Abstract Manager

In 2023, Calgary City Council approved RouteAhead, a 30-year strategic plan for Calgary’s transit sysstem. In RouteAhead, one of the strategic directions is set to focus on the planning of the Primary Transit Network (PTN). The City has proceeded to undertake a functional planning study (FPS) for two PTN routes, namely 144 Av North Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Shaganappi Tr PTN. This will bring both studies to shovel-ready state to potentially leverage funding opportunities from all levels of government to advance to design and construction.

Both studies started with understanding existing conditions and future communities build-out through a multi-disciplinary lens of asessment in land use and mobility. Both studies included three phases of engagement – Discover, Explore, and Reveal, in the forms of virtual information session, in-person open house, and pop-up events at diferent community amenties. As outcomes of both studies, we will make recommendations on BRT alignment, station location and design, transit priority measures, and transit implementation / staging plan. For Shaganappi Tr study, immediate short-term improvement recommendations will also be made.

For both studies, the project team developed BRT corridor alignment and corridor configuration concepts as well as station planning and design. Early on, the project team organized a two-day visioning workshop with City internal interested parties to develop project vision, goals and objectives, as well as a multiple account evaluation (MAE) framework used for the shortlist of transit alignment and configuration options and the selection of final recommendation. The MAE is a multi-faceted framework that covers key goals, such as mobility, community well-being, environment & sustainability, feasiblity & deliverability. Particularly of note are also some objectives that were defined for PTN routes in Calgary, such as equity and inclusion, climiate resiliency, universal accessibility, quality design / placemaking.

For the conference presentation, we will discuss the study background and process, key planning considerations (e.g., integration of land use and transportation, accessibility, social equity), study recommendations we made that are supported by technical analyses and engagement with interested parties (e.g., concept development, shortlist and selection), best practices uncovered through the studies, and lessons learned for PTN transit planning in Calgary that could be applicable to other jurisdictions.