As one of Canada's largest municipalities, Calgary needs a reliable and extensive transit system to serve the city's downtown core and suburbs. Like many other Canadian cities experiencing tremendous growth, Calgary is heavily investing in several major transit projects designed to move people quickly and easily.

Calgary Transit currently operates a two-line light rail (LRT) system dubbed the CTrain, which serves 45 stations across 59 kilometres of track. According to the American Public Transportation Association, the system saw an average of 333,800 unlinked passenger trips per weekday in the first quarter of 2015, making it the busiest light rail transit system in North America. It's also one of the most sustainable. The system is fully powered by renewable wind energy.

Current CTrain system map, image via City of Calgary

The proposed Green Line would add 40 kilometres of track to the existing LRT system, connecting North Pointe in north-central Calgary and Seton in the southeast with the downtown core. Low-floor trains would handle a similar ridership level as the current 780 passengers per three-car train. The Green Line corridor is home to approximately 290,000 Calgarians, a number that is expected to rise to 465,000 by 2043. When complete, the new line would serve about 41 million passengers every year.

Calgary CTrain, image by Flickr user davebloggs007 via Creative Commons

The City of Calgary has dramatically increased its funding for the landmark project, having previously dedicated $52 million CAD per year over a ten-year period. The City will now allocate the same amount of money per year, with an extended time frame of 30 years, bringing the total municipal commitment to $1.56 billion CAD. The project has received funding from several sources, including a $1.53 billion CAD commitment from the federal government, although the new municipal funding is contingent on the provincial government investing the same amount as the city. If the province comes forward with that money, the total collected would be $4.5 billion CAD, which is the approximate cost of the project. The Green Line was originally planned as a phased development over 30 years, beginning as a bus-only transitway which would later be converted to an LRT. The announcement of additional funding could see LRT construction occur earlier than anticipated.

Green Line, image via City of Calgary

Other, more immediate improvements are being done to ease congestion. Calgary Transit purchased 63 new LRT cars and extended the platforms on the Red and Blue Lines to accommodate new four-car trains. The added car would allow capacity to increase by 200 people and service has already begun on the Red Line after a testing period. Plans to extend both lines — the south leg of the Red Line and both ends of the Blue Line — have been proposed, but funding has not yet been secured.

Some bus rapid transit (BRT) routes carrying articulated vehicles are in operation, including a link to the airport, though these routes have generally been viewed as placeholders for future LRT service. There may be a more permanent place for BRT in the future though, as Calgary has approved seven transitway routes to be completed by 2021. The planned Southwest BRT will extend the successful Crowchild Trail dedicated bus lanes and add new bus-only lanes along 14th Street SW.

CTrain tracks on 7 Ave SW, image retrieved from Google Street View

The CTrain system traverses a wide range of cityscapes and terrain, integrated with the street in some locations and running on standalone bridges in others. Its flexibility will be on display as construction of the Calgary Central Library begins. The Snøhetta and DIALOG-designed building will sit atop a portion of CTrain track running through a carved-out section of the structure, allowing train service to continue uninterrupted. The CTrain is the backbone of Calgary's transit network, providing rapid transit to areas where the density to support a subway doesn't exist and where bus service would be inadequate.

A more holistic approach to transit planning provided by Calgary's RouteAhead strategic plan outlines a 30-year vision for expansion, budget, fares, and customer service. It will continue to guide Calgary's transit priorities as the growing city attempts to accommodate the influx of new residents and workers.

Additional information for the Green Line project is available in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Take a look at the associated Forum thread, talk general Calgary transit here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.