From January 1, 2026, Calgary residents will pay more for public transportation. The cost of a single adult ticket will increase from $3.80 to $4.00, according to a city council decision made as part of the latest budget adjustments.
City officials say the fare increase will help maintain services amid rising costs and urban expansion, as well as reduce the burden on property taxes. Part of the additional revenue from fares will offset investments in the transport network, allowing the city council to slightly reduce the planned property tax increase in the 2026 budget.
What exactly is becoming more expensive
The changes affect virtually all types of travel documents:
Single tickets (cash fare)
- Adults: from $3.80 to $4.00
- Youth (13-17 years old): from $2.55 to $2.65
Monthly passes
- Adults: from $118 to $126 per month
- Youth: from $86 to $92 (the new fare will take effect in September 2026)
Ticket books and discount programs
The increase will affect most price categories, including the three levels of Low Income Transit Passes for low-income individuals, as well as passes for seniors and paid parking at Park and Ride facilities. The only exception is one category of youth tickets in books, where the increase will be less than originally proposed.
Children under 12 will still be able to ride for free; this rule remains in the updated fare structure.
The city's arguments: safety, reliability, and development
Calgary Transit and the city council emphasize that the fare increase is not just a “patch” for the budget, but also a way to finance service improvements. In 2026, additional funding is planned to strengthen routes, especially on key Primary Transit Network routes, as well as to increase basic service — more trips, better intervals, and less congestion on buses and CTrain trains.
Officials also link fare changes to investments in safety: modernization of stations, lighting, video surveillance, and staff presence on platforms and in transport. According to the city council, safer and more reliable transport will increase passenger confidence and make travel more attractive despite the price increase.
Passenger reaction: doubts and skepticism
Many Transit users reacted to the news with irritation. On social media and in comments, residents complain about delays, canceled flights, and overcrowded cars, arguing that the service is not yet at a level that warrants paying more. Some passengers admit that 20 cents per trip seems like a small amount, but over the course of a month, it adds up to a significant expense, especially for those who travel several times a day.
Some Calgarians doubt that the promised improvements in service and safety will be significant enough to offset the additional costs. Others emphasize that without stable funding, public transport will not be able to compete with private cars, and therefore fare increases are a necessary price to pay for the development of the system.