Calgary Transit Free Fare Zone: Council Orders Full Review by June

The downtown free ride could be up for renegotiation. Councillors John Pantazopoulos (Ward 6) and Andrew Yule (Ward 3) have co-sponsored a Notice of Motion demanding a comprehensive review of Calgary Transit’s Free Fare Zone, with findings due back to Council by the end of Q2 2026.

The motion, tabled at the February 3 Executive Committee meeting, directs city administration to assess whether the 2.5-kilometer stretch of free CTrain travel along 7th Avenue still serves Calgary’s safety, equity, and financial sustainability goals.

The "Eyes on the Street" Paradox

Beyond the balance sheet, the debate has exposed a philosophical rift: is the free zone a magnet for social disorder, or is it the city’s best tool for "activation"?

Urban planners and some advocates argue that the Free Fare Zone encourages "eyes on the street." If the city begins charging the full $4.00 fare for a three-block trip, many riders will simply stop taking the train and choose to walk. While this puts more feet on the sidewalk, it could leave CTrain platforms emptier and arguably less safe for those who remain. For these critics, the "free" price tag is an investment in a busy, and therefore safer, downtown core.

Growth vs. Cuts: The Stampede Expansion

While some seek to axe the zone, Mayor Jeromy Farkas has recently floated a counter-idea: expansion. Instead of killing the program, Farkas has suggested expanding the free zone during major events like the Calgary Stampede to include the Victoria Park/Stampede and Erlton stations.

This "growth narrative" suggests that the zone’s value isn't just in daily commuting, but in its ability to move thousands of tourists and locals through the city's event district efficiently. It positions the Free Fare Zone as a key part of Calgary’s identity as a world-class host, rather than a line item to be trimmed.

The $4 Question: Are We Getting Value?

The review comes at a sensitive time for commuters. On January 1, 2026, adult single fares rose to $4.00, making Calgary’s transit more expensive than major hubs like Toronto and Vancouver. As pricing climbs, many Calgarians are asking: are we getting value for our money?

The loss of the zone’s title sponsor—TD Bank Group, which exited its naming rights deal two years early in November 2025—left a $3.6 million funding gap that has sharpened this question. Calgary Transit is currently running a customer survey until March 8 to "level-set" the value of the zone. For a rider now paying $126 for a monthly pass, the survival of the free downtown stretch may be the last remaining perk in an increasingly expensive system.

A 45-Year Experiment

The Free Fare Zone has existed since 1979 for buses and 1981 for the CTrain. Administration has until June to prove to Council that this decades-old experiment still works in a post-pandemic, high-inflation Calgary. Until then, the rides remain free—but the clock is ticking on the city's 7th Avenue "third space."