The downtown Calgary Transit “Free Fare Zone” might change after two councillors filed a notice of motion calling for a review at the executive committee meeting set for Tuesday.
A review of the 7 Avenue line, extending from 8 Street and Downtown West/Kerby stations to City Hall and City Hall/Bow Valley College stations, is being proposed at the Feb. 3 meeting due to “downtown activity, transit usage, safety concerns, and fare compliance.”
The motion calls for city administration to review the downtown Free Fare Zone and report its findings, analysis, and recommendations that support a “safer, more equitable, and financially sustainable transit system” by the end of June 2026.
The review calls on city administration to engage with the public, to engage transit users, measure the financial impacts, provide “viable alternatives” to the Free Fare Zone, and assess potential enhancements to increase future sponsorship.
The two councillors who co-sponsored the notice of motion, Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Yule and Ward 6 Councillor John Pantazopoulos, say they met with Calgary Transit to discuss the issues presented in the notice of motion on Jan. 5.
They say the sixth ask of city admin, the assessment of potential enhancements or “value-added elements that could increase the attractiveness of future sponsorship or partnership opportunities,” requires funding for resources that can assess changes to attract sponsors.
The Free Fare Zone, which allows riders to travel along 7 Avenue without paying, has been in flux after TD Bank abruptly ended its sponsorship deal at the end of 2025 — two years ahead of schedule.
TD Bank had originally signed a five-year naming rights agreement with Calgary Transit, but announced it was terminating the deal early after what it described as “careful consideration.” The decision leaves the city to decide whether it can continue funding the free-fare zone on its own.
After council deliberations saw prices rise for Calgary Transit single-use tickets from $3.80 to $4 — $0.10 more than originally planned — the Free Fare Zone and free fares for youth survived and remain for the time being.
Monthly passes for adults and youths, ticket books, low-income transit passes, seniors’ passes, and even reserved parking fees rose as well.
Calgary councillor revives motion for transit transfers to increase to 2 hours
A Calgary councillor has also filed a notice of motion related to Calgary Transit, which calls for Transit ticket transfers to increase from 90 minutes to 120 minutes.
Ward 12’s Mike Jamieson, the only A Better Calgary candidate to win a council seat during the municipal election, shared the motion on social media.
“This is (sic) response to what I’ve heard from Ward 12 residents who’ve had to pay twice for a single trip because their bus was late or they simply missed a connection,” his post reads.
His notice of motion says the 90-minute transfer window may be insufficient because of “traffic congestion, weather conditions, accessibility needs, and system complexity.”
As a result, Transit riders would have to purchase another ticket “through no fault of their own,” saying that it would create financial strain and reduce confidence in the Calgary Transit system.
Jamieson says the increase would “improve affordability, flexibility and equity for transit users, including seniors, students, low-income residents and those with mobility challenges,” along with being “comparable” to other transit systems in other Canadian cities with similar or longer transfer windows.
If passed, the motion would move to the Feb. 24 council’s regular meeting for consideration.
Additionally, the notice of motion asks the city administration to report on the financial and ridership effects of such a move, and then bring the assessment back to council by April 27, with fare policy and bylaw amendments made at council the next day.
Former Councillor Jasmian Mian proposed longer transfer validity in early 2025 — one of 15 proposed changes to improve Transit.
In a report to council in May, Calgary Transit said it’s currently reviewing and evaluating its fare policies through a fare payment consultant, saying it may “consider potential future changes to the single ticket window.” However, it was not recommended.
“Capturing all trip lengths would require an increase in the single-ride ticket fare, and Calgary Transit endeavours to keep fares affordable,” the report reads.
“Customers who regularly make long trips usually choose alternatives like monthly passes, UPass, low-income transit pass, and the annual seniors’ pass.”
Transfers are unlimited so long as they fall within the 90-minute window.