City defers downtown fare zone decision

Summary#

Calgary City Council deferred a decision on the Downtown Free Fare Zone until the updated fare strategy is expected back at the Infrastructure and Planning Committee by the end of Q1 2027. Council also directed City staff to engage downtown stakeholders and keep seeking a sponsoring partner, with a progress report due September 9, 2026. The goal of the review was to assess the zone and alternatives; Council did not approve the recommendation to remove it on August 1.

  • The free-fare zone was not ordered to end. Council postponed deciding its future.
  • City staff must seek further input from downtown businesses, organizations and arts organizations.
  • City staff must continue trying to secure a sponsor and report on those discussions on September 9, 2026.
  • Council did not adopt the proposed transfer of the program from Calgary Transit to the Downtown Strategy team.

What it means for you#

  • Transit riders: This decision does not introduce a fare for trips within the zone. The future fare arrangement is to be considered with the updated fare strategy.
  • Downtown businesses and organizations: City staff must undertake further engagement, but the decision does not set out how or when that engagement will happen.
  • Potential sponsors: City staff must continue efforts to find a partner. The decision does not require a sponsor to be secured.
  • Downtown residents, event organizers and other riders: Council has not yet decided whether the zone will continue, change or end.

Money#

The decision does not approve new spending or the removal of the free-fare zone.

  • City staff estimated that removing the zone could bring in up to $5 million a year, and would require $730,000 to $1 million in one-time signage and infrastructure costs. Those estimates were for the removal option, which Council did not approve.
  • No cost estimate is provided for the further engagement or sponsorship work. No publicly available information.
  • Council did not approve a plan to reinvest revenue from removing the zone.

What is unclear#

  • What options, fare prices or changes to the zone will be presented with the updated fare strategy.
  • How City staff will conduct further engagement and how that input will affect the later decision.
  • Whether a sponsor will be found, and what role or contribution a sponsor might have.
  • How long the current arrangement will remain in place; the decision does not set out an interim end date.

Case for#

  • Deferring the decision leaves room to consider the zone alongside the wider fare strategy, rather than deciding its future separately.
  • Further engagement may give downtown businesses, organizations and arts groups another chance to provide input.
  • The sponsorship search could identify another way to support the zone. Council approved that direction; the motion passed 10–5. Councillors Jamieson, Atkinson, Chabot, Wyness and McLean voted against.

Case against#

  • City staff say keeping the free zone may limit their ability to address disruptive behaviour, because applying a fare gives peace officers clearer authority to intervene. The delay leaves that concern unresolved for now.
  • Some public submissions argued that ending the zone would make short downtown trips harder, including for students, low-income riders and people who rely on transit. City staff also reported that 34% of surveyed zone riders would seek another way to travel if it ended.
  • Six councillors voted against deferring the decision: Ward, Clark, Dhaliwal, Atkinson, Kelly and Mayor Farkas. The vote shows opposition to deferral, but the supplied record does not state their reasons.

Votes

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That Council rise and report.

For (100%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted: That Council: - Direct that the Closed Meeting discussions and Attachment 4 remain confidential pursuant to Section 23 (Disclosure harmful to law enforcement) of the Access to Information Act, to be reviewed by 2028 May 5.

For (27%)
Against (73%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be adopted: That Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following Recommendations: That Council: - Defer the decision on the Free Fare Zone to be included in the updated fare strategy planned to come back to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee by the end of Q1 2027.

For (53%)
Against (47%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be adopted: That Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following Recommendations: That Council: - Direct Administration to explore the feasibility of transferring the Free Fare Zone program from Calgary Transit to the Downtown Strategy team for ongoing operations and budgeting with a focus on…

For (53%)
Against (47%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be adopted: That Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following Recommendations: That Council: - Direct Administration to undertake further engagement with stakeholders in the Downtown including businesses, organizations, and arts organizations.

For (60%)
Against (40%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be adopted: That a new Recommendation be inserted as follows, and that the Recommendations be numbered accordingly: - Direct Administration to continue efforts to secure a sponsoring partner for the Downtown Free Fare Zone and to report back to Council on the progress of sponsorship discussions at the 2026 September 9 Infrastructure…

For (87%)
Against (13%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council: - Defer the decision on the Free Fare Zone to be included in the updated fare strategy planned to come back to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee by the end of Q1 2027.

For (60%)
Against (40%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council: - Direct Administration to explore the feasibility of transferring the Free Fare Zone program from Calgary Transit to the Downtown Strategy team for ongoing operations and budgeting with a focus on improving downtown vibrancy and public safety.

For (47%)
Against (53%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council: - Direct Administration to undertake further engagement with stakeholders in the Downtown including businesses, organizations, and arts organizations.

For (53%)
Against (47%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council: - Direct Administration to continue efforts to secure a sponsoring partner for the Downtown Free Fare Zone and to report back to Council on the progress of sponsorship discussions at the 2026 September 9 Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting.

For (67%)
Against (33%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.11 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Report IP2026-0286, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council: - Direct Administration to undertake further engagement with stakeholders in the Downtown including businesses, organizations, and arts organizations.

For (53%)
Against (47%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That Committee rise without reporting.

For (100%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That Committee rise and report.

For (100%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Revised Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be approved: That Recommendations 2 and 3 be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following: "2. Direct Administration to implement a 7th Avenue Zone on 2026 August 01, with the following conditions: - A separate fare for CTrain trips within the 7th Avenue Zone (Downtown West/Kerby station to City Hall/Bow Valley C…

For (10%)
Against (90%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Revised Report IP2026-0286, the following amendment be approved: That Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following Recommendations, with Recommendation 4 remaining the same: “1. Defer the decision on the Free Fare Zone to be included in the updated fare strategy planned to come back to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee by the…

For (36%)
Against (64%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Revised Report IP2026-0286, the following be approved, after amendment: That the Infrastructure and Planning Committee recommend that Council: - Direct Administration to remove the Free Fare Zone on 2026 August 01. - As part of the 2027-2030 budget deliberations, consider reinvesting the additional revenue from removing the Free Fare Zone to advance improvements in transit saf…

For (64%)
Against (36%)

Infrastructure and Planning Committee, item 7.3 (Free Fare Zone Review, IP2026-0286): That with respect to Revised Report IP2026-0286, the following be approved, after amendment: That the Infrastructure and Planning Committee recommend that Council: - Direct that the Closed Meeting discussions and Attachment 4 remain confidential pursuant to Section 23 (Disclosure harmful to law enforcement) of the Access to Information Act, to be reviewed by 2028 May 5.

For (64%)
Against (36%)