Should Calgary Extend MAX Purple Bus Rapid Transit to East City Limits?

Official title: MAX Purple

Closed Community Planning Housing & Communities Transportation
Calgary is planning to extend its MAX Purple bus rapid transit line along 17 Avenue from 54 Street SE to 116 Street SE. The extension would add new stations with heated shelters, real-time displays, and dedicated bus lanes. This would connect downtown and Inglewood to International Avenue and eventually link to Chestermere.

Why This Matters

Live in southeast Calgary? Your commute downtown could get faster and more reliable. The dedicated bus lanes mean buses won't get stuck in traffic. New stations would be placed near busy areas, making it easier to get to work, shopping, or connect to the LRT.

What Could Change

New dedicated bus lanes would be built along 17 Avenue SE. A new bus terminal east of 100 Street SE would replace the current East Hills loop. Station designs include heated shelters, CCTV cameras, and real-time arrival displays. Detailed design for the first segment is expected to start in 2026.

Key Issues

  • Where should new MAX Purple stations be located along 17 Avenue SE?
  • How can pedestrian safety and accessibility be improved at stations?
  • Should the bus terminal replace the current East Hills loop?
  • How should the extension connect to future transit to Chestermere?

How to Participate

  1. Review the What We Heard Report to see how public feedback shaped the recommended plan.

What Happened

The engagement gathered feedback that supported the project direction and helped refine station locations and designs. Key themes included interest in improving safety, bus service reliability and frequency, accessibility, and connections to Chestermere. The feedback gave the team confidence to focus on refinements rather than re-examining previous configurations. The functional planning study report will be completed by the end of 2025.

View 'What We Heard' Report

Key Documents