Editing Calgary Transit (section)

== Bus rapid transit and future ==
[[File:Calgary Transit-NFI D60LFR 6034.JPG|left|thumb|Articulated bus]]{{Main|MAX (Calgary)}}
On August 30, 2004, Calgary Transit opened a [[bus rapid transit]] line to operate future CTrain routes (the D-Line and an as-yet unplanned northbound line), using conventional buses until [[articulated bus]]es entered service on June 25, 2007.  The BRT system consisted of a single route, Route 301, serving the northern and western parts of the city.  A subsequent route, Route 305, was added in 2008, serving the Bowness and [[International Avenue, Calgary|17th Avenue East]] corridors.  A third route, Route 302, entered service on August 31, 2009, along a proposed southeast LRT corridor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/SE_BRT_Riders_Guide.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229054313/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/SE_BRT_Riders_Guide.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Southeast BRT Rider's Guide|archivedate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>

The BRT is considered to be the successor to the ''Blue Arrow'' service introduced to the 1970s: both were a series of limited-stop routes that were to be intended to be replaced by LRT service in the future — however, the Blue Arrow service was never a true BRT (limited stop service, stopping at designated blue bus stop signs, was its only distinctive feature), the modern BRT includes priority at traffic signals, enhanced passenger waiting areas and offers a shorter travel time to the downtown with greater capacity articulated buses.  The Blue Arrow name all but disappeared in 2000 in order to unify all bus stops under one common scheme, but certain Blue Arrow routes are still in service to this day. In fact, Route 305 replaces a Blue Arrow route (Route 105).

On September 28, 2009, Council approved the Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP), fulfilling Council's priorities of "a city that moves."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Documents/CTP2009/calgary_transportation_plan.pdf|title=Calgary Transportation Plan|date=September 2009|website=City of Calgary|page=90|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> The CTP identified over 20 corridors that would serve as the city's future Primary Transit Network.<ref name=":1" /> These corridors laid the foundations of Calgary Transit's future BRT network. Preliminary functional studies were undertaken – specifically for 17 Avenue SE (2010)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Documents/Projects/Completed-Planning-Projects/17-av-se-study-executive-summary.pdf|title=17 Avenue SE TPS Executive Summary|date=June 2010|website=City of Calgary|publisher=AECOM|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> and the Southwest Transitway (2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Documents/Transit-projects/sw-transitway/sw-transitway-functional-plan-full.pdf|title=Functional Planning Study Southwest Transitway|date=January 25, 2016|website=City of Calgary|publisher=Stantec|page=1.1|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> – to explore the feasibility of major transit projects for the near future. On January 11, 2011, Council approved the Bus Rapid Transit Network Plan, which outlined 11 BRT projects that the City plans to pursue in the short, medium, and long terms respectively.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=http://publicaccess.calgary.ca/searchCCProc/index.htm|title=Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Network Plan for Calgary|publisher=City of Calgary|date=January 2011|location=Calgary|pages=68–69}}</ref>[[File:Calgary transit capital projects-1.png|thumb|341x341px|Proposed, planned, and under construction transit projects for the future Calgary rapid transit network. Map based on LRT Network Plan (2008), BRT Network Plan (2011), Route Ahead Plan (2013), and other City documents.]]These plans included the introduction of 9 new BRT routes: the Airport BRT (short-long term), which would connect the Downtown Core with [[Calgary International Airport]];<ref name=":2" /> the Southwest Transitway BRT (short-medium term), which would connect the Downtown Core with [[Mount Royal University]] (MRU) and Woodbine;<ref name=":2" /> the Southwest Crosstown BRT (short-medium term), which would connect Westbrook Station with MRU and Quarry Park;<ref name=":2" /> the North Crosstown BRT (medium term), which would connect Saddletowne Station with 16 Avenue N and the University of Calgary;<ref name=":2" /> the 17 Avenue SE Transitway BRT (medium-long term), which would connect the Downtown Core, Inglewood, 17 Avenue SE, towards the East City Limits;<ref name=":2" /> the 52 Street E BRT (medium term), which would connect Saddletowne and South Health Campus through the Southeast Industrial Area;<ref name=":2" /> the Sage Hill BRT (long term), which would connect Brentwood Station with the Sage Hill Transit Hub using the Shaganappi HOV;<ref name=":2" /> the 162 Avenue S BRT (long term), which would connect Somerset-Bridlewood Station with Providence;<ref name=":2" /> and the Southeast Crosstown BRT (long term), which would connect Somerset-Bridlewood Station with South Health Campus through Marquis of Lorne Trail.<ref name=":2" /> The plans also included enhancements of existing routes 301, 302, and 305.<ref name=":2" />

The Airport BRT was actualised on July 27, 2011, with Route 300.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/route_maps/rte300.html |title=Calgary Transit: Route 300 |access-date=2015-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702174556/http://www.calgarytransit.com/route_maps/rte300.html |archive-date=2014-07-02 }}</ref> This line was introduced after Calgary's Mayor promised to make the airport more accessible via public transit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.calgarymayor.ca/2011/05/downtown-airport-bus-takes-flight.html |title=Mayor Nenshi &#124; the City of Calgary - Downtown-Airport Bus Takes Flight |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805042315/http://blog.calgarymayor.ca/2011/05/downtown-airport-bus-takes-flight.html |archive-date=2011-08-05 }}</ref> On March 12, 2012, BRT service was cut significantly in Calgary. The 302 now runs with shuttle buses during off peak hours and weekends. The 305 does not run on weekends at all. These are both due to low ridership. The Southwest Crosstown BRT was actualised on December 10, 2012, with the Route 306. This route runs from Westbrook Station to Heritage Station, connecting MRU and Rockyview Hospital.

In December 2012, Council approved the RouteAhead Plan, which outlined the major transit projects the city would pursue for the next 30 years.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/content/PDF/2013-0118strategyaheadweb2.pdf|title=RouteAhead: A Strategic Plan for Transit in Calgary|date=December 2012|website=Calgary Transit|pages=147–148|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> RouteAhead identified the BRT routes Southwest Transitway, North Crosstown, Southwest Crosstown, 17 Avenue SE, 52 Street E, and Sage Hill (called Shaganappi HOV) as the key priorities for the city.<ref name=":3" />

Plans not included in RouteAhead – like the 162 Avenue S BRT and the conversions of Route 300 and the 17 Avenue SE BRT into a LRT – were identified as projects to be conducted beyond the 30-year RouteAhead timeframe.<ref name=":3" /> RouteAhead also foreshadowed the plan of a new BRT route: the North Regional Context Study/144 Avenue N BRT (long term), which would connect Tuscany Station with the planned Stoney Station (Blue Line northeast extension), passing through communities north of 144 Avenue North and CrossIron Mills.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=96492|title=Attachment 1 – Guiding Framework for Prioritization of Future RouteAhead Capital Projects|date=June 2019|website=City of Calgary|page=4|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgary.ca/_layouts/cocis/DirectDownload.aspx?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.calgary.ca%2fTransportation%2fTP%2fDocuments%2fPlanning%2fForecasting%2fforecasting-toolbox-2016-update%2fanticipated-project-list%2fAnticipated_Project_Maps_City_Region_2048.pdf&noredirect=1&sf=1|title=2048 Scenario Anticipated Project Maps – Transportation Forecasting, Regional Transportation Model Version 2|date=September 2018|website=City of Calgary|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref>

On November 19, 2018, Calgary's BRT network received an overhaul, and saw the introduction of three new lines. The new lines were incorporated under the MAX branding: MAX Orange (Route 303), connecting Brentwood Station with Saddletowne Station, passing through 16th Avenue N; MAX Teal (Route 306), connecting Westbrook Station with the Douglas Glen Transit Hub, passing through MRU, Rockyview Hospital, Heritage Station, and Deerfoot Meadows; and MAX Purple (Route 307), connecting the Downtown Core with East Hills, along a dedicated transitway along International Avenue (Deerfoot Trail to 52 Street SE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/news/2018-transit-network|title=2018 Transit Network {{!}} Calgary Transit|last=Transit|first=Calgary|website=www.calgarytransit.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-19}}</ref> The former route 306 was reincorporated under MAX, and busses are now labelled as "MAX Teal." In order to make the new service unique from existing "BRT" routes, new stops now have heated shelters, real-time information, elevated sidewalks, and security cameras (for MAX Purple). MAX Purple is  the first service in Calgary to run on a dedicated transitway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/max#tab=line-purple|title=MAX will move you {{!}} Calgary Transit|last=Transit|first=Calgary|website=www.calgarytransit.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-19}}</ref> In November 2019, the Southwest MAX line, renamed MAX Yellow, opened to the public. It is the second bus service in Calgary to operate in a dedicated transitway. This route runs from the Downtown Core to Woodbine, passing through MRU and 14 Street SW. As the Currie Barracks area of Calgary develops, the route will eventually be re-routed to serve that area. When a bus equipped with a [[Destination sign|Luminator Spectrum]] colour display operates a MAX route, the corresponding colour is displayed alongside the route name.

On September 4, 2023, Calgary Transit eliminated route 305.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Information |first=General |title=Fall Service Changes |url=https://www.calgary.ca/content/transit/en/home/news/fall-service-changes-2023.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=www.calgary.ca |language=en}}</ref>