Southeast TransitWay (SETWAY)
Overview
Calgary Transit has initiated the predesign for the Southeast Transitway, or SETWAY, working to improve public transit services in Southeast Calgary.
Between 1999 and 2006, Calgary Transit completed functional studies for the future Southeast LRT – one of six LRT lines planned for Calgary. For more information, see http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Southeast%20LRT%20Compendium.pdf
These studies identified a feasible alignment for the LRT as well as high-level land requirements and costs. To build the entire length of Southeast LRT between the downtown and the South Health Campus in Seton would cost upwards of $2 billion. In the absence of sufficient funding for LRT, The City is studying options for staging improvements in the form of bus rapid transit (BRT) on exclusive transitways.
A Transitway is an exclusive roadway for public transit buses that includes stations and transit terminals. The term originated in the Ottawa region in Ontario, where the bus-based Transitway currently serves as the core of their rapid transit network.
Options for the SETWAY will be developed to improve travel time, reliability and convenience for Route 302 (http://www.calgarytransit.com/route_maps/rte302.html) and other routes in Southeast Calgary. SETWAY options will be evaluated under The City’s Sustainability Approach according to four perspectives:
- Environment
- Community well-being
- Economy
- Smart growth and mobility
The first public engagement events will be held in Fall 2011. The City will present findings on the early phases of the predesign to the public for input before making a recommendation on improvements to City Council. Additional public engagement, including comprehensive TOD planning, will be held in 2012 as the predesign advances.
For more information or to share comments:
Web: http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/setway_20110725.html
Email: CTCustomerFeedback@calgary.ca
Phone: 403-262-1000