Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Calgary Transit has confirmed that several long-standing express bus routes will be phased out by 2027 as part of a major network modernization effort. The decision follows updates to the city’s long-term RouteAhead plan, which aims to refocus transit resources on high-frequency corridors and broaden access across the city.
The express routes affected include services running through Hidden Valley, MacEwan, Harvest Hills, Coventry Hills, and Panorama Hills long considered commuter-heavy areas that relied on peak-hour express connections to downtown. These routes, Calgary Transit says, are now considered legacy services that no longer align with the city’s growth, travel patterns, or transit priorities.
According to Calgary Transit Director Sharon Fleming, the system is evolving, and part of that evolution involves reassessing the type of service provided to different communities. She noted that express routes, in particular, are “a legacy of when Calgary was a smaller city,” and added that the agency is working to ensure transit offerings are equitable and efficient. Fleming emphasized that many of the express routes now targeted for discontinuation are among the lowest ridership services in the network, prompting a redirection of resources toward expanding reliable, frequent service across more neighbourhoods.
The transition comes as Calgary sees increasing investment in rapid transit, including expanded BRT and MAX services designed to serve a larger portion of the population throughout the day rather than focusing solely on peak-hour commuters. Calgary Transit has indicated that alternative service adjustments will be introduced as the phase out progresses to help maintain connectivity for residents affected by the change.
With the shift toward a modernized network model, the coming years will see Calgary move further away from its older express route structure and toward a streamlined, high frequency system intended to serve more people, more of the time.
