CBE bus fees jump 40% — 1,000 fewer students registering for rides
The Calgary Board of Education expects about 1,000 fewer students to use transportation despite rising overall enrolment for the 2026-27 school year.
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About 1,000 fewer Calgary students will ride the school bus next year even though overall student enrolment is growing — a direct effect of the 40 percent fee increase the Calgary Board of Education approved in May.
Annual transportation fees for most CBE students jumped $140, from $360 to $500. Kindergarten one-way trips rose nearly 40 percent, from $180 to $250. So far, 24,500 students have registered for 2026-27 transportation, with the board expecting that number to rise to around 26,000 by October — well below last year's roughly 27,000 riders.
The fee hike stems from two pressures: the CBE's transportation reserve fund — which has supplemented fees for years — is "almost entirely exhausted" by the end of this school year, and the overall cost of providing the service has climbed. The province increased its school transportation funding by $139 million, or 43.5 percent, since 2022, but local boards still face rising expenses.
Families unable to afford the new fees can apply for a waiver. The Calgary Catholic School District kept its rates unchanged for next year and reported transportation demand remaining "relatively stable."
The CBE said 21 new school projects in development should eventually reduce the need for transportation outside students' home communities. For now, the fee increase stands as the steepest barrier to ridership the board has faced in recent years.
How many families applied for fee waivers, and what income threshold qualifies?
Why did the CBE allow its reserve fund to deplete this far rather than raising fees earlier?
Will the board adjust fees again before the new schools open, or hold at $500 through 2027?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much did Calgary Board of Education bus fees increase?
Annual transportation fees for most CBE students jumped 40 percent, rising $140 from $360 to $500 for the 2026-27 school year.
Why did the Calgary Board of Education raise bus fees?
The CBE's transportation reserve fund is almost entirely exhausted, and the overall cost of providing the service has climbed despite the province increasing school transportation funding by $139 million since 2022.
