12 Avenue South Improvements

Note: Construction on this project will now occur in 2021. Visit Calgary.ca/12Ave for up-to-date information.

12 Avenue South Improvements

12 Avenue South is an important route for Calgarians who commute to Calgary's downtown core. We're making improvements to 12 Ave to make travel better for all modes of transportation. Construction will consist of new road markings and painted lines, updated signal work and the extension of the 12 Ave S. cycle track.

Upcoming event

The City will be hosting a drop-in information session to present the Phase 3 design (15 Street S.W. to 19 Street S.W.) along with the What We Heard report from the public engagement with the community this past summer. Come along to learn more about Phase 3 and how community feedback was used to develop the final design.

View the Phase 3 design and information session boards.

Event info

Date: Dec. 11, 2019
Venue: Sunalta Community Hall, 1627 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0J7 (map)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Overall changes for Phase Three

The design extends the two-way cycle track facility on the north side of 12th Ave. S.W. from 15th St. S.W. to19th St. S.W., and then on the east side of 19th St. S.W. from 12th Ave. S.W. to 10th Ave. S.W.
The cycle track will be a dedicated facility for all ages and abilities, separated from vehicular traffic by parking curbs and/or flexible delineators.
The on-street cycle track will help to physically narrow the roadway to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety of pedestrians/cyclists.
The design retains two consistent eastbound vehicle lanes on 12th Ave. S.W. from 15th St .S.W. to 18th St. S.W. and one vehicle lane from 18th St. to 19th St. S.W., with parking consolidated to the south side of 12th Ave. S.W. Additionally, one southbound vehicle lane is retained on 19th St. S.W. from 10th Ave. S.W. to 12th Ave. S.W., with parking consolidated to the west side of 19th St. S.W.
The design improves sidewalk ramps at most intersections to line up with pathway routes crossingthe street.

Detailed changes for Phase Three

The design provides missing sidewalk links on the west side of 19th St. S.W. north and south of 11th Ave. S.W.
Removing the right-turn islands at 12th Ave./ 18th St. S.W. and 10th Ave./19th St. S.W. shortens pedestrian crossings while also reducing vehicle speeds around the corners.
New curb extensions at 15th St. S.W., 18th St. S.W. and 19th St. S.W. shorten the crossing distance across intersections, provide motorists with improved visibility of pedestrians, eliminate driving in the parking lane, and help reduce speeds by narrowing the roadway.
The design includes a new traffic signal and multi-use crossing at 10th Ave./19th St. S.W.
The design includes a new multi-use path connection from 10th Ave. S.W. to the pathway under the bridge.

Phase One and Two Information

Work on Phase one and Phase two was completed in October 2019. Several improvements were made along the corridor including:

Extending the dedicated lane for people cycling from 11 Street to 15 Street S.W.
Bicycle turn boxes at 12 Avenue and 11 Street.
Improved travel time for drivers by providing three uninterrupted driving lanes for morning rush-hour.
The rush hour parking restriction was removed on the north side of 12 Avenue between 15 Street S.W. and 16 Street S.W.
A loading stall was provided on the east side of 12 Street S.E. just north of 12 Avenue South.

Learn more about the types of cycle tracks and bike lanes and tips for cycling in Calgary.

For tips on snow-clearing a sidewalk beside a cycle track, please review this information and share with contractors.

Engagement summary

Public input about the 12 Avenue South Improvements project was collected in Spring 2019. In total, the project team talked to 260 people and over 60 businesses through the open house events, door knocking sessions and online. Thank you to those who provided your input – more information on the previous engagement for the project can be viewed here.

Next steps

Over the next 18-months, the new section of open cycle track will be monitored and adjustments could still be made.

The project team has reviewed input provided for Phase three this summer and will share a summary at the Dec. 11 information session (details above). The public input for Phase three was used to inform the design of that phase which will be shared with the community on Dec. 11. Construction for Phase three is scheduled for Spring/Summer 2020.

Phase 2 Project Update

Project update

The project team incorporated the following public feedback into the final design for phase two of the project:

To minimize the community impact of a temporary roadway change at 12 Avenue and 16 Street S.W. The City will end Phase two at 15 Street S.W.
Bicycle turn boxes will be provided at 12 Avenue and 11 Street.
Parking will remain as is on 13 Street S.W. north of the new accessible loading zone.
The rush hour parking restriction will be removed on the north side of 12 Avenue between 15 Street S.W. and 16 Street S.W.
A loading stall will be provided on the east side of 12 Street S.E. just north of 12 Avenue South, creating two angled loading stalls and five parking stalls.

The final design for phase two was refined using public feedback from our engagement and community outreach activities.

Construction for Phases one and two will begin mid to late August. Some preliminary water main work is required on the block between 9 Street and 8 Street S.W. before roadway resurfacing can take place. The water main work is scheduled for early August 2019.

12 Avenue South will remain open for the duration of the project. Sections of the road may require resurfacing, resulting in the temporary closure of one or more lanes of traffic. If resurfacing occurs, traffic will be temporarily reduced to one lane during non-peak hours.

Next steps

The project team will review input provided for Phase three this summer and share a summary of feedback in the Fall. The input for Phase three will help inform the design of that phase and concepts will be shared with the community in Fall 2019. Construction for Phase three is scheduled for Spring/Summer 2020.

Engagement Process

Phase	Scope	Timeline	Engagement Promise
Phase one: road improvements	Upgrade driving lanes along 12 Avenue South between 11 Street S.W. and 4 Street S.W.	Summer 2019	Inform; Provide information that is timely, accurate, balanced, objective, and easily understood. Respond to questions for clarification and direct citizens and stakeholders to sources of additional information.
Phase two: western extension	Extend the cycle track west on 12 Avenue South from 11 Street S.W. to 15 Street S.W.	Summer 2019	Listen and Learn; We will listen to stakeholders and learn about their plans, views, issues, concerns and expectations and ideas
Phase three: connection to the Bow River Pathway	Extend the cycle track on 12 Avenue South from 15 Street S.W. to 19 Street. S.W. then across 10 Avenue S.W. to the Bow River Pathway.	Summer 2020	Listen and Learn; We will listen to stakeholders and learn about their plans, views, issues, concerns and expectations and ideas

Phase One: Road Improvements

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What's changing for phase one?

The proposed changes will improve traffic flow and safety for people who drive by providing more through travel lanes for AM peak traffic and by reducing the need to change lanes.

Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 4 Street S.W. and 5 Street S.W., will remain the same. Parking will be added to the south side of 12 Avenue with a no-stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 5 Street S.W. and 6 Street S.W., will remain the same, with paid parking permitted between 9:00am and 6:00pm. Parking will be added to the south side of 12 Avenue with a no-stopping restriction from 7- 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 6 Street S.W. and 7 Street S.W., will be changed to no stopping at any time. Parking will be added to the south side of 12 Avenue with a no-stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 7 Street S.W. and 8 Street S.W., will be changed to no stopping at any time. Parking will be added to the south side of 12 Avenue with a no-stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 8 Street S.W. to 9 Street S.W., directly in front of Dominion Place will changed to no stopping at anytime, parking west of Dominion Place will remain with a no stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m. Parking on the south side of 12 Avenue will be added with a no stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 9 Street to 10 Street S.W., will be changed to no stopping at anytime. Parking on the south side of 12 Avenue will be added with a no stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue between 10 Street S.W. and 11 Street S.W., will be changed to no stopping at anytime. Parking on the south side of 12 Avenue will be added with a no stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Reconfiguring parking provides three through travel lanes for drivers during the morning commute.
Loading zones are being evaluated on a block-by-block basis. In some instances, they are being extended and moved to the south side of 12 Avenue or moved to a street adjacent to 12 Avenue.
There is minimal impact to the existing bus route along 12 Avenue. Minor adjustments may be needed to bus stop locations.

Phase Two: Western Extension of the Cycle Track

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What's changing for Phase two?

A two-way cycle track is being built on the north side of 12 Avenue S.W. between 11 Street S.W. and 16 Street S.W. using flexible posts and pinned curb. The design for phase two will tie into cycle track and vehicle travel lanes east of 11 Street S.W.
Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue S.W. between 11 Street S.W. and 13 Street S.W. will be removed. Parking on the south side of 12 Avenue S.W. will remain the same, including a no-stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m. This retains three travel lanes for drivers during the morning commute.
Parking between 14 Street S.W. and 15 Street S.W. will be removed on both the north and south sides of 12 Avenue S.W. This will retain one eastbound left turn lane onto 14 Street S.W. as well as two eastbound through lanes for drivers during the morning commute.
Parking on the south side of 12 Avenue S.W. between 15 Street S.W. and 16 Street S.W. will be removed. Parking on the north side of 12 Avenue S.W. will remain the same, including a no-stopping restriction from 7 – 8:30 a.m. This retains two travel lanes for drivers during the morning commute.

QUESTION: Do you have any comments regarding the design for phase two (11 Street S.W. to 16 Street S.W.)?

You have 300 characters left.

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

Phase Three: Connection to the Bow River Pathway

QUESTION: What are the improvements that you would like us to consider making when designing the street (16 Street S.W. to 19 Street S.W.) to improve your experience?

We are seeking public input on how you walk, bike and drive in the Sunalta neighbourhood. Your feedback will help us refine the design for the 12 Avenue South cycle track extension from 16 St. S.W. to the Bow River Pathway.

When walking?