Future airport transit link could shuttle 8,000 riders a day to YYC, city says

Calgarians are being asked to give their input on a future transit link between the Calgary International Airport and planned LRT stops.

The city is still in the first of three phases of its Airport Transit Study, which will explore options for transit connections between the airport and a planned Green Line station at 96th Avenue N.E.

Project manager Alex Saba said the airport line would also link to a future Blue Line station at 88th Avenue N.E., connecting the Blue and Green lines while creating a transit link between northeast and northwest Calgary.

The study will look to determine the number and locations of potential stops between the future 96th Avenue N.E. station and the airport to help with planning and minimize effects on the community.

And while the project is still in the very early planning stages,

Saba said the city is already exploring what type of transit system would maximize ridership to the airport.

The study is also looking at what type of transit vehicle will be best suited for the new connector.

Saba said the city is considering a number of options, including buses, automated trams, an elevated LRT track or a streetcar-like lowprofile LRT.

Data from the city shows only 800 to 900 Calgarians take Calgary Transit’s Route 100 to the airport everyday.

But Saba says improving transit infrastructure could put Calgary ’s airport trip ridership on par with Toronto’s within the next 10 years, skyrocketing the daily transit airport trips to between 8,000 and 15,000 people daily.

The city held its second and final open house on Wednesday so members of the community could weigh in on the project.

Gurusewak Singh lives in Skyview and said he’s excited about the corridor linking northeast and northwest parts of the city.

He said he might even take more plane trips if transit to the airport becomes more accessible.

“It would be very helpful,” Singh said.

“We have only one bus right now, so that would be good.”

The city has information on the transit study online for those who couldn’t attend the open house.

There is also a survey available on the city ’s website for Calgarians to share their thoughts and comment on the study.

The survey is open until July 18.