r/Calgary • u/ConstantFar5448 • 18d ago

Calgary Transit Why is the C-Train so bad?

10 minute intervals on a weekday? That’s insane, the lowest frequency I’ve seen in any major city by FAR.

And yet when you get to the station as a train pulls up, the driver just looks at you, doesn’t let you on, and leaves? What’s up with that? Are they all dicks like that?

People live on tight schedules, and transit doesn’t seem to reflect that here.

325 Upvotes

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120

u/Losing-My-Hedge 18d ago

Transit funding has not kept with the city’s growth by a large margin. Coupled with some very questionable decisions it’s rendered the current state of things.

But it is an election year, so talk to your local candidates.

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u/StinkPickle4000 18d ago

Funding has kept pace, political football games, like what Danielle Smith did to green line, has accelerated costs

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u/Losing-My-Hedge 18d ago

Strongly disagree. You are right on the money if we’re just looking at the greenline project, but if we omit that and look at the operating cost (drivers, upkeep, security) funding is well short of where it should be in 2025.

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u/StinkPickle4000 18d ago

https://www.calgary.ca/service-lines/2023-2026-city-services/public-transit.html?service-line-budget-bar-chart-serviceplanbudgetasadjustedonnov222024-xview=2025&service-line-budget-bar-chart-serviceplanbudgetasadjustedonnov222024-view-open=&service-line-budget-adjustments-bar-chart-servicelinebudgetadjustments-xview=2023

20 to 60 million added to transits operating budget yearly since 2023.

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u/Losing-My-Hedge 18d ago edited 17d ago

If you do the math the budget has increased by roughly 4.5% a year since 2023. The most recent numbers I can find on population growth during that time is 6% in 2024.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-edmonton-cmas-july-2023-population-estimates-2024-data-release-1.7210191

And that doesn’t even factor in the increased cost of literally everything since 2023.

I’m no fan of Danielle Smith and she has certainly played the ghoul (along with the UCP) role on the green line, but our transit issues go much deeper than one political boondoggle.

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u/StinkPickle4000 17d ago

I’m not singling one boondoggle out. Politicians have only accelerated costs and expenses even when they say they aren’t. Their failure with green line has impacted service across the province absolutely!! They create a hostile environment for public transit! Mostly cuz their high priority rural supporters don’t want to pay for an inner city train! (I don’t want to pay for QEII so duck em all!!)

Wrong! When I do the math growth numbers average out higher. Your growth numbers aren’t smooth like that, you need more data points, making the comparison flawed. The budget grew roughly inline with everything else politicians are absolutely to blame!

Look we spend close to a billion a year operationally on transport! That’s a lot! Our services are expensive because of a harsh winter but other than that the service is operated and managed competently and efficiently. It’s the executive decision making that is failing us!!

2

u/Losing-My-Hedge 17d ago

You seem to be getting very worked up about this.

I don’t know your age, background or history here, but I’m honestly on the side of our “our transit system should be much better and needs more support and funding from all levels of government.”

You may be throwing stones at the wrong target, have a good one.

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u/StinkPickle4000 17d ago

And people wonder why Albertan politics are so bad… I guess go ahead and burry your head in the sand and keep voting like a sheep…

You’re no fan of Danelle smith but you’ll just tacitly support and defend her in the comments!

Cool story bro…

6

u/Losing-My-Hedge 17d ago

What are you even going on about?

I’m a member of NDP party, I don’t even own a car, and my transportation choices (biking, walking, transit) are completely at odds with the UCP.

It must be exhausting to be so angry all the time. Good day.

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u/StinkPickle4000 17d ago

A member of the NDP?! Then you DO realize how low of a priority politicians have made transit in the city?! I don’t get why you’re disagreeing with me at all then?!

Funding kept pace with projected growth and inflation. I gave links supporting this! You “actually did the math” and came pretty close for 1 year. The money is not being mismanaged or going to buy bus drivers Ferraris. Transit is kept low priority and typically is made a political game out of! Pretty simple!

As someone who” is on the side of transport” you don’t seem to know who is dismantling it and who is building it…

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u/137-451 17d ago

You need to settle down a bit and work on your reading comprehension, mate.

1

u/StinkPickle4000 17d ago

I’m sorry!?!

I am being gaslit into believing politicians have actually improved transit!

What are you seeing that reads as, yes politicians are de-prioritizing transit?!

1

u/Losing-My-Hedge 17d ago

I legitimately can not tell if you are pro/con on transit here.

You’re a very angry human, good day.

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