ITE Southern Alberta is hosting another luncheon at the Sandman Hotel. Join us for networking, a delicious lunch, and an informative presentation.

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm MST

Location: Sandman Hotel Calgary, 888 7 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3J3 Canada

The event schedule is as follows:

• 11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Networking
• 12:00 pm: Buffet Lunch served
• 12:10 pm: Presentation begins

Presentation Description

Calgary is expanding its primary transit network under the RouteAhead plan, with 52 Street E identified as a priority corridor. As the city’s second busiest transit corridor, with almost 20% of Calgary’s population living within 1km, existing Bus Route 23 travels through 24 communities and connects major destinations while linking to existing and future MAX BRT and LRT routes. This bus route carries over 10,000 daily riders, but its 90 minute peak end to end travel time highlights inequities for north corridor communities, many of whom rely on low income transit passes for mobility according to The City’s equity index. A functional study is being completed, which recommends introducing a MAX BRT service on 52 Street E, with strategic stops, bus only lanes, transit signal priority, improved walking/wheeling access, and enhanced station amenities. This will provide a more reliable, convenient, and comfortable transit service, all adding to its attractiveness. It also proposes a MAX Teal extension from Douglas Glen station to 52 Street E, upgrades at Saddletowne LRT station, and a new southern terminal in Seton, ahead of the Green Line extension. These improvements aim to enhance access, support economic growth, and provide more equitable transit options for East Calgary.

Presenters

Aasha Williams-Blanco – Transit and Rail Team Lead (Alberta), Stantec

With more than 15 years in mass transit planning, design coordination, and major infrastructure, Aasha brings a strong technical foundation in bus rapid transit (BRT) and light rail transit (LRT) project delivery. She has contributed to some of Calgary’s significant transit initiatives including the 52 Street East Max BRT, Green Line LRT, and the MAX Yellow BRT. Aasha has managed and coordinated key components of large transit programs—ranging from technical coordination to property acquisition and quantity estimating, to alignment evaluation and life-cycle cost analysis. She is known for her people-first leadership style. She invests deeply in mentorship, team development, and creating environments where others can grow. When not at work, Aasha thrives on staying active with her family and is intentional about fostering community with people she holds dear to her heart. She also loves to read, or you’ll find her cheering from the sidelines at her kids’ hockey and soccer games.

Nusrat Jehanara – Transportation Engineer, City of Calgary

Nusrat is a transportation engineer with the Transit Project Development team. She has over 15 years of private and public sector experience.  She started her career in rural highway design, then moved to urban street design. Her interest in the public sector grew after meeting like-minded individuals at the 2017 NACTO conference in Chicago. Since joining the City of Calgary in 2020, she has worked in the Public Spaces Project Development team, managing wheeling and pedestrian improvement projects in diverse communities. She is currently working on the 52 St E BRT Functional Planning Study.

==The deadline to register is 10 am on September 15, 2026==