Calgary Transit is set to receive a boost in next year’s proposed city budget, but officials say the increase won’t be enough to deliver the service improvements Calgarians are hoping for.
During ongoing budget discussions at city hall on Friday, transit leaders explained that the service’s operating budget is expected to grow to $417 million in 2025. Another $59 million is planned for 2026 across operating and capital spending.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas said Calgary’s transit system is stretched too thin. “We have a lot of bread and not enough butter,” he said, calling for more investment.
A key part of the new budget is $14 million in ongoing funding to boost frequency on major bus routes. This is the first step toward the long-term RouteAhead plan, which aims to offer buses every 10 minutes for at least 15 hours a day, seven days a week.
Transit director Sharon Fleming said the added money is helpful but still short of what the plan recommends each year. She also noted that the proposal does not include the $45 million per year needed to expand the bus fleet over the next decade. Without more buses, she said, it will be difficult to increase service levels.
The improvements will mainly affect busy primary routes. Neighbourhood bus routes—called the “base network”—will not see changes under this budget. Ward 4 Councillor DJ Kelly said he is disappointed because reliability on local routes is crucial for many riders.
A presentation to council showed that Calgary receives far less provincial support for transit than cities like Vancouver or Toronto. Experts said most other provinces provide direct operating funding to help keep service running, while Alberta does not.
Some councillors raised cost-saving ideas, including removing the downtown free fare zone and ending free rides for children under 12, which cost about $10 million annually. There were also suggestions to increase adult fares to $4 to raise revenue.
The budget includes $25 million in one-time funding from reserves for the Low Income Transit Pass, raising the program’s total cost to more than $50 million next year.
Mayor Farkas said he wants to push other governments for more transit support while continuing to improve reliability and safety for riders.
Adult fares are currently set to increase by 10 cents next year, a 2.6 per cent rise.
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