrial Park. The route serves Anderson LRT station and Douglas Glen transit terminal. For users of the old route 23, this route should offer improved travel times, travelling directly from 106th Ave. SE to Anderson Rd. For other users, the route duplicates the former route 409. The new route offers improved frequency over route 409, but offers less service hours (service ends at 7PM weekdays, and 6PM weekends).

Important notes: None.

East Central:

42/49: Marlborough-Forest Heights

Frequency: Same (10 peak/20-30 off-peak)

For the most part, this route replaces the former route 50/51. However the route will no longer serve Madigan Drive between Memorial Drive and 8th Ave. NE. The route will instead travel into Abbeydale, replacing a portion of the route 45, via Memorial Dr. One-way service will be provided by each route on Abbotford and Abbeydale Drive (see the map for details). Residents of Abbeydale should benefit from improved rush-hour frequency. Riders travelling between 8th Ave. NE and Penbrooke Dr. may experience longer commutes, however this number is expected to be minimal. Former users along Madigan Dr. NE should now use route 127 or route 67 (Memorial Drive).

Important Notes: Service now provided on Abbeydale Dr. and Abbotsford Dr. Service is no longer provided on Madigan Dr. Routes 42 and 49 continue to operate in the same directions as previously.

67: Memorial Drive

Frequency: Same (15 peak/30 off-peak)

This route will replace much of route 45, but will loop around 4 St. NE instead of Abbosford Dr. For service on Abbotsford Dr, please refer to route 42/49. Service is provided along Memorial Drive.

Important notes: New route loops around 4th St. NE instead of Abbotsford Dr. (see map).

127: Maryvale-Marlborough-Franklin

Frequency: Decreased for users along Maryvale Dr./4th Ave. NE, same for users in Franklin Industrial (30 peak/35 off-peak)

Changes to this route are an extension of route 127 to cover the northern portion of the former route 50/51. For former users of the route 50/51 along Maryvale Dr. NE and 4th Ave. NE, the new route will represent a large decrease in service, with buses arriving every 30 minutes at peak, and every 35 minutes off-peak. Service will also end at 9 PM compared to the current 12 AM. For users of the former route 127, no changes should be observed, with frequency and trip times remaining the same. Routes 67 and 42/49 will continue to operate until 12 AM on adjacent roads.

Important notes: The route is being extended along Maryvale Dr. NE and 4th Ave. NE. Frequency is dropping for residents of those areas.

SW Quadrant

Aside from changes to crosstown routes including routes 9, 20, 43, 72, 73, and Max Teal, the SW quadrant will see no changes to local routing. Stay posted for changes to the network in 2019 when a service review of the quadrant is completed for the introduction of the SW BRT. If you would like to have early input in this process, contact your community leaders.

Crosstown routes

BRT:

Without a doubt, the introduction of the BRT is the most important, yet most disappointing aspect of the 2018 transit service review. Though the new service will certainly add to the commuting experience for residents in all quadrants, service will be underdelivered on all routes from what was initially promised, and service fails to meet base transit service frequency (15 minutes during peak and 30 minutes off-peak) on the Max Orange and Max Teal lines. The Max Purple line is more impressive, with base transit service met, and, in combination with the route 1, which will operate in the median transitway, will provide serve every 4 minutes at rush-hour and every 10 minutes outside of rush-hour for much of the day.

MAX Purple:

Frequency: New (12 peak/20 off-peak)

The route will operate from East Hills to 1st St. SW in downtown. The route will operate in the transitway for much of it’s journey, ensuring reliability. Journey time during the PM rush-hour is estimated to be 27 minutes. This is comparable to an estimated 24 minute-60 minute drive time along the same corridor. This route should be a huge improvement to riders. Stations are heated and contain real-time information, and when combined with route 1, there is LRT-like frequency on the transitway from downtown to 52nd St. SE.

MAX Orange:

Frequency: New (16 peak/25-30 off-peak)

This route will connect Brentwood, the Foothills Medical Centre, Rundle LRT station, and Saddletowne LRT station. Estimated trip time during the PM rush-hour is estimated to be 46 minutes from Brentwood to Rundle, and 66 minutes from Brentwood to Saddletowne. This is comparable to a 30-60 minute drive time along the same corridor. The LRT between Brentwood and Rundle is estimated to take 39 minutes. Our take? If you don’t need to transfer to the LRT… The route is faster than the LRT (to go from Rundle to the Foothills Medical Centre, for example).

MAX Teal:

Frequency: Improved (from rte 306) (18 peak/25 off-peak)

This route will connect Westbrook LRT station, MRU, Heritage LRT Station, Heritage Meadows, and the Douglas Glen transit centre. Travel time from Westbrook to Heritage is estimated to be 34 minutes during the PM rush-hour and 59 minutes for the entire journey. By comparison, the LRT journey time from Westbrook to Heritage will be 32 minutes. We expect the Max Teal travel time to improve over LRT once the SW Transitway becomes operational in 2019. This route is slightly disappointing in it’s current form, but is an improvement over the former route 306. Hopefully additional improvements will come with the SW BRT.

Regular Crosstown Bus Routes:

New or Modified Routes:

1: Bowness-Penbrooke

Frequency: Same (12 peak/20-30 off-peak)

Changes to this route should be beneficial to most riders. The route reliability and travel time should improve with the introduction of the SE transitway, and movement off of the 7th Avenue corridor. Frequency between downtown and 17th Ave. SE will also improve with the MAX Purple line duplicating service. This will allow for increased train capacity along that route and better coverage of the downtown core. On 17th Ave. SE, the route will only stop at 26th St. SE, 33rd St. SE, 36th St. SE, and 44th St. SE. The route 87 will be available for individuals hoping for service closer to their destinations.

Important notes: No local coverage along 17th Ave. SE by this route. The route will no longer travel via 7th Ave. (see map below).

9: Dalhousie-Chinook

Frequency: Improved (12 peak/20-25 off-peak)

Changes to this route should be beneficial for most current riders of the route 9 and riders of the route 72/73 between Brentwood and Chinook. The route will be extended from the Foothills Medical Centre to Chinook along the current route 72/73 routing south of the river. North of the river, the route will serve the Foothills Medical Centre via 29th St. Frequency will also improve to 12 minutes during peak and 20 minutes off-peak. Though the new route misses several important destination, including the Alberta Children’s Hospital and Kensington Rd. when compared to the old route 72/73, most riders will benefit from trip time saving along the core portion of the route, and from the new connection between Westbrook and the Foothills Medical Centre. For riders who formally took the route 72/73 beyond Brentwood or Chinook stations, you will now be required to transfer to routes 38 or 43.

19: 16th Ave. North

Frequency: Same (20 peak/30 off-peak)

Changes to this route will be negative for current riders, but should be tempered by the addition of the Max Orange line along the majority of the route. Service frequency will be 20 minutes during peak and 30 minutes off-peak, representing little change. The route will also now travel between Lions Park and Rundle LRT station, eliminating the connection from Lions Park to Craigie Hall. This connection can now be made from any point along 16th Avenue, or from Lions Park via routes 31 (the intended replacement for the route 19 section from Lions Park to Craige Hall), the LRT, or Max Orange.

Important notes: The route will no longer serve Craigie Hall or stops west of Lions Park. (See map of extended route 31, above.)

20: 78th Ave-Heritage

Frequency: Decreased (12 peak/20-30 off-peak)

Changes to this route were arguably the most contentious of all routes included in the service review, with feedback appearing overwhelming in opposition of the move from the Foothills Medical Centre. Obviously, for those former users, this removal will be a major drawback. However, for students using the route, it will now be faster travelling between MRU, the U of C, Heritage, and Northmount Dr. Time savings are approximately 10 minutes in each direction by avoiding the Foothills Hospital. Another change less mentioned is the removal of the Brentwood Terminal portion of the route. Access to routes travelling through Brentwood Station can be made via stops in front of EEEL or via stops further south, beside the London Drugs along 32nd Ave. NW. The route will also be taking a hit in frequency, moving from 10 minutes at peak times to 12 minutes at peak. Off-peak frequency will remain the same.

Important notes: The route will no longer service the Brentwood LRT station (transfers can be made at the University LRT station) or the Foothills Medical Centre (recommended transfers are the retained routes 91/40 from Lions Park/Red Line South, or route 9 from Craige Hall).

23: 52nd St. East

Frequency: Same (12 peak/20-30 off-peak)

This route is arguably the biggest non-BRT improvement to the system, and will be a precursor to the 52nd Street BRT envisioned in RouteAhead. With the frequency of a mainline bus route, at 12 minutes during peak times and 20 minutes at off-peak times, the route will span from Saddletowne station to the McKenzie Towne transit terminal. The route will greatly improve upon former route 176, with all-day service at much more frequent rates. Individuals negatively affected by this change will be those who formerly took route 176 directly to their destinations (and even then, those individuals can now arrive and depart all-day, rather than rely on an express bus), or those who used route 23 to access the Red Line. See our review of industrial routes in the SE for alternative options.

Important notes: This route will no longer serve 36th St. or Chinook LRT station. Alternatives are the new route 43.

38: Brentwood-Temple

Frequency: Same (12 peak/20-30 off-peak)

Replacing the northern portion of routes 72/73, this route will run at a similar frequency at 12 minutes during peak times and 20 minutes off-peak. For residents of Temple who formerly used the northern portion of route 38/25, this change will represent an improvement, with frequency boosted and a connection to the U of C, Centre St, and Brentwood LRT station established.

Important notes: None.

43: Chinook-McKnight

Frequency: Same (12 peak/20-30 off-peak)

Replacing the SE portion of routes 72/73, this route will be almost the same with equivalent frequency and an extension just beyond Whitehorn LRT station to Temple and the Westwinds Business Park. This route should represent an improvement for those individuals with improved connections and better frequency compared to current route 38/25 and 95.

Important notes: None.

68: 68 St. East

Frequency: 35 peak-only

A later addition to the service review, this route will be a peak-period only service serving the 68 St. East corridor from Saddletowne to East Hills and the Max Purple line. A logical step, considering the grid-like network existing in other portions of the NE, it appears Calgary Transit couldn’t find the funding to operate it at the same level of frequency as other routes. Nonetheless, with the corridor going from no service to some service, this route also represents a massive benefit to the existing communities.

Important notes: The route will only run from 6-9AM, and from 3-6PM.

90: Bridgeland-U of C

Frequency: Improved (22 peak, 32 off-peak)

Another late addition intended to alleviate the removal of the route 72/73 from the Alberta Children’s Hospital and address a desire for residents of Bridgeland and downtown to have direct access to the Foothills Medical Centre, the new route will be an extension of the current route 90 to service the Foothills Medical Centre, the U of C, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Overall, the route should be of benefit to the community, through it will be slightly less convenient for former users of route 72/73 to transfer to the Blue Line due to a short walk from 12th Ave. SW. to Sunalta. Riders of the old route 9 in the U of C area will be happy to know that there is now a route going from NW Calgary to downtown.

Important notes: A one-way loop will be served north of the Foothills Medical Centre. The route will travel from Downtown to the Foothills Medical Centre, to the U of C, to the Children’s Hospital, and back to the Foothills Medical Centre to downtown. For users of the route at the Foothills Medical Centre, ensure you are boarding the bus in the right direction.

302: SE BRT

Frequency: Same (10 peak/30 off-peak)

The route will be re-routed through Quarry Park to improve travel times for other users of the corridor. A new stop will be located at 24 St. SE and Quarry Park Blvd. This will be a 15-20 minute walk from the current stop. Alternatively, users can transfer to the MAX Teal line at Douglas Glen, or use the route 24 from stops downtown or along Ogden Rd. SE. This will be a loss of service for users in Quarry Park, especially given reduced frequency on MAX Teal, but will be beneficial for users accessing anywhere else along the line.

Important notes: The route will no longer serve Quarry Park via 18 St. SE and will instead serve the area via 24 St. SE

305: Bowness-City Centre BRT

Frequency: Same

The route will no longer serve any stops east of 1st St. SW. The route will also be moved off of 7th Avenue. This is due to replacement by the MAX Purple line. Though the route will no longer be transferless for previous users using the full-length of the route, alternative services will be far more frequent and reliable.

Important notes: Route will no longer travel east of 1st St. SW.

Deleted Routes: Route 66, 72/73, 176, 181, and 182.

66: Blackfoot Express

The removal of this route will likely be a loss for most current users, as no other route will duplicate the express service provided through the route’s use of Blackfoot Trail. However, on each individual portion of the route, service is being improved through the introduction of new, all-day services, particularly on 52nd St. E. Perhaps in the future, modifications to the route 30 can restore an efficient connection for users in the industrial park.

72/73: Circle Route

Perhaps one of the most iconic routes in Calgary, it will be sad to see the Circle Routes go. However, the loss of these routes for the most part, will be of no loss for customers. With the exception of passengers who formerly used the routes to go through the new interchange stations at McKnight, Brentwood, and Chinook, most passengers will benefit from increased reliability and equal frequency on the replacement routes 9, 38, and 43. Accidents on Glenmore Tr. should no longer hold up buses in the NW and NE sections of the route. Notably, in the NW, for former users of the route, the Alberta Children’s Hospital and West Campus are no longer part of the route, with an interchange at the Foothills Medical Centre replacing this change. New routes 8, 90, and MAX Orange should alleviate the removal of the route 72/73 in this area.

176: 52nd Street Express

For the most part, the removal of this route will be of no loss, with the new route 23 duplicating much of the route and providing all-day, frequent service. Former users who benefited from door to door service in the south will be disadvantaged by either increased walks or increased transfers, however for much of that portion along 114th Avenue SE, the new route 150 will provide all-day service and a connection to the Red Line.

181: MRU North Express

The effects of the removal of route 181 should be minimal, with duplicate, all-day service provided via the modified route 20, which will connect students at MRU to the University LRT station where they can transfer to travel on to Dalhousie. Alternatively, students can also use route 9 for a slower, albeit transferless journey. Journey time via route 20 may increase by a couple minutes due to the presence of a time point at the University of Calgary.

182: MRU South Express

The addition of the MAX Teal line will essentially duplicate this route, providing additional all-day trips. Students can transfer at Heritage LRT station for service to Anderson.

Conclusions:

With the exception of a few express bus users, and users who formally benefitted from trips directly from home/work, the expected travel times along the new network will be lower, due to transit’s conversion to a grid-based network and introduction of higher frequency service along future BRT corridors, such as 52nd St. E. Though disappointing in frequency, the new BRT routes will also be a welcome addition to the Primary Transit Network (though frequency doesn’t meet requirements), particularly along International Avenue. They will offer faster, more direct connections from destinations just outside of LRT walking distance, to new destinations, or the LRT itself. Notably, for users of the the former route 20 near the Foothills Hospital, new connections will not be as direct, typically requiring one transfer. However, travel time should not change substantially. For other users, service should improve with the introduction of several new mainline routes to the Foothills Medical Centre. The loss of the iconic route 72/73 is well mitigated by new routes, all of which offer improved service frequencies.

We hope this article was helpful for you in highlighting changes to your route. For more official communication regarding changes, go to www.calgarytransit.com. Thanks for reading!