Zoo station (Calgary)

Zoo station is a CTrain light rail station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is on the Blue Line between Bridgeland/Memorial and Barlow/Max Bell stations. It opened on April 22, 1985 as part of the original Blue Line. The station serves the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, the Telus Spark science museum as well as the community of Bridgeland.

Zoo
CTrain station
General information
Other names	Calgary Zoo
Location	1400 Memorial Drive NE
Coordinates	51°02′51″N 114°01′30″W
Owned by	Calgary Transit
Platforms	Center-loading platform
Connections	No connections to bus routes
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	500 spaces (paid only)
Accessible	Yes
History
Opened	1985; 39 years ago (1985)
Rebuilt	2014; 10 years ago (2014) (platform extensions) 2019; 5 years ago (2019) (interior renovations)
Services
Preceding station CTrain Following station Bridgeland/Memorial toward 69 Street Blue Line Barlow/Max Bell toward Saddletowne

Location and station layout

The station has a single island platform. The station is located between the two lanes of Memorial Drive, with a tunnel connecting the station north to its park and ride and another tunnel connecting the station south to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.^[1]

Art

Stylistically, the design of Zoo station differs from the other stations in the CTrain system as it incorporates images of animals and dinosaurs. The station's Island platform is accessed via ramps leading up from a tunnel below Memorial Drive. The tunnel below Memorial Drive also houses several permanent zoo-related exhibits.

Station Upgrades

As part of Calgary Transit's plan to operate 4-car trains by the end of 2014, all 3-car platforms are being extended. Zoo station will also see new furnishings in addition to a platform extension. Construction started in early 2014 and lasted approximately 6 months.^[2]

Calgary Transit, in collaboration with Shaw Communications, announced on November 16, 2016 that 8 new locations for Public Wi-Fi services would be added to the Calgary C-Train system. These new locations would add public Wi-Fi to 18 new stations; including Zoo Station. These changes ere done as they would improve transit experience for their users, which would improve customer commitment.^[3]

Renovations to the station began in September 2017 and were completed in March 2019, with the station remaining open with no disruption to service. The renovations included new wall, ceiling, and floor finishes, enhanced security, including new CCTV cameras, lighting, mechanical, and electrical upgrades, a new public announcement system, new station signs, upgraded station doors, backup power capabilities, and a new roofing system.^[4]

References

1. Calgary Transit. Calgary Zoo Station (PDF) (Map).
2. "The City of Calgary - N.E. LRT platform extensions". Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
3. "Calgary Transit and Shaw Communications expand Public Wi-Fi to the Northwest and Northeast CTrain stations". Calgary Newsroom. November 16, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
4. "Station Renovations". Calgary Transit. Retrieved 2022-10-25.