City of Calgary announces shuttle plans, travel alternatives for nine-day partial Red Line closure

In advance of the planned nine-day closure of part of the Red Line and lanes of northbound Macleod Trail, we are announcing details of shuttle routes, transit, and driving options and advising commuters to plan extra travel time.

Between the evening of Nov. 24 and the early morning of Dec. 4, there will be no train service between Chinook and City Hall/Bow Valley College stations. There will also be periodic traffic lane closures on northbound Macleod Trail around Victoria Park/Stampede Station. These closures are required to complete an important phase of construction in the Victoria Park/Stampede Station rebuild project – the switch from the temporary track and platform to the new permanent track and platform.

“This is a significant closure of our system,” said Doug Morgan, General Manager of Operational Services with The City of Calgary. “It is very rare for us to have a planned track shut down on a weekday because we know how important CTrain service is to our customers. We are working hard to provide alternatives, including the largest replacement shuttle service in our history, temporary park and ride locations, and parking alternatives. Travellers – whether on transit or driving – should know their options and plan extra time.”

Multiple travel alternatives available

During the closure, the following options will be in place to get downtown:
 

Shuttle service

Replacement shuttle buses are scheduled to depart every five minutes from several locations:

·       Red Line replacement shuttle service will run from Chinook to City Hall/Bow Valley College stations with stops at each of the closed stations along the way.

·       The Red Line Anderson Express will provide direct service between Anderson Station and downtown replacement shuttle stops along 9^th Avenue, with no stops along the way. This will run 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays only.

·       The Red Line Heritage Express will provide direct service between Heritage Station and downtown replacement shuttle stops along 9^th Avenue, with no stops along the way. This will run 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays only.

·       Additional shuttles will be in place during Flames games and the Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 3.
 

Temporary weekday Park and Ride at Heritage Park

·       Approximately 1,000 parking spots will be offered for free at Heritage Park on weekdays.

·       From there, customers can either catch MAX Yellow to downtown or MAX Teal to Westbrook Station with a transfer to the Blue Line to get downtown.
 

Alternative parking and driving options

·       While there will be periodic lane closures on northbound Macleod Trail during the closure, all three lanes will be opened from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. each weekday to help traffic flow.

·       Approximately 600 parking spots will be available at the Stampede Grounds for $7/day, giving drivers the option to walk or take a Red Line replacement shuttle to City Hall.

·       Drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes into downtown, including:

o   Glenmore to Crowchild to Bow Trail, entering downtown from the west;

o   Deerfoot Trail to Memorial, entering downtown using the 4 Avenue flyover.

·       Calgarytransit.com/switch will also list Calgary Parking lot options downtown, and suggestions for those wishing to park and ride from a Blue Line station.

Commuters should keep in mind that any of these routes will be busier than usual, and they should leave extra time. In addition, those who can are encouraged to think about adjusting work hours to avoid peak travel times, and to consider carpooling where possible.

As a thank you to customers for their patience during the closure, Calgary Transit is offering a 25 per cent discount on all monthly passes for December.

“We are making every effort to minimize disruptions, but we know that this will be a challenging week for travellers in this area,” said Morgan. “We want to thank customers and drivers for their patience as we get through the nine-day closure together.”

Full details of the travel options are now available at calgarytransit.com/Switch. Replacement and express shuttle information will also be available through will also be available through Transit, our trip planning app.

Closure needed for switch from temporary to new track and platform

The Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild and 17^th Avenue Extension project, managed by CMLC, will open a new gateway between Stampede Park and the Beltline neighbourhoods to the west, and create a more modern, accessible and integrated CTrain station.

“This is an important connector in Calgary’s emerging Culture + Entertainment District (C+E), and bringing a revitalized CTrain station and a new east-west roadway to The C+E will elevate the experience for everyone who lives, works and plays in the area,” said CMLC President and CEO Kate Thompson. “We know these kinds of disruptions are inconvenient, and we are grateful to Calgarians for their patience while we work to deliver an incredible new district for everyone.”

Throughout the project, CMLC and The City have taken steps to minimize disruptions to riders and drivers in the area, including constructing the temporary platform. The switch to the permanent station is complex. Over the course of the nine-day shutdown, crews will work 24-hours a day to tie the new tracks to the rest of the line, string overhead power lines to connect the new station to the network, install new track signals at pedestrian crossings, build pedestrian access to the new station, and start demolition of the temporary platforms.

After months of evaluating all options for delivering this critical phase of construction, CMLC and The City determined that the nine-day closure provides the safest, most effective, and least disruptive way to complete this phase.

When transit service to Victoria Park/Stampede Station resumes the morning of Dec. 4, transit customers will board and exit the CTrain from the new station. Additional station construction, hardscaping, landscaping and integration to the 17 Ave S.E. Extension will be completed through early 2024, and the project will be substantially completed in alignment with the BMO Centre expansion for Stampede 2024.