Calgary school bus fees jump 40%, driving 1,000 fewer students to register for rides

The Calgary Board of Education's 40 percent bus fee hike is reshaping how families get kids to school — and a local advocate warns the shift toward car travel and cycling is creating dangerous traffic conditions around school zones.

General transportation fees jumped from $360 to $500 per year for the 2026-27 school year, with kindergarten one-way trips rising from $180 to $250. The result: about 1,000 fewer students have registered for yellow bus services despite overall student enrollment expected to grow.

So far, roughly 1,000 fewer students have signed up for busing compared to last year. The school board expects to have a clearer picture of final registration numbers by the end of September, with the total potentially rising by October as late registrations come in.

Laura Shutiak, executive director of Youth En Route, a local organization focused on expanding mobility options for children, said the fee surge creates a false choice for families living outside walking distance: either pay more for the bus, or accept the risks of parents driving or letting kids bike. "More cars create traffic congestion, posing a hazard to students walking and biking nearby during peak times," she said. "That just makes it less safe."

The CBE attributed the increase to two factors: the reserve fund used to subsidize fees for years is nearly exhausted, and the overall cost of providing transportation has risen. In a statement, the board said it believes "safety on the roads is important in all communities" and that traffic safety is a shared responsibility requiring driver cooperation and adherence to parking rules around schools.

Shutiak pushed back on that framing, pointing to Calgary's 11-year-high in vehicle fatalities last year — 15 people killed by cars. So far in 2026, there have been more than 10 pedestrian deaths. She also noted that Alberta's government has opposed bike lanes, with Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen recently praising an Ontario ruling that found them not a constitutional right.

Families unable to afford the new fees can apply for a waiver, the school board said. Registration remains open, with the board expecting a clearer picture of final numbers by the end of September.