Update: South Central Bus Garage
The City of Calgary is moving forward with plans to build a new South Central Bus Garage in the community of Alyth/Bonnybrook/Manchester. This facility is a critical step in ensuring Calgary Transit can meet the needs of our rapidly growing city while modernizing its fleet, increasing storage, and expanding service levels. It will also replace the aging Victoria Park Garage, which is set to be decommissioned.
With Calgary’s population expected to grow by nearly half a million people over the next 30 years, the demand for efficient, sustainable transit services will only increase. The new South Central Bus Garage will provide the capacity to double the number of buses currently accommodated at Victoria Park over time, ensuring we can continue to provide reliable transit options to Calgarians.
The facility will be built on two City-owned parcels of land:
The Burbank Road Site (74 acres- currently leased by Wild Rose Motocross)
East of Blackfoot Trail and west of 11th Street SE., divided by the proposed 50th Avenue SE Extension right-of-way.The Highfield Crescent Site (17.4 acres- currently leased by Highfield Regenerative Farm)
East of 11 Street SE, and south of Highfield Crescent SE, also divided by the proposed 50 Avenue SE Extension.
These sites were selected because of their central location, City ownership, and ability to accommodate a project of this scale. The planned redevelopment of the Rivers District was also a key consideration in this decision. Despite exploring alternative sits, no other locations were able to provide the necessary size, accessibility, or zoning requirements for a new bus maintenance and storage facility.
Supporting Affected Leaseholders and Community Organizations
We recognize that this project will impact the organizations currently leasing space at these locations, namely Wild Rose Motocross and Highfield Regenerative Farm. These beloved community spaces and Ward 9 amenities have provided valuable recreation and environmental benefits to so many Calgarians over the years.
The City has been in ongoing contact with the affected leaseholders, providing advance notice of these changes. We will continue working closely with them to support their transition and explore options for their future operations. We deeply appreciate the significant contributions both organizations have made to Calgary’s cultural and recreational landscape, and share in the collective sadness and disappointment that comes with these changes.
The City's Approach to Land Leasing
The City of Calgary strives to make the best use of available land while balancing long-term city-building priorities. In many cases, City-owned land is leased for interim uses—such as recreation, education, environmental initiatives, and cultural activities—until it is needed for critical infrastructure projects.
When leasing land, we ensure tenants understand that their use is temporary and that projects like the South Central Bus Garage may eventually require its transition. Our leasing and property management team remains dedicated to providing tenants with as much notice and support as possible as these changes take place.
We appreciate the contributions of the organizations that have made use of these spaces and acknowledge that transitions like these can be challenging. The City will continue engaging with affected leaseholders to ensure they have the information and resources they need during this process.
Next Steps
The South Central Bus Garage project is now entering the Master Planning stage, which is expected to take approximately 12 to 15 months. During this phase, we will develop more detailed concepts, refine technical requirements, and update cost estimates for the facility. After completion of the Master Planning phase, construction is anticipated to begin in Q1 of 2027.
We understand that changes like these can bring uncertainty for those impacted, and we are committed to keeping the community and affected leaseholders informed as planning progresses. The City will continue to share information and details as they become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is The City doing the South Central Bus Garage Feasibility Study and Masterplan?
Calgary's public transit system is also preparing for significant growth, facing several challenges along the way. Calgary Transit must integrate new vehicle technologies, replace aging facilities, and develop new infrastructure amidst ongoing urban development projects. Over the next 30 years, The City's population is expected to increase by nearly half a million people, significantly raising the demand for efficient and sustainable transit services. The 2023 RouteAhead long-term transit strategy highlights the need for increased service hours, additional buses, and facilities to meet targets in the Municipal Development Plan and Calgary Transportation Plan. More immediately, we must replace Victoria Park Garage to enable the deindustrialization of the current site in support of the Rivers District planning.
Why does The City need a new Bus Maintenance and Storage Facility?
Calgary Transit has identified the need for additional bus garages before 2050, to keep pace with growth. One of these garages will replace the Victoria Park Garage as part of the Rivers District planning initiative, which will redevelop the Victoria Park Site. The new South Central facility is not only strategically positioned to address this need but also represents a unique opportunity to support increased transit capacity. This facility will effectively bridge the gap and accommodate the necessary expansion and modernization efforts planned by Calgary Transit.
How were these lands selected to be included in a feasibility study?
These are City-owned lands. They were deemed feasible due to size, location, and access for buses. A central location is required to reduce Calgary Transit operating costs due to the volume of transit service that begins and ends downtown.
Why will the Victoria Park Garage be decommissioned?
The Victoria Park bus facility is operational and serves a key role in Calgary Transit’s operations. A site for a new facility is being investigated to enable the deindustrialization of the Rivers District and to meet the increased demands for public transit in a growing city through future garage expansion. A new facility also provides the opportunity to transition towards zero emission buses with updated design standards and environmental considerations.
When will the Victoria Park Garage be decommissioned?
The Victoria Park Garage won’t be decommissioned until another facility is built to replace its capacity within the transit network. Until we have completed the study we can’t estimate timelines.
What is the capacity proposed/needed for the new facility?
Approximately 250 buses in the short term, and approximately 500 buses in the long term.
Why is The City taking land leased out to community groups?
The City's leasing and property management team is committed to making the best use of public land while planning for the future. Many well-loved community spaces – such as the Glenmore Velodrome, Safety City, and others – have been made possible over the years because The City allows land designated for future infrastructure projects to be used in the interim for public benefit.
By enabling interim uses, The City supports recreational, educational, environmental, and cultural activities that enhance the community, with the understanding that these lands will eventually transition to their intended purpose. This approach ensures that public land is actively used rather than sitting vacant. Agreements with user groups are made with the clear understanding that when development is ready to proceed, the responsibility for tenant transition (decommissioning of the interim uses, relocation etc.) falls to the current users. We endeavor to provide as much notice as possible to support a smooth transition. While alternative sites may occasionally be available, this is rare, as most temporarily available City lands are already allocated.
What will happen to the tenants currently leasing this land?
Directly affected leaseholders (tenants) on City-owned land will be updated with study highlights and anticipated project timelines. We will keep leaseholders updated on our findings so they can make informed decisions about operating their businesses. We are committed to ensuring these tenants are aware of work happening around their lands, and that they know about opportunities to provide their thoughts and input. We will also work to understand their operational activities in the coming years, to minimize potential disruptions.
Is the City helping Wild Rose Motocross find a new piece of land?
The City has looked within the City-owned portfolio of properties for potential alternative sites. However, none are available or suitable for WRMA’s use. If an opportunity presents itself, we will engage or notify WRMA.
Is co-locating the Motocross Association an option?
Preliminary site concepts indicate no potential for co-locating motocross within the current proposed development. Most of the space is consumed by the Bus MSF and the 50th Ave SE right of way. Any remaining space on the developable parcel is required for stormwater retention and slope stabilization. Safebus circulation patterns must be maintained. Residual land is likely required for tree replacement and/or municipal reserve without vehicular access.
Can you tell me about Highfield Farm operation?
Highfield Regenerative Farm is Calgary’s first large-scale urban farm and was launched as a pilot project as The City developed the Growing Spaces Program.
Is the Farm producing food for Calgarians?
Highfield’s success has contributed to the development of the Growing Spaces Program, which will continue to support urban agriculture on vacant City-owned land in other locations.
What’s next for the Farm?
While the Highfield Farm lease is expected to end in 2026, to make way for the SC Bus Garage project, we are continuing to identify suitable City-owned vacant lands that meet the needs of growers in Calgary through the Growing Spaces Program.