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Edmonton Journal
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Edmonton Journal
City of Calgary announces procurement of 120 electric transit buses
More than 100 emission-free buses will be rolling along Calgary's streets in the next three years. Article content Calgary Transit is purchasing 120 new electric buses, the city announced Friday, thanks to funding support from a previous federal government grant. Article content Article content The procurement of Canadian-made Nova LFSe+ electric buses from longtime supplier Nova Bus will replace some aging diesel-fuelled vehicles and strengthen service reliability, the city said in a news release. Article content Article content The e-buses are already being used in Banff, Toronto and Ottawa, and have 'proven performance in Canadian climates,' the city said. Article content Article content 'Thanks to federal support, the investment will increase fleet size while diversifying fuel sources and reducing long-term costs,' the release stated. Article content Under the previous Justin Trudeau government, federal ministers announced a $325-million grant for the City of Calgary in June 2023 to aid in the purchase of 259 electric buses. Article content In line with federal targets, the city is aiming to decarbonize its transit system by 2050. Calgary Transit is in the midst of an almost half-billion-dollar fleet transition. Article content The funding breakdown for that transition is $100 million from the city, $123 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and $220 million from the Zero Emission Transit Fund. The federal funding includes both bus costs and infrastructure and facility upgrades. Article content Article content The electric bus program is only one part of our multi-faceted fleet plan that will continue to look at different opportunities to incorporate other fuels in our fleet as well,' Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming said in an interview Friday. Article content Article content Deliveries will begin in 2027 and all 120 buses are slated to be in use by the end of 2028. Article content Once in service, the 120 e-buses would account for approximately 10 per cent of the city's bus and shuttle fleet, according to Fleming. Article content 'It will also give us an opportunity to try electric buses,' she said. 'If we're to one day go to hydrogen buses, a lot of the platform that we use to run the electric buses is actually replicated in the hydrogen fuel cell buses, so it gives us some learnings we could use in the future.'
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Walking the walk(shed) on transit-oriented development in Calgary
Article content As a Calgarian who has spent time living outside of Alberta, I am accustomed to people asking what makes this province unique, beyond the stereotypes. My answer is often a simple one: Albertans are doers, not talkers or virtue-signallers. Article content When it comes to land use and urban planning, however, the City of Calgary has generally failed to live up to the action-oriented standard its residents expect. Article content Article content Article content Calgary has laudable goals as a city, as outlined in its Municipal Development Plan. One of these objectives relates to transit-oriented development (TOD), which is rooted in the principle that public transit nodes should be surrounded by dense, mixed-use communities, allowing the greatest number of people to benefit from the investment in transit infrastructure. Article content Article content Transit-oriented development benefits are wide-reaching. In financial terms, it ensures a better return on investment by encouraging more residents to use public transit. At a basic level, this helps Calgary Transit fund itself. It also reduces traffic congestion, alleviates strain on feeder bus routes, lowers greenhouse gas emissions and encourages healthier commute patterns through riders walking or cycling to and from stations. Greater revenue for Calgary Transit also allows the agency to reinvest these funds into better frequency and service. Article content Article content Opponents of the recent citywide upzoning initiative often claim that the 'burden' of density should fall within a certain radius of these transit nodes rather than in their communities. Even the most car- and single-family-home-loving city councillors vaunt the benefits of transit-oriented development, arguing that if density must happen (which it does, to boost housing supply and lower prices), that it should happen near transit stations so as not to induce greater vehicular traffic in low-rise communities. Article content While I would argue that the 'burden' of modest citywide densification is overstated, it is fair to suggest that the most dense forms of development should be reserved for transit nodes. If all sides of the housing debate purport to support TOD, why do we see less of it in Calgary than almost any other major city in Canada? Article content The simple answer: the city refuses to legalize it, with more than 70 per cent of residentially zoned land within a 10-minute walk of most CTrain stations being reserved for very low-density homes. Article content In the North American context, transit-oriented development can be thought of in two ways: public-private partnerships to build on city-owned land around stations (e.g., park-and-rides) and private or non-profit developments on privately owned parcels near a station. The city's current strategy relies on the former approach. Article content While developing on city-owned land is necessary, it won't lead to enough growth in housing stock for Calgary to meet its housing objectives and create truly desirable transit-friendly communities. Development on privately owned parcels near LRT stations must accompany the public lands approach. Article content Unfortunately, this is made nearly impossible in Calgary due to antiquated and unambitious zoning policies. Article content Article content Using publicly available land-use data from the City of Calgary and GIS tools, I dug into Calgary's situation and found the overwhelming majority of land near CTrain stations zoned for residential use prohibits both medium- and high-scale density of any kind. Article content Let's dig into the numbers. Article content Calgary's total area is 853 square kilometres, 29.3 per cent of which is zoned for low-density residential use. Only 4.2 per cent and 0.3 per cent (2.2 square kilometres) is zoned for medium- or high-density residential use, respectively. This means that 33.7 per cent of Calgary is zoned for residential use, of which the majority (87 per cent) is zoned for low-density exclusively. The rest of Calgary is zoned for uses such as parks, commercial, industrial, utilities and institutions. Article content Ideally, the 4.5 per cent of Calgary's land zoned for medium- or high-density residential use would be concentrated around CTrain (or MAX BRT) stations. Article content Article content Rather than draw a generic radius around each station, I calculated an isochrone — or a 10-minute 'walkshed' — around each of Calgary's 45 CTrain stations. On a map, this creates a shape that represents everything within a 10-minute walk of each station (assuming a walk speed of five km/h). These walksheds take into account sidewalk access, local geography and other features. Article content If Calgary were serious about enabling transit-oriented development, all land zoned for residential use within a 10-minute walk of each CTrain station would be zoned for medium- or high-density residential use. Article content Medium-density residential includes townhouses and fourplexes. High-density residential refers to any development greater than five storeys. In an ideal TOD world, no residential land within these walksheds would be zoned for low-density residential, which in Calgary largely refers to single-family homes and, more recently, rowhouses and duplexes. Article content Of course, much of the land surrounding CTrain stations is zoned for other important non-residential uses. This is important to facilitate job access for workers and provide transit connections to amenities such as parkland and hospitals. While one might persuasively argue that more land around CTrain stations should be zoned for some kind of residential use, let us put that conversation to the side for now and focus exclusively on land already zoned for residential use, regardless of how much density is permitted. Article content Of Calgary's 45 CTrain stations, 33 (almost all outside the downtown) have land zoned for some kind of low-density residential use within a 10-minute walk. On average, 29 per cent of the areas within a 10-minute walk of these 33 stations is zoned exclusively for low-density residential use. For at least four of these stations, that number surpasses 50 per cent. On the surface, this may not seem like a bad percentage. Surely this would imply that the rest of the residential land within these walksheds is zoned for medium- or high-density. Article content Article content A deeper look at the data, however, demonstrates this not to be the case. Article content Only 12 per cent of Calgary's 36 square kilometres zoned for medium-density residential use are within a CTrain walkshed; for high-density residential, this share is 19 per cent. Put more simply: 71 per cent of the residentially zoned land within a 10-minute walk of the 33 CTrain stations is zoned exclusively for low-density residential use. Article content Where the city does allow homes to be built near transit stations outside of downtown, it overwhelmingly refuses to allow anything denser than a duplex. How can Calgary expect to foster car-light, transit-oriented communities when its own zoning policies quite literally prohibit it from doing so? Article content Calgary should take its lead from other forward-looking municipalities across the country and proactively upzone the areas near its CTrain stations. This would send a strong signal that Calgary is serious about tackling the housing crisis and cultivating the kind of communities that many newcomers and skilled workers want to live in.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Calgary Transit announces purchase of 120 new electric buses
Calgary Transit has announced plans to expand its fleet with the purchase of 120 new electric buses. The move will facilitate the replacement of multiple aging diesel vehicles. Officials say thanks to federal support, they were able to purchase 30–40 more buses than would have been possible with diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG) options. 'This investment means more reliable service, lower operating costs over time and cleaner air in our communities,' said Sharon Fleming, director of Calgary Transit, in a Friday news release. The buses are being purchased by Nova Bus, part of the Volvo Group, and are Nova LFSe+ electric buses. Calgary Transit says the new buses will look similar to Calgary's current Nova Bus CNG models. They will be used primarily on shorter routes and during peak times to enhance service and reduce emissions in high-density areas. All 120 buses are expected to be in service by the end of 2028.
CTV News
31-07-2025
- CTV News
What's open and closed in Calgary over the Heritage Day long weekend
Calgary's Peace Bridge is seen in this undated file image. (Eddson Lens/Pexels) Here's a look at what's open and what's closed in Calgary over the Heritage Day long weekend: Calgary Transit Calgary Transit will be operating on a Sunday level of service on Heritage Day (Monday, Aug. 4). The Red Line will be closed between the Lions Park Station and the Seventh Street S.W. Station from Saturday, Aug 2 to Monday, Aug. 4. Officials say shuttle buses will be running to all the affected stations. The Blue Line will not be impacted by the closure. For more details you can visit the Calgary Transit website. Parking in Calgary parking authority spots No payment is required for on-street parking in ParkPlus zones on Heritage Day, and weekend rates will be in effect at all Calgary Parking Authority parkades and surface lots. Regular rates will be in effect at Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark, Heritage Park and the University District. The City of Calgary's impound lot will be closed on Heritage Day. Arenas and pools City of Calgary arenas, pools and fitness centres will be closed on Heritage Day. Calgary Soccer Centre The Calgary Soccer Centre will be closed on Heritage Day. Leisure centres Both the Village Square Leisure Centre and Southland Leisure Centre will be closed on Heritage Day. City of Calgary art centres The Wildflower Arts Centre and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre will be closed on Heritage Day. Landfills All three Calgary landfills will be open on Heritage Day. The East Calgary Landfill will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Spyhill and Shepard Landfill will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Toronto Sun
30-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Three Calgary youths, 11, 14 and 16, arrested following robbery of bus driver, liquor store
Youngest cannot be charged, released into parent's custody A bus at Erlton LRT station in 2011. On July 29, 2025 a bus driver at Erlton Station was robbed at knife point, allegedly by three youths. Mike Drew/Calgary Sun Three Calgary youths, aged 11, 14 and 16, were arrested Tuesday following the robbery of a Calgary Transit bus driver at knife point. The bus driver was approached by one of the three youths while parked at Erlton Station at around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The youth revealed a knife and demanded the driver's phone. According to a statement from Calgary police, the driver was able to de-escalate the situation, and the youth left with 'an undisclosed amount of money,' joining the rest of the group outside the bus. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 🔵 THREE YOUTHS ARRESTED IN THEFT & ROBBERY OF BUS DRIVER 🔵Three youths were arrested yesterday after a Calgary Transit bus driver was robbed at knife point. 📍 At approx. 11:45 p.m., on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, a bus driver parked at the Erlton Station was approached by a… — Calgary Police (@CalgaryPolice) July 30, 2025 Police arrested the group at the intersection of 25 Avenue and Macleod Trail. Investigators believe the youths are also connected to a liquor store robbery that occurred shortly before 11 p.m. in the Beltline area, in which more than $200 of liquor was stolen. ' The top priority of the Calgary Police Service in violent situations like this is always the safety and well-being of the victims,' said Insp. Jason Bobrowich of the Calgary Police Service. 'Thanks to the swift response of our officers in the downtown area, the teen suspects were located and taken into custody, preventing further harm to the community.' The group was comprised of a boy, aged 11, and two girls, aged 14 and 16. The boy was arrested in connection with the robbery, but children under 12 cannot be charged with a criminal offense, so he was released into the custody of a parent. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The 14-year-old was charged with shoplifting and failure to comply with a release order, and the 16-year-old's charges are currently pending. 'While the teens are being dealt with for their criminal activities, we've also ensured that their families are connected with the full range of available supports to move forward and make positive choices in the future ,' Bobrowich said. This type of crime 'extraordinarily rare' says criminal justice professor 'An 11-year-old walking up to a bus driver with a knife demanding cell phones and money is extraordinarily rare,' said Doug King, a professor of criminal justice at Mount Royal University. 'That makes it really important that, not just the police, but the parents of that 11-year-old are going to have to figure out, exactly how did something like that come to be?' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. King said the 14- and 16-year-old being female also makes this case unique. 'Most youth crime — in fact, most crime in in Canada — is committed by males. That's just the reality of it,' he said. 'What would put a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old girl in the company of an 11-year-old boy at 11 at night, to the point that they would say, 'Let's rob a liquor store and then have one of us stick a knife in the face of a bus driver,'' he said. 'You don't even see that in fiction.' King said that while some people disagree with the fact that young offenders aren't treated as adults, the system seems to work. 'All of the social science evidence in the world shows that the young offenders actually recidivate — recommit a crime — [less] than adult offenders do,' he said. 'Young offenders are generally treated in a more rehabilitative or restorative manner,' he added. MLB Celebrity Wrestling Toronto & GTA Ontario
