Saddletowne Transit Service Review (TSR)

Final 2026 route changes

After an extensive review of bus service in the northeast part of the city, and customer feedback about our proposed routes, we have finalized the route changes that will begin August 31, 2026.

To see how your route will change, please take a look at the table below. If your route isn’t listed, it will not be changed. 

Existing route  Final changes  Relevant/alternative route(s): 
Existing route : 38 - Brentwood Station / Temple Final changes :

Modified

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

38 - Brentwood / Saddletowne Station

70 - Temple (New)

Existing route : 43 - McKnight Westwinds / Chinook Station Final changes :

Modified

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

43 - Whitehorn / Chinook Station

68 - 68 St E

70 - Temple (New)

Existing route : 59 - Savanna Final changes :

Modified and combined with Route 159

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

59 - Savanna

100 - Airport

159 - Saddlebrook

Existing route : 159 - Saddlebrook Final changes :

Modified and combined with Route 59

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

59 - Savanna

61 - Taradale

100 - Airport

159 - Saddlebrook

Existing route :

60 - Taradale (Clockwise)

Final changes :

Modified and combined with Route 85

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

70 - Temple (New)

59 - Savanna

159 - Saddlebrook

Existing route : 61 - Martindale (counter-clockwise) Final changes :

Modified and combined with Route 71

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

70 - Temple (New)

59 - Savanna

159 - Saddlebrook

Existing route : 68 - 68 St E Final changes :

Modified

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

38 - Brentwood / Saddletowne Station

68 - 68 St E

70 - Temple (New)

MAX Orange

Existing route : 71 - Taradale Final changes :

CANCELLED

(combined with Route 61)

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

21 - Castleridge (counterclockwise)

55 - Falconridge (clockwise)

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

70 - Temple (New)

Existing route : 85 - Martin Crossing  Final changes :

CANCELLED

(combined with Route 60)

Relevant/alternative route(s): :

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

Service levels of final routes
New or modified route Service span Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm) Off-peak
New or modified route:

59 – Savanna

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

12

Off-peak:

18 - 35

New or modified route:

159 – Saddlebrook

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

12

Off-peak:

18 - 35

New or modified route:

60 – Martindale

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

23 - 24

Off-peak:

23 - 27

New or modified route:

61 – Taradale

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

12

Off-peak:

20 - 30

New or modified route:

38 – Brentwood/ Saddletowne Station

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

15

Off-peak:

20 - 24

New or modified route:

43 – Whitehorn/ Chinook Station

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

10 - 14

Off-peak:

20 - 30

New or modified route:

68 – 68 St E 

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

23 - 25

Off-peak:

35

New or modified route:

70 – Temple

Service span:

5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(next day)

Peak (M-F, 6am-9am, 3pm-6pm):

16 - 17

Off-peak:

21 - 30

You can review the results of our engagement in our Engagement Report


What’s next? 

Route changes will begin on August 31, 2026

To present the final area network and help you plan your new commute, we are hosting two drop-in information sessions:

     When: July 15, 2026, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     Where: Genesis Centre (lobby area)
     Address: 7555 Falconridge Blvd NE

     When: July 19, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     Location: Dashmesh Culture Centre (main lobby area)
     Address: 135 Gurdwara Sahib Blvd NE

Transit planners and schedulers will be available to speak with you about the upcoming changes.


The Transit Service Review process:

Saddletowne TSR

The Saddletowne TSR includes bus routes that serve several N.E. communities. Our goals for this area are to:

  • Increase connections throughout the communities in the study area. This includes connecting to high schools, retail/shopping areas and McKnight-Westwinds Station
  • Invest in the growing areas of Savanna and Saddle Ridge
  • Adjust routes in the area to align with the primary transit network (PTN) and network design principles, as outlined in RouteAhead 

Comprehensive review of current transit service

Our first steps for this area were to review:  

  • How well the routes align with Route Ahead principles, 
  • The performance and ridership of every route,  
  • Current Transit coverage in the area,  
  • Expected community growth 
  • Areas with duplicate or overlapping bus service 
  • School catchments and School Express Route use,  
  • Important destinations and how well they are covered by Transit 
  • Feedback from operators about each route 
  • Feedback received from customers about each route (through 3-1-1, our call centre, our ‘contact us’ page, social media, etc.) 
  • Comments and concerns from area councillors  

Development of proposed changes

Based on this review, we have proposed adjustments to bus routes in the area, which will provide improved overall service, connections, and flexibility for the varied needs of our customers. 

Highlights of proposed changes

  • Extension of Route 38 to Saddletowne
  • Termination of Route 43 at Whitehorn Station
    • New Route 70 - Whitehorn/Temple and Saddletowne
    • Revised Route 68 to McKnight-Westwinds Station
  • Reduced service duplication on 64 Avenue N.E. and Martin Crossing Boulevard N.E.
  • New Routes 60 and 61 to connect between Saddletowne Station and McKnight Westwinds Station
  • New Routes 59/159 – two-way service for the communities of Savanna and Saddle Ridge
  • Increased capacity on Falconridge Boulevard – assisting with MAX Orange and Route 23 overloads
    • Improved connections to:
    • Nelson Mendela, Bishop McNally, and James Fowler High School
    • McKnight Westwinds retail area – Superstore
    • Savanna Bazaar
  • Improved service levels in community corridors

Public review

In March, we shared our proposed route changes and asked the community for feedback. We held two open houses in the area and hosted an online survey for customers to let us know your thoughts.

Current overall area map

Proposed area map

Engagement Report

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback earlier this year on the bus route changes we proposed. Where possible, we have used your feedback to make adjustments. 

Changes to our original proposed routes include: 

Route Changes/rationale
Route: 38 Changes/rationale:

No change to proposed route

  • As part of expanding the Primary Transit Network, Calgary Transit will extend Route 38 to Saddletowne Station and re‑align Route 43 to terminate at Whitehorn Station. Since Whitehorn and Temple are not designated PTN corridors, local transit service within these communities will be provided by Route 70. 
  • Keeping Route 38 on McKnight Bv will result in a faster travel time compared to going through the community of Whitehorn 
Route: 43 Changes/rationale:

No change to proposed route

  • As part of expanding the Primary Transit Network, Calgary Transit will extend Route 38 to Saddletowne Station and re‑align Route 43 to terminate at Whitehorn Station. Since Whitehorn and Temple are not designated PTN corridors, local transit service within these communities will be provided by Route 70. 
  • Terminating Route 43 at Whitehorn Station allows other local routes to focus on community coverage, resulting in more efficient use of transit resources. 
Route: 59/159 Changes/rationale:

No change to proposed route

  • Invests in service in the growing areas of Savanna and Saddle Ridge  
  • Reduces duplication and optimize resources 
Route: 60 Changes/rationale:

Revised Route 60 to connect with Dashmesh Cultural Centre and provide service on Martin Crossing Dr NE. 

  • Reduces service duplication with Route 60/61 and 85 and optimizing the resources to provide better service levels in the area.  
  • Ensures residents have direct access to Dashmesh
  • The trade off results in a reduction of service on Martindale Bv and Martindale Dr NE. Both within 400 – 600m of a bus stop and LRT Station.  
  • Maintains a connection to McKnight Westwinds Station. 
Route: 61 Changes/rationale:

No change to proposed route

  • Reduces service duplication with Route 60/61 and 71 and optimizing the resources to provide better service levels in the area.  
  • Maintain connection to Dashmesh Cultural Centre and McKnight Westwinds Station. 
Route: 68 Changes/rationale:

Revised Route 68 to connect through the community of Temple and Whitehorn instead of McKnight Bv where the previous Route 38 and 43 served. 

  • Connects Route 68 through Temple and Whitehorn to reduce the impact of the community and allows them similar transit access to the other parts of the City.  
  • Transit users in Falconridge can access Saddletowne and the Dashmesh by using Route 70 and transfer to Route 60 or 61. 
Route: 70 Changes/rationale:

No change to proposed route

  • As part of expanding the Primary Transit Network, Calgary Transit will extend Route 38 to Saddletowne Station and re‑align Route 43 to terminate at Whitehorn Station. Since Whitehorn and Temple are not designated PTN corridors, local transit service within these communities will be provided by Route 70. 
  • Connects Route 70 to Whitehorn Station, Saddletowne Station and 68 St E which will allow Whitehorn and Temple residents with similar transit access to the other parts of the City. 

View the detailed Engagement Report

Previous proposed routes

If you currently use route(s):  You may be interested in route(s): 
If you currently use route(s): : 38 - Brentwood Station / Temple (Modified)  You may be interested in route(s): :

38 - Brentwood / Saddletowne Station

70 - Temple (New)

If you currently use route(s): : 43 - McKnight Westwinds / Chinook Station (Modified) You may be interested in route(s): :

43 - Whitehorn / Chinook Station

68 - 68 St E

70 - Temple (New)

If you currently use route(s): : 59 - Savanna (Modified and combined with Route 159) You may be interested in route(s): :

59 - Savanna

100 - Airport

159 - Saddlebrook

If you currently use route(s): : 159 - Saddlebrook (Modified and combined with Route 59) You may be interested in route(s): :

59 - Savanna

61 - Taradale

100 - Airport

159 - Saddlebrook

If you currently use route(s): :

60 - Martindale (Modified and combined with Route 85)

61 - Martindale (counter-clockwise) (Modified and combined with Route 71)

You may be interested in route(s): :

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

70 - Temple (New)

59 - Savanna

159 - Saddlebrook

If you currently use route(s): : 68 - 68 St E (Modified) You may be interested in route(s): :

38 - Brentwood / Saddletowne Station

68 - 68 St E

70 - Temple (New)

MAX Orange

If you currently use route(s): : 71 - Taradale (Discontinued and combined with Route 61) You may be interested in route(s): :

21 - Castleridge (counterclockwise)

55 - Falconridge (clockwise)

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

70 - Temple (New)

If you currently use route(s): : 85 - Martin Crossing  (Discontinued and combined with Route 85) You may be interested in route(s): :

60 - Martindale

61 - Taradale

If you currently use route(s): : MAX Orange to/from Bishop McNally High School (Bus stops: NB Falconridge BV at Falworth RD N.E. (#7280) and SB Falconridge BV at Castlebrook DR N.E. (#7284) will be removed) You may be interested in route(s): :

38 - Brentwood / Saddletowne Station


Categories: Transit Service Review