Improving Calgary’s busiest bus corridor with faster more reliable service, safer streets, and future-ready mobility

MAX Green (North Central) BRT

The Centre Street/Harvest Hills Boulevard North corridor is Calgary’s busiest bus corridor and the route identified for the future northern extension of the Green Line light rail transit (LRT). To support current riders while preparing for the eventual LRT build-out, the City of Calgary needed near term improvements. With delays to implementing the Green Line north of the Bow River, the City engaged our team to help identify and plan the staged implementation of upgrades that would improve service.

Our Transportation team reviewed existing corridor traffic and bus operations, assessed its challenges and evaluated how future changes like the removal of the existing lane-reversal system and staged implementation of the Green Line LRT would impact the corridor. Using the data collected, we developed a set of short, medium, and long-term upgrades, including dedicated bus lanes, queue jumps, transit signal priority, upgraded stations, and enhanced walking and wheeling connections. The North Pointe terminal upgrade was delivered on an accelerated timeline, followed by multiple short-term improvements. Once the initial improvements were completed, the existing Route 301 was converted to the MAX Green Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in 2025. The project is currently planning on removing the lane reversal system through Crescent Heights, implementing dedicated bus lanes and enhancing the urban realm.

A key challenge the team faced was planning for a corridor in transition, including the staged implementation of the Green Line LRT. We worked closely with communities to navigate these interim conditions and developed adaptable mitigation measures as the Green Line extends north. Design work also brought the roadways up to current geometric and drainage standards while keeping reliable transit operations.

MAX Green BRT now offers a more reliable and connected transit experience across North Central Calgary, with further improvements to come as the medium and long-term upgrades advance.