Calgary Minute: Issue 364

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• Calgary Transit is exploring potential changes to its fare system that could significantly reshape how riders are charged, including options such as higher prices during peak travel times and distance-based pricing. Under the proposals, fares could increase during rush hours to manage crowding and encourage off-peak travel, though officials acknowledge this could also discourage ridership and increase car use. Another option under consideration is a “tap on, tap off” system similar to other major transit networks, where passengers are charged based on how far they travel. City officials say the goal is to improve efficiency and better match fares with service use, but some councillors argue it could unfairly impact suburban commuters. The ideas are still in the consultation phase, with Calgary Transit planning to gather public feedback before bringing a final strategy to council. At the same time, the agency is dealing with broader funding pressures under its long-term Route Ahead plan, which it says requires significant new investment to keep up with population growth. 
  
  
• Speaking of transit, the Infrastructure and Planning Committee has voted 7-4 to move forward with a recommendation to eliminate the downtown CTrain free fare zone, sending the decision to Council for final approval. The free fare zone, which has operated since 1981 along Seventh Avenue, was originally introduced to encourage transit use but is now under review amid changing safety and financial concerns. City Administration argues that ending the program could improve safety by allowing transit officers to better manage disruptive behaviour and potentially reduce disorder in downtown stations, especially at night. The change could also generate an estimated $5 million in annual revenue, though critics warn it may simply push vulnerable individuals into nearby public spaces rather than address underlying issues. Council will now make the final decision after receiving the committee’s recommendation.
  
  
• The Executive Committee has endorsed a $51-million budget adjustment to support construction of a regional wastewater pipeline to Airdrie, a project aimed at accommodating rapid population growth in both communities. The seven-kilometre Nose Creek Sanitary Trunk extension, led by Airdrie, will replace an aging system and significantly expand sewage capacity, with Calgary contributing 45% of the costs. City officials say the investment will help unlock new housing and development opportunities in northeast Calgary as well as in Airdrie, which has grown by about 25% since 2022. While Calgary’s share of the project is substantial, officials note most of the costs will be recovered through regional wastewater rates and future development levies. The Province has also committed $50 million toward the project. 
  
  
• City officials in Calgary say residents should expect significant traffic disruptions this summer due to a busy road construction season, driven by both infrastructure upgrades and ongoing population growth. Last year, the City managed thousands of construction projects that contributed to widespread congestion, and officials say similar levels of disruption are expected again. To help drivers cope, the City is promoting an upgraded online traffic tool that provides real-time information on road closures, detours, travel times, and traffic camera views. Officials say the system, which has become one of the most visited features on Calgary’s website, is designed to help people plan ahead and reduce frustration during peak construction periods. Behind the scenes, traffic engineers are also adjusting signal timing and coordinating projects to improve flow where possible. The City notes that, while congestion remains high compared to other Canadian cities, Calgary has slightly improved in rankings despite continued growth.
  
  
• A recent report reviewed by Calgary’s Executive Committee found that the City has strong, “gold-standard” public engagement policies, but they are not being consistently followed or enforced in practice. The KPMG-led review concluded that while Calgary’s engagement framework aligns with leading best practices, there is a major gap between policy and implementation, largely due to weak oversight and accountability. It found that responsibility for public engagement is often left to individual City departments, with no centralized monitoring, leading to inconsistent approaches and unclear outcomes for residents. The report recommends structural changes, including strengthening the role of the City’s engagement unit to better ensure that departments follow established rules and standards. Councillors and the Mayor acknowledged that residents often feel unheard, with officials pointing to the need for clearer communication about what kind of input is being sought and how it will be used. While some leaders say improving transparency and early consultation could rebuild trust, others note that engagement success depends on better internal coordination. The report has been added to the corporate record, but no immediate policy changes have yet been adopted.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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