Calgary students launch petition against planned bus cancellation
Screenshot_20250204-040920.png
Southwest high school students are rallying against the city's plan to cancel a bus route they use to get to and from school. Some Calgary high school students are opposing the city's plan to cancel a bus route that many rely on to get to school in the southwest.
The information you need to know, delivered straight to you: Download the CTV News app
Calgary Transit's 777 route serves the Evergreen community and is currently the go-to route for many students in the area who commute to Henry Wise Wood High School.
The group has started an online petition, "Save the 777 Bus," in hopes that Calgary Transit will reconsider its plans to end the route.
Bus 777 is the Evergreen-Henry Wise Wood bus line used by Evergreen residents every day. "However, the city is taking away this privilege." "They are taking away our bus," it reads.
According to an email sent to parents by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the route will no longer exist for the 2025-26 school year.
"No further explanation has been given," said Arian Hussaini, a Grade 10 student at Henry Wise Wood who took the route to study for the International Baccalaureate program.
Hussaini said the school is the only one in south Calgary that offers the International Baccalaureate program, so many students have to take public transportation to get there. "We haven't had much justification, consultation or engagement with Calgary Transit on this."
Mr. Hussaini said that starting next year, instead of taking the bus directly to school, students will have to take a bus to the CTrain, or another bus that is "overcrowded" and "full of students."
"This direct bus takes 20 to 22 minutes, as a 22-minute trip, and now a single trip takes 45 minutes to an hour for us," Hussaini said.
According to the CBE letter, the service is responding to its transit lines for "regular program students who live beyond the 2.4-kilometre walk zone in the regular program's attendance area, with travel times of one hour or less and no more than one transfer."
Evergreen community councillor Dan McLean said he was aware of the petition.
"I am disappointed to see that the transit service of Calgary has seen massive budget increases and I've always been told that we need to encourage people to get out of their cars, get on their bikes, get on the bus. Take the train and now what we're doing is taking out a bus line, which doesn't make sense, I'm not too happy about it."
McLean said he's committed to talking to Calgary Transit about the issue.
"We're looking into this further and hopefully it won't be eliminated and we can keep that line operating," he said. "Congratulations to the students and families who have gotten involved in city policy and services and started a petition to ensure their bus route is maintained," he said.
Hussaini hopes the students' voices will be heard and the route will be maintained.
"It helps show that young people are not just kids, right? We are people who can make a difference, we are people who can impact our world and we are starting to do that now."
In a statement Monday, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) said it was informed by Calgary Transit that the route would no longer be available for the 2025-26 school year due to low ridership.
"We understand that changes in transit options may require adjustments, and we truly appreciate the students who took the time to advocate for their needs. "It's great to see young people getting involved and using their voices," the school board said in a statement.
"Calgary Transit plays a vital role in providing safe and reliable transportation for students across the city, and CBE appreciates their continued partnership."
CBE notes that students living in the Evergreen community are assigned to attend Dr. E. P. Scarlett — a school that does not offer the International Baccalaureate program — and that an express route to Calgary is available.
It added that Calgary Transit determines the number of buses and routes based on ridership and available resources. "Some residential areas have express lines with designated schools. These lines are public transportation and are accessible to the general public. Many residential areas do not have direct lines. "Students in these residential areas will have to use regular service," the CBE said.
Calgary Transit says the number of students on the line has dropped from about 70 students per trip in 2021 to 35. "We're constantly reviewing our routes and, in doing so, we're looking at their performance, their movement, their needs, and then we're looking at how a route fits into the overall area," said Karen Alm, Calgary Transit's director of service design. Alm says available resources, including budget, buses and drivers, also play a role in canceling or changing a route.
[attachment deleted by admin]