Calgary city council will vote on the future of the downtown free fare zone at its regular meeting Tuesday.
This comes after the Infrastructure and Planning Committee voted 7-4 to end the zone along 7 Avenue beginning Aug. 1.
The Free Fare Zone, stretching from Downtown West–Kerby to City Hall–Bow Valley College stations, was created in 1981 to boost accessibility and mobility in the city’s core. But after 45 years, the administration says Calgary has evolved, and the program may no longer meet the needs of a growing city.
Council requested a now-completed review that points to safety as the primary driver behind the recommendation. Officials argue that requiring fares would give peace officers clearer authority to address disorder on trains and platforms.
The report also notes that eliminating the zone could generate about $5 million annually for Calgary Transit.
However, there was some pushback from several councillors in the days leading up to Tuesday, including Mayor Jeromy Farkas and Calgarians voicing their displeasure with its potential removal.
Farkas said the focus needs to be on addressing behaviour that makes transit feel unsafe, not creating new barriers for riders who are trying to get downtown.
He also said the zone helps people make quick trips downtown, employees get to meetings, seniors get to appointments, and tourists get into the core to check out local businesses.
If the vote succeeds, the first day Calgarians would pay for a ride downtown would begin Aug. 1.
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