Calgary Transit

[CalgaryTiger]

A new MSF could be constructed at another station with adjacent Park and Ride. There's Southland and Heritage nearby that have Park and Rides on the correct side of the freight tracks. I can dream up some interesting development that include an MSF, some parking, and maybe some other uses that would have public benefit.

 

[Red Star]

A new MSF could be constructed at another station with adjacent Park and Ride. There's Southland and Heritage nearby that have Park and Rides on the correct side of the freight tracks. I can dream up some interesting development that include an MSF, some parking, and maybe some other uses that would have public benefit.

That's a good idea. But isn't it beneficial to build an MSF at the terminus of a train system?

 

[CalgaryTiger]

That's a good idea. But isn't it beneficial to build an MSF at the terminus of a train system?

It does make the most sense to have it near the terminus for sure. In this scenario an MSF at Southland or Heritage, that is smaller than the one at the terminus, would make the Haysboro facility redundant. An MSF at Southland, which is more industrial than Anderson or Heritage, also gives you the opportunity to open up the land at Anderson to residential development. Could you also include a bus barn at the theoretical Southland MSF, maybe, there is the new bus barn that is coming at the Motocross track off Blackfoot but I think you'd still want bus storage further south in the city?

With the Red Line running up Crowchild you're pretty limited with options for an MSF in the north.

 

[ethan.l.cecc]

It does make the most sense to have it near the terminus for sure. In this scenario an MSF at Southland or Heritage, that is smaller than the one at the terminus, would make the Haysboro facility redundant. An MSF at Southland, which is more industrial than Anderson or Heritage, also gives you the opportunity to open up the land at Anderson to residential development. Could you also include a bus barn at the theoretical Southland MSF, maybe, there is the new bus barn that is coming at the Motocross track off Blackfoot but I think you'd still want bus storage further south in the city?

With the Red Line running up Crowchild you're pretty limited with options for an MSF in the north.

While both locations would generally be good, both lots are significantly smaller than Anderson (which is about 15 acres total, 8.5 of which are for the LRT). Heritage and Southland are 3 and 5 acres respectively. They could just be used for storage and light maintenance (cleaning and interior maintenance), but would still be very small. In comparison, the South MSF is around the same size as Oliver Bowen (over 30 acres), which means an increase of 60-108 train cars (based on the numbers for OB), more than enough for the current plans. I don't think Anderson would be able to be retired until another facility is built, and even then it could just be converted to be only a bus garage. As for another bus garage to the south of the city...I remember seeing a map of proposed future garages, but can't seem to find it. But either way, another garage is likely to be put further south, potentially in the Shepard area.

 

[whatchyyc]

I remember seeing a map of proposed future garages, but can't seem to find it.

From RouteAhead 2023:

 

[pdubs015]

On the CMLC website, I saw TOC proposals for three locations: Anderson, Dalhousie and Fish Creek stations. It’s light on details, as they are in the ‘exploration’ phase. That being said, it’s an exciting milestone on three great sites.

I’m hopeful this will turnout great, as master planning by site should be an effective method. Not all sites can be executed well at the exact same time, so build them in manageable clusters.

When these developments are combined with the positive momentum near other stations, it’s looking great for future ridership numbers. The recent areas coming to mind are Heritage, Franklin, 45 St SW, and Shaganappi.

 

[lemongrab]

This is a bit of a random, but does anyone else think TOD/TOC is a poor term? It feels too prescriptive and unimaginable for the Average Joe who can barely fathom the idea of riding transit once, nevermind orienting your life towards it.

Something like 'Reduced Driving Development' would be a much better term. We can be honest that most nice new developments are going to include some parking and that many residents will own cars. But the idea of 'reduced driving' is pretty appealing to everyone, including folks who use cars for every trip.

You can live in a TOD and never use transit...but you'll almost certainly drive less than you otherwise would.

 

[jhappy77]

This is a bit of a random, but does anyone else think TOD/TOC is a poor term? It feels too prescriptive and unimaginable for the Average Joe who can barely fathom the idea of riding transit once, nevermind orienting your life towards it.

Something like 'Reduced Driving Development' would be a much better term. We can be honest that most nice new developments are going to include some parking and that many residents will own cars. But the idea of 'reduced driving' is pretty appealing to everyone, including folks who use cars for every trip.

You can live in a TOD and never use transit...but you'll almost certainly drive less than you otherwise would.

I feel like you're underestimating how much the government explicitly prescribing "Reduced Driving" in that way would piss people off, haha

 

[Surrealplaces]

Calgary Transit ends two-car LRT pilot after negative rider reviews - LiveWire Calgary

While it saved cash and was more energy efficient, Calgary Transit riders have spoken, and now a two-car LRT pilot project has been shelved. After being launched in March 2025, Calgary Transit’s two-car pilot project was in place on weekends to try to match weekend usage and LRT car capacity...

livewirecalgary.com

 

[whatchyyc]

Calgary Transit ends two-car LRT pilot after negative rider reviews - LiveWire Calgary

While it saved cash and was more energy efficient, Calgary Transit riders have spoken, and now a two-car LRT pilot project has been shelved. After being launched in March 2025, Calgary Transit’s two-car pilot project was in place on weekends to try to match weekend usage and LRT car capacity...

livewirecalgary.com

From the Herald piece:

David Cooper, founder and principal of the Leading Mobility transportation planning firm, said he’s not surprised that Calgary Transit implemented a two-car pilot, considering the potential cost savings.

“At the end of the day, Calgary Transit has financial pressures like all the other transit agencies,” he said. “There are things you can do to try to reduce your costs from a maintenance or operations perspective, and having one less train car helps during lower-demand periods.

“But if we’re going back to three-car train service, that’s actually a good-news story because what that tells me is the demand is there on the weekends to fill those trains.”

 

[lemongrab]

I feel like you're underestimating how much the government explicitly prescribing "Reduced Driving" in that way would piss people off, haha

If you interpret that as prescriptive then you'd also interpret TOD as prescriptive. And who rides transit? Poor coloured people. And nobody wants that near them! NIMBY defence protocol - engaged!

I think of Glenmore Landing - that often got derailed into a debate about whether it constituted TOD or not. Which then links it to the "highly controversial" BRT project, and the NIMBY position is automatically deeply entrenched.

What was missing from that debate was the idea that the towers represented an opportunity for residents to age within the community, and continue to access their preferred services. But they hear TOD and default to thinking it could never be for themselves. Most people can grasp that you can use transit to commute, but it's harder for them to fathom 'orienting your whole life' around transit. Which we all know isn't necessarily the point, but it sure seems like that's what their lizard brains hear.

Every single roads project is about shortening trip times - aka 'reducing driving'. RDD may lead to a kneejerk reaction towards 'war on cars' nonsense, but it only takes a tiny bit of critical thought to realize that 'other people driving less makes my driving easier'. And while it isn't fun to think of the stage of life where you'll lose the ability to drive and need to live on a single level, deep down we all know its inevitable. To go deeply Freudian, I think a lot of NIMBYsm is subconsciously tied to lamenting the passage of time, the fact that the city is changing and we can't do what we used to anymore, there are maniacs all over the road and now I'm a boring old fart who doesn't drive that way anymore, etc. But on the flip side, might there be some appeal in contemplating a future where you can take a stroll by the reservoir and stop for a coffee and newspaper?

It's all subtle/subconscious stuff, but IMO it is important if you want less polarized debate and to open peoples' minds ever so slightly to the idea that urbanism might actually benefit them directly or indirectly.