New MAX Yellow BRT connects Calgarians to popular spots in southwest

Calgary Transit introduced its newest rapid transit line, MAX Yellow, on Monday. The line will connect Calgarians to popular spots in the southwest including Rockyview hospital, downtown Calgary and Mount Royal University.

MAX Yellow will be combined with three existing MAX lines — MAX Purple, Teal and Orange — and expand Calgary's rapid transit to all four quadrants of the city, according to a Calgary Transit release.

Asif Kurji, acting manager of transit planning, said the new service will provide mobility choices and connectivity to Calgarians in the southwest.

"We've had a lot of feedback over the past five years regarding this project and we're quite excited," he said.

"It'll reduce the number of transfers, it'll improve the travel time for customers to get to these various destinations as well."

The rollout for the new line will begin on Dec. 23, and Kurji said transit users will be directed by staff along the corridor.

Currently the MAX lines are as follows:

• MAX Purple: East Hills – City Centre.

• MAX Teal​​​​​​: Westbrook – Douglas Glen.

• MAX Orange: Brentwood – Saddletowne.

• MAX Yellow: City Centre - Woodpark.

"Over the past year, ridership has been increasing on those routes," he said. "Over the year we've been seeing increases along the way and we expect the same to happen with MAX Yellow when it starts on Monday."

Kurji said some of current bus routes will be changed along with some bus numbers and that more specific information about bus routes are available on Calgary Transit's website.

Anne Cataford, manager for major transit projects, said the MAX Yellow line was the last piece of the BRT and that construction is now done for the year.

She added  other new projects include:

• New bus stations and buses from Woodbine and into downtown.
• Improvements along the shoulder of Glenmore Trail.
• A new pedestrian bridge across 14th Street north of 90th Avenue S.W.
• Upgrades to the 75th Avenue pedestrian bridge.
• Intersection upgrades at Southland Drive and 14th Street.