I contacted CalgaryTransit to find their new stats for 2005 ridership because it seems they will never update their website so here goes:

2004 ridership 80.6 million. New 2005 ridership 82.0 million
Daily LRT 2004 220,000. New 2005 LRT ridership 235,000

In other words no REAL improvement to transit ridership percapita due to population growth.

Thats kind of disappointing.

The gentleman I spoke to said they were a little disappointed but said there was some very good news in the stats and thats the LRT ridership increase.
This is due to the fact that there was no LRT expansion during the year. He said that in Calgary when LRT is expanded the ridership levels for both LRT and the total transit system grow at a significantly higher rates than population growth.
He said that as expansions due in 2007 in the NE line and especially the 2008 expansion of the NW line should increase ridership considerably.
He said that Decembers numbers where down from last year but he said that is due to the unseasonably warm weather Calgarians have been enjoying resulting in more people walking and cycling to work.

I also asked abnout the WestLine and he said that would be a way off because the city would probably start the SE line before the WestLine.

He also mentioned that the South/Macleod line could be extended further south by 2010.
He said that much also depends on the upcoming provincial budget. If the province decides to give back to Calgary the money it takes in making the city pay for certain programs {as does Edmonton and both cities have been pleading for it} and the province seems to offering good signs that it will then that means the city would get back an additional $270,000,000/year.
He said if that occurs which they think it will the LRT expansion would increase considerably due to that and the increasing fuel tax rebate from the feds.
He said that currently the SE line is only going to START construction by about 2013 and the South/Macleod ext by 2009. Howver, if the city gets that extra $270mil and potential even more from a separate fund for more infastructure then the South line could start expansion as early as 2007 and the SE line by 2008.

I also asked abnout the WestLine and he said that would be a way off because the city would probably start the SE line before the WestLine.

Ummmm, wow. That just seems so backwards to me. I mean, for the West line all you need to do is extend an existing line. Weird.


He also mentioned that the South/Macleod line could be extended further south...


Hahaha, I wonder where they think it could go from there. Currently it stops just short of 22X. Beyond that, it is bare countryside and the city limits. I suppose if it hit 22X and curved immediately west, it could go to Spruce Meadows...

Those are still good numbers :)

I am not too surprised by the ridership levels. 235 000 for the C-train is quite phenomenal, and I think it will just keep going up very quickly. Imagine what our numbers will look like in 10-15 years when we have 2 or 3 new lines, and about about 300 000-400 000 more people in the city. our ridership will easily surpass half a million. very strong for a city our size.

I looked at the C-Train stations and as far as I can tell most of the stations were poorly integrated with their surroundings. I don't think I saw and transit-oriented development. That's what makes these high ridership numbers surprising to me - where are they coming from?

I looked at the C-Train stations and as far as I can tell most of the stations were poorly integrated with their surroundings. I don't think I saw and transit-oriented development. That's what makes these high ridership numbers surprising to me - where are they coming from?
/\ mostly commuters to the downtown.

I looked at the C-Train stations and as far as I can tell most of the stations were poorly integrated with their surroundings. I don't think I saw and transit-oriented development. That's what makes these high ridership numbers surprising to me - where are they coming from?

As CMD said, it's our highly centralized workforce, and lots of parking spaces for us suburbanites.

There are some TOD's though. There is the Rennaisance at Lions Park Stations, and Sasso/Vetro at Victoria Park. Maybe the Bridges too (don't know how close it needs to be TOD). Then in the future, Brava at Westgate (Westbrook?) and London at Heritage Station. Heck, maybe we will see some condo towers at Anderson station in the future.