MAX Purple

Last updated
MAX Purple
Calgary Rapid Transit Network Map, MAX Purple Highlighted.png
MAX Purple route
Overview
System MAX
Operator Calgary Transit
Began serviceNovember 19, 2018
Route
Start City Centre
EndEast Hills
Length12.8 miles (20.6 km)
Stops11
← {{{previous_line}}} {{{system_nav}}} {{{next_line}}} →

MAX Purple, also known as Route 307 or the 17 Avenue SE BRT, [1] is a bus rapid transit line in Calgary, Alberta. Part of Calgary Transit's MAX network, it largely travels east along 17 Avenue SE (International Avenue) from downtown Calgary. [2]

MAX Purple, along with Route 1, provide service for East Calgary's primary transit corridor, and has become an important transit connector for Greater Forest Lawn residents. [3] During its planning stages, Mayor Naheed Nenshi insisted the new line be made his favourite colour purple, citing his family's personal connection to International Avenue. [4] The line itself operates on the former eastward service of Route 305 and replaces the retired bus route 126 Applewood Express. Future plans for the line include the permanent eastward extension into neighbouring Chestermere via 17 Avenue SE/Chestermere Boulevard, [5] as well as a potential long-term conversion into an LRT line. [6]

History

Since the introduction of the MAX Purple line in 2018, it has been credited as a key driver of International Avenue's urban redevelopment. [3] [4] The MAX Purple has attracted local interest as a project that rectifies an over century-long promise to bring adequate rapid transit to Greater Forest Lawn. [7]

The settlement of the Town of Forest Lawn was first initiated in 1901, when two land promoters promoted the new community with a false rumour of a future streetcar connection east of the Bow River. [8] [7] By 1961, Forest Lawn was annexed by the expanding City of Calgary, yet was not given any assurance of adequate transit to Calgary's growing downtown. [7] Between the 1970s and 1980s, public transit investments for the Greater Forest Lawn area did not keep pace with the area's growing commercial and residential developments, ultimately contributing to the area's urban decay. [9] This was primarily motivated by the City's early plans to convert Forest Lawn's high street 17 Avenue SE into a six-lane thoroughfare at the expense of the neighbourhood's businesses. [7] In the 1990s, neighbourhood advocates established the International Avenue Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ), as a vehicle to bring urban renewal to a largely neglected region of the city. [7] [10]

Early attempts to implement rapid transit for Greater Forest Lawn started in the early 1970s, with the introduction of the Blue Arrow 110 express bus service. [11] This service complimented the already established Route 1 Bowness/Forest Lawn and 126 Applewood Express bus routes which connected Greater Forest Lawn with City Centre. These attempts were advanced by the International Avenue BRZ, who in 1995 submitted two proposals to the City which outlined steps for Forest Lawn's urban revitalization through meaningful transportation planning. [10] Another proposal was submitted in 2003 by the BRZ in collaboration with the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design, which envisioned a multi-modal, retail-based boulevard supported by a light rail transit service. [10] [12] In 2008, Calgary Transit brought bus rapid transit (BRT) to Greater Forest Lawn with the creation of Route 305, which operated along the length of Route 1's crosstown route. Route 305 had various shortcomings, such as its lack of weekend service and its vulnerability to delays due to its mixed traffic operations. In 2009, the City of Calgary approved the Calgary Transportation Plan, which identified the 17 Avenue SE corridor as a candidate for a dedicated bus-only transitway. [13] In 2010, Calgary Transit submitted its transportation plan study, which determined the alignment and design of the future 17 Avenue SE transitway from 8 Street SE to 84 Street SE. [14] This study was approved by the City of Calgary in 2011 as a medium-to-long term priority for the city's future BRT network. [15] In 2015, the City of Calgary allocated $889 million towards the BRT network, [16] of which $96 million went towards the construction of the 17 Avenue transitway. [17]

Construction began in 2017 and was divided into two phases – both of which were constructed simultaneously. Phase 1 focused on the dedicated bus-only transitway on 17 Avenue SE between 28 Street SE and Hubalta Road SE, which included the construction of BRT station platforms and a complete transformation of International Avenue infrastructure. [18] [19] Phase 2 focused on the construction of a transit and pedestrian only bridge crossing Deerfoot Trail, connecting 28 Street SE to 9 Avenue SE. [18] [19] MAX Purple began operations on November 19, 2018 as part of the city's new MAX BRT network. [20]

Future plans for the line include phases 3 and 4. Phase 3 focuses on a bus-only lane along 9 Avenue SE in Inglewood, which will extend into the line's City Centre route. Phase 4 focuses on the extension of the 17 Avenue transitway from Hubalta Road SE to East Hills.

An extension to Chestermere is currently undergoing a pilot program which is being evaluated throughout the term of the agreement between the City of Calgary. The extension includes twelve stops on the west side of Chestermere, with additional stops potentially being added in the future. [21] The city also has plans to convert the line into the LRT going all the way to Chestermere, it plans on doing this when the city it a population of 1.6 million which will most likely be around the year 2046.

Stations and route

MAX Purple begins in Downtown Calgary, where it meets the Red Line, Blue Line, and MAX Yellow. It travels along 9 Avenue SE to 17 Avenue SE Avenue (International Avenue) along its own dedicated 17 Avenue Transitway, which it then travels east to its terminus at East Hills. [22] Between City Centre and 52 Street SE (which includes the 17 Avenue Transitway), Route 1 and MAX Purple provide the same service for East Calgary residents heading towards downtown Calgary. The transitway also features the province's first U-turn signals as a means to address reduced vehicle access to the International Avenue's businesses. [23]

Key
† Terminus
‡Chestermere Pilot Program
StationOpenedRoute transfers
City Centre†2018 CT Red.svg Red Line
CT Blue.svg Blue Line
CT Yellow.svg MAX Yellow
6 St SE2018—
12 St SE2018—
19 St SE2018—
28 St SE2018—
33 St SE2018—
36 St SE2018—
44 St SE2018—
52 St SE2018—
61 St SE2018—
70 St SE2018—
East Hills†2018—
Chelsea Drive‡2021—
Lakeview Drive‡2021—
Rainbow Road‡2021—
West Creek Drive‡2021—
Lavender Way‡2021—
West Creek Close‡2021—
Merganser Drive‡2021—
Mclovr Terrace‡2021—
Anniversary Park‡2021—
Windermere Drive‡2021—
Willowmere Close‡2021—
Springmere Drive‡2021—
East Hills†2018—

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Line (MBTA)</span> Bus rapid transit system in Massachusetts, US

The Silver Line is a system of bus routes in Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts, operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). It is operated as part of the MBTA bus system, but branded as bus rapid transit (BRT) as part of the MBTA subway system. Six routes are operated as part of two disconnected corridors. As of 2019, weekday ridership on the Silver Line was 39,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Transit</span> Public transit service in Calgary, Alberta

Calgary Transit is the public transit agency which is owned and operated by the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 2019, an estimated 106.5 million passengers boarded approximately 1,155 Calgary Transit vehicles. It operates light metro (LRT), urban tramway, bus rapid transit (BRT), para-transit, and regular bus services. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 144,385,200, or about 463,000 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transitway (Ottawa)</span> Bus rapid transit system in Ottawa, Canada

The Transitway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) network operated by OC Transpo in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It comprises a series of bus-only roadways and reserved lanes on city streets and highways. The dedicated busways ensure that buses and emergency vehicles on the Transitway rarely intersect directly with the regular traffic, and make it possible for them to continue at full speed even during rush hour. OC Transpo operates a network of rapid routes which use the Transitway to connect communities with the O-Train light rail system. Additional bus routes also use segments of the Transitway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Avenue, Calgary</span> Business Revitalization Zone in Alberta, Canada

International Avenue is a Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) in Calgary, Alberta. The district is centered on 17 Avenue SE in the neighbourhood of Forest Lawn in the east of the city. The district was created in 1993 to celebrate the rich cultural diversity that exists in east central Calgary. The area has since become a popular location for ethnic restaurants and shopping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississauga Transitway</span> Bus rapid transit system in Mississauga, Ontario

The Mississauga Transitway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It comprises a series of purpose-constructed bus-only roadways, as well as reserved lanes on existing city streets and portions of Highway 403, that together form a continuous 18 km (11 mi) route spanning most of the city from Winston Churchill Boulevard in the west to the junction of Highways 401 and 427 in the east on the border with Toronto. Service on the Transitway is provided by MiWay and GO Transit, with some stations providing connections to Brampton Transit and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro (Minnesota)</span> Rapid transit network in the Minneapolis metropolitan area of the United States

Metro is a transit network in Minnesota serving the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It also provides service to some suburban areas. As of 2022, the system consists of two light rail lines and five bus rapid transit (BRT) lines all of which are operated by the local public transit company: Metro Transit. The five lines connect Downtown Minneapolis and St Paul with the Bloomington, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, Roseville, Richfield, Burnsville and Brooklyn Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Rapid Transit</span> Winnipeg Rapid Transit

Winnipeg RT is a bus rapid transit system of Winnipeg Transit in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, currently consisting of the Southwest Transitway. Future expansions are in the planning stages, consisting of an Eastern Corridor connecting downtown to Transcona and a West-North Corridor connecting St. James with Downtown and West Kildonan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renforth station</span> Bus station in Mississauga, Ontario

Renforth, referred to during planning as Renforth Gateway, is a bus station on the border of the cities of Mississauga and Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. Located at Eglinton Avenue and Renforth Drive, it is the eastern terminus of the Mississauga Transitway and is close to the interchange between Highway 401 and Highway 427.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)</span>

The Metrobus network provides bus service throughout Miami-Dade County 365 days a year, operated by Miami-Dade Transit. It consists of about 79 routes and 771 buses, which connect most points in the county and part of southern Broward County as well. As of 2023, the system has 58,282,300 rides per year, or about 201,200 per day in the fourth quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14 Street W (Calgary)</span>

14 Street W is the name of two major arterial roads and a short collector road in Calgary, Alberta, separated by the Elbow River and the West Nose Creek valley. Originally proposed as a continuous route and north-south freeway, the plans were cancelled in favor of 24 Street W, which became Crowchild Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">17 Avenue SE (Calgary)</span> Road in Calgary, Alberta

17 Avenue SE is a major arterial road in east Calgary, Alberta. 17 Avenue SE is the focal point of the International Avenue Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) and the main roadway through the former town of Forest Lawn. Chestermere Boulevard is a major arterial road and the eastern extension of 17 Avenue SE through Chestermere, Alberta, Canada. The roadway is a former alignment of Highway 1A.

The Green Line, also known as Route 203 is a light rail (LRT) line under construction in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The line will run between Calgary's north-central and southeastern boundaries, connecting with the Red Line and Blue Line in the city's downtown. The Green Line is the largest public infrastructure project in Calgary's history and will be the first rail line in the city to operate low-floor trains. When completed, the Green Line will comprise 29 stations spanning 46 kilometres (29 mi). This will bring the total number of CTrain stations in Calgary to 74.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro C Line (Minnesota)</span> Bus rapid transit line in the Minneapolis metropolitan area of the United States

The Metro C Line is a bus rapid transit line in Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis, Minnesota operated by Metro Transit. The line is part of Metro Transit's Metro network of light rail and bus rapid transit lines. The route operates from the Brooklyn Center Transit Center along Penn Avenue and Olson Memorial Highway, terminating in downtown Minneapolis. The route is analogous to the existing Route 19 and is projected to increase ridership on this corridor from 7,000 to 9,000 by 2030. Eventually, part of its route will shift south to Glenwood Avenue from Olson Memorial Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro D Line (Minnesota)</span> Bus rapid transit line in the Minneapolis metropolitan area of the United States

The Metro D Line is a bus rapid transit line in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. The 18.5-mile (29.8 km) route primarily operates on Fremont and Chicago Avenues from Brooklyn Center through Minneapolis to the Mall of America in Bloomington. As part of BRT service, the D Line features "train-like amenities" including improved station facilities, off-board fare payment, modern vehicles, fewer stops, and higher frequency. The current alignment would substantially replace the existing Route 5, the highest ridership bus route in Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX (Calgary)</span>

MAX is a bus rapid transit network operated by Calgary Transit in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. MAX forms a part of Calgary Transit's rapid transit network, along with the CTrain light rail system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX Orange</span>

MAX Orange, also known as Route 303 or the North Crosstown BRT, is a bus rapid transit line in Calgary, Alberta. Part of Calgary Transit's MAX network, it largely travels east-west along 16 Avenue N and north-south along 52 Street NE. It connects CTrain stations on the Red and Blue lines to the northwest and northeast quadrants of Calgary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX Yellow</span>

MAX Yellow, also known as Route 304 or the Southwest BRT, is a bus rapid transit line in Calgary, Alberta. Part of Calgary Transit's MAX network, it largely travels north-south along Crowchild Trail SW, 14 Street SW, and 24 Street SW. It connects CTrain stations in downtown Calgary to the southwest quadrant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX Teal</span> Canadian bus line

MAX Teal, also known as Route 306 and the South Crosstown BRT, is a bus rapid transit line in Calgary, Alberta. Part of Calgary Transit's MAX network, it connects CTrain stations on the Red and Blue lines to the southwest and southeast quadrants of Calgary.

7 Avenue Southwest is a planned and approved CTrain light rail station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada part of the Green Line. Construction will begin in 2024 and complete in 2027 as part of construction stage one, phase one.

References

  1. ↑ "Our 2018 Bus Review". Calgary Transit. April 5, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  2. ↑ Potkins, Meghan (November 16, 2018). "MAX transit: A detailed look at three rapid bus routes launching on Monday". Calgary Herald. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Vaessen, Doug (September 26, 2019). "Calgary's MAX Purple line driving development along International Avenue". Global News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Ward, Rachel (May 24, 2019). "Take a walk down Calgary's International Avenue". CBC News. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. ↑ Dippel, Scott (September 20, 2019). "Calgary, Chestermere to discuss linking cities with public transit". CBC News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  6. ↑ The RouteAhead for Calgary Transit's Network (PDF). Calgary, Alberta, Canada: City of Calgary. 2013. p. 148.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sprawlcast Ep 4: The Streetcar That Wasn't". Sprawl Calgary. May 28, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  8. ↑ Smith, P.J. (January 1971). "Change in a Youthful City: The Case of Calgary Alberta". Geography. 56 (1): 10 – via JSTOR.
  9. ↑ Jolie, Devon (April 3, 2012). "Forest Lawn: More than just 'Calgary's ghetto'". Calgary Journal. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Our Urban Planning History and Future". International Avenue BRZ. 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  11. ↑ Hubbell, John; Colquhoun, Dave (2006). Light Rail Transit in Calgary: The First 25 Years (PDF). Calgary: Calgary Transit. pp. 3–4.
  12. ↑ City of Calgary (2018). International Avenue Area Redevelopment Plan. Calgary, Alberta, Canada: City of Calgary. p. 12.
  13. ↑ City of Calgary (2009). Calgary Transportation Plan (PDF). Calgary, Alberta, Canada: City of Calgary. p. 90.
  14. ↑ AECOM (2010). 17 Avenue SE TPS Executive Summary (PDF). Calgary, Alberta, Canada: City of Calgary.
  15. ↑ City of Calgary (2010). Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Network Plan for Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada: City of Calgary.
  16. ↑ Markusoff, Jason (January 31, 2014). "City approves $889M plan for seven new rapid bus routes by 2021". Calgary Herald. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. ↑ Howell, Trevor (April 16, 2016). "Nenshi, councillors demand answers as SW transitway cost estimates balloon". Calgary Herald. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. 1 2 DH Calgary Staff (May 12, 2017). "Construction underway on new 17 Avenue SE Bus Rapid Transit (PHOTOS)". Daily Hive Calgary. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  19. 1 2 City of Calgary. "17 Avenue SE Bus Rapid Transit". City of Calgary Ward 9 – Gian-Carlo Carra. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  20. ↑ Schmidt, Colleen (November 19, 2018). "Calgarians linked to all quadrants of city with launch of new MAX rapid transit network". CTV News. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Transit Link Information | Chestermere, AB - Official Website". chestermere.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  22. ↑ "Route 373" (PDF). Calgary Transit. April 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  23. ↑ Kury de Castillo, Carolyn (November 17, 2018). "First-in-Alberta U-turn signals part of MAX bus routes launch in Calgary". Global News. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.