Snow prompts delays on Calgary Transit, leaves roads in a poor condition

Road conditions in Calgary are less than ideal Wednesday as snow continues to fall across the city and commuters using transit face delays.

The city says it has a strategic plan to deal with all the snow.

Chris McGeachey with Calgary’s roads department says it started falling overnight, and will continue throughout the day.

“Right now our focus is the busiest infrastructure, Calgary’s busiest roads — those roads include Crowchild Trail, Glenmore Trail,” he said. “Our focus right now is ploughing those through lanes and applying material to those roads to improve traction.”

McGeachey advises sticking to major routes for those that have to head out on the roads.

“I think what Calgarians are going to notice on the commute today, particularly snow cover on the side streets but it should be apparent that we’ve been focused on those major routes,” he said.

The snow and ice is resulting in more collisions and crashes, according to police.

From last Wednesday, Jan. 10 to Tuesday, Jan. 16, there were 1,100 crashes reported, nearly 70 of which resulted in injuries.

Issues with the CTrain during the morning commute left some riders frustrated.

Calgary Transit posted to X, formerly Twitter, just after 8:30 a.m. saying there was no service on the Red Line from Sunnyside to 7th Street Station.

Attention #CTRIDERS #REDLINE There is no service between Sunnyside and 7th Street station at this time. Shuttles are being put in place to get you to your destination pic.twitter.com/pHX49y68AU

— Calgary Transit (@calgarytransit) January 17, 2024

It adds that shuttle buses are in place to get people to their destination.

An accident involving a vehicle and a CTrain AT 4 Avenue and 9 Street SW was responsible for the closures on the train.

Later, Calgary Transit said shuttles were also being launched to pick up riders at Lions Park Station as there is no service between Lions Park and 7 Street Station Shuttles would be north bound 6 Street, it added.

Attention #CTRIDERS #REDLINE There is no service between Lions Park and 7th Street station at this time. Shuttles are being put in place to get you to your destination. Shuttles will be North Bound 6 street and take you to Lions Park pic.twitter.com/03Xl9Jkx8U

— Calgary Transit (@calgarytransit) January 17, 2024

Around 9:37 a.m., Calgary Transit said on social media the Red Line had opened and service had resumed.

Snow detours are in effect for Calgary Transit, McGeachey says, adding that the city will keep an eye on road and weather conditions and will provide an update when the detours are lifted.

“These snow detours will be active to help reduce the number of buses that get stuck and keep transit moving as smoothly as possible,” he explained.

Commuters are being advised to dress warmly as you might have to trek to the nearest stop along your affected route.

McGeachey says the city expects more snow closer to the afternoon rush.

Updates are provided periodically throughout the day on calgary.ca/snow

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is forecasting another 10 centimetres of snowfall in the city by the end of the day.

Marianna Greenhoff with the ECCC says Calgarians should be mindful of the snow.

“They are not going to be super high in terms of hitting snowfall warnings or anything like that,” she explained. “However, the timing of it is going to be kind of poor — it’s going to really impact drivers this afternoon as they head home from work or school.”