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This year, unlike many Canadian cities, Calgary won’t be offering free transit on the evening of New Year’s Eve.
Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax are choosing not to charge riders on Wednesday night, after a certain time.
But in Calgary, transit riders will have to pay to reach their destinations on New Year’s Eve.
That’s disappointing for Alex Williams, chair of the advocacy group Calgary Transit Riders.
“It’s frustrating because that’s one of the draws for people — to say, well, it’s free. … And hopefully that [encourages], through that process, less drinking and driving,” said Williams.
No sponsor secured
Calgary has offered free transit on New Year’s Eve in the past, according to Tess Abanto, Calgary Transit’s senior leader of transit design.
“But this year we are unable to do it because we did not land a corporate partnership for the service. So we’re back to where it has been — service for a fee — just like any other day,” said Abanto.
All MAX lines, as well as a number of other bus routes, will run until 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. CTrains will run until 4 a.m. (Ose Irete/CBC)
In 2023, TD Bank sponsored Calgary’s free night of transit. In 2024, it was sponsored by J.P. Wiser’s.
Abanto said Calgary Transit was advised by their broker, who helps them secure sponsorships, that the sponsorship landscape is changing as corporations shift their focus.
“It could be that the brand is now looking into more experiential or customer impact focus, rather than direct free transit placements in particular,” she said.
The lack of a New Year’s Eve transit sponsor comes in the same year that TD Bank pulled its sponsorship of the CTrain free fare zone.
“We’re just learning,” said Abanto. “I think what we need to do is cater to how the sponsorship strategy and focus is evolving so that we can package it better to include free transit service in the offering.”
Extended transit service
Abanto said Calgary Transit will try to land a corporate sponsor again next year, so Calgarians can ride for free.
Williams said if that isn’t possible, he’d like to see city council budget for one free night of transit a year.
While it won’t be free, Calgary Transit is extending service on New Year’s Eve.
Some bus routes — including all MAX lines and routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22 and 302 — will run until 3 a.m. Both CTrain lines will run until 4 a.m.
The city is also providing free shuttle service to and from Lot 59 — across the bridge from where the New Year’s Eve fireworks show will be held — from two locations: Max Bell Centre and the SAIT North Surface Lot.