In the 2024 Route Ahead update delivered to Calgary city council’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting on May 14, transit officials responded to a question from Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian.
“This is probably a little bit left field, but I know in certain transit stations, there’s one at Bridgeland, I think University CTrain station, there’s like kiosks that look like they used to have little stores. Can you explain what happened to those, and if there’s ever been any conversations about either allowing local companies to try and activate them, or, you know, maybe the downtown strategy team,” Mian asked.
“I think it’s just a really interesting opportunity.”
While the question was similar to those asked in years gone by, this time, the response was different.
Calgary Transit Director Sharon Fleming acknowledged that there’s an effort to activate many of the sites.
“I think there is an ongoing project to provide opportunities for community members to do expressions of interests at the site,” she said.
“So, I think that you’ll start to see them trickling in over the next couple of years.”
The kiosks were built into many of the larger LRT platforms when the line was first established. Commuters could buy a variety of concession items as they went through the station, along with having transit tickets for sale.
According to a Calgary Herald article from 1987, tenders were issued for the lease of nine concessions along the north and south legs of the LRT line, including the then newly opened University LRT station.
Plan meets other Route Ahead goals
According to Calgary Transit, there is a plan to activate storefronts or kiosks at some of the Calgary Transit LRT stations.
It falls within Route Ahead directives C12: Enhance transit stops and stations so they are attractive and welcoming public spaces and vibrant community nodes, and F6: Pursue flexible, sustained, future funding sources for both operating and capital objectives, according to information provided by Calgary Transit.
“We have selected and are working with a vendor to open a storefront at Bridgeland Station by the end of this year, and will be exploring opportunities for Brentwood, Heritage and Southland stations, with a goal to have them opened by the end of 2026,” read an email response from Amanda Bradley with Calgary Transit.
“We don’t have any specific ‘types’ of storefronts that we’re hoping for, so are open to hearing what potential vendors have in mind.”
Calgary Transit also has an open Expression of Interest (EOI) for a café at the Westbrook Station. Submissions are still being accepted.
On the City of Calgary’s real estate webpage, there is a listing for the property.
“Located on the CTrain blue line, this retail venue has high foot traffic being both within the Westbrook LRT station and the Nicholls Family Public Library,” the posting reads.
“The site is ideal for a cafe, small grab and go restaurant, smoothie bar and/or many other possibilities.”
That listing has been posted since March 2024.
