Transit systems across Canada are making strides this month. From improving access for low-income residents in Calgary, to strengthening regional transit in the Kootenays, to celebrating the histories and communities shaping Montreal’s future Metro stations.

Calgary opens new Fair Entry office in south Calgary

In Calgary, a new Fair Entry office has opened at 333 Shawville Blvd. S.E., just steps from the Somerset-Bridlewood CTrain station. The office expands access to discounted transit passes, recreation programs, and fee assistance for low-income Calgarians. With free parking, four Fair Entry counters, two Calgary Transit service counters, and a new queuing system, the site is designed to improve convenience for the thousands who rely on in-person service. More than 116,000 residents applied to the program in 2025, making it a vital resource. This new location replaces the Bow Parkade Customer Service Centre and will operate on weekdays as a pilot site.

RDCK Renews BC Transit Agreement to Support West Kootenay Services

In the West Kootenays, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has renewed its annual cost-sharing agreement with BC Transit. The agreement ensures funding for both conventional and paratransit services in Nelson and the Kootenay Boundary, with the RDCK contributing about $2.24 million in 2025. That covers roughly 42-44% of operating costs. Without this partnership, taxpayers would face an estimated $5.7 million bill to keep transit running independently. A steep price that underscores the importance of shared investment in regional mobility.

Montreal Announces Names for Blue Line Extension Stations

And in Montreal, Mayor Valérie Plante has announced the names of the five new stations that will make up the long-awaited Blue line extension. The $7.6-billion project, now scheduled to open in 2031, will add stations named Vertières, Mary-Two-Axe-Earley, Césira-Parisotto, Madeleine-Parent, and Anjou. Breaking from the tradition of naming stations after streets, these names honour the city’s Haitian, Indigenous, Italian, and feminist communities, as well as the borough of Anjou itself. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says the extension will include accessible entrances with elevators and escalators and is expected to serve nearly 69,000 riders daily.

From Calgary to the Kootenays to Montreal, these developments reflect a common theme: public transit continues to evolve not just as infrastructure, but as a service rooted in accessibility, community, and shared history.