14 Avenue N.W. has been identified in the Major Road Reconstruction Program since it was measured to have the lowest pavement quality of any street in Calgary. This project will address several key maintenance issues and improve the overall transportation experience for the community. The existing infrastructure is aging and in need of repair, which presents safety concerns for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Reconstruction will update and upgrade critical elements of the road to enhance safety and improve accessibility for everyone.

This corridor was examined in 2021 for road repaving to address concerns related to roadway condition, safety, and to explore design possibilities for the future of the corridor. At the time, engagement was conducted to learn more about how the community uses the corridor, and how it could be enhanced to improve accessibility for all users. From that engagement, a design option was developed and shared back to community members. The project was then deferred in 2022 due to funding allocations and an identified need to conduct further engagement to enhance the designs further.

The 14 Avenue N.W. corridor was identified for improvement through several community planning initiatives. Its condition was identified by the Major Road Reconstruction Program, and its dated functionality through engagement hosted to inform the Riley Local Area Plan. Due to the condition of the corridor, we’re reviewing the design to combine necessary infrastructure upgrades with planned maintenance, making the work more efficient.

Yes, we will review all materials from 2021 including feedback and technical work. New data collection and best practices together with other nearby investments may present new options to serve the community.

While previous engagement was conducted in 2021, some time has passed since that feedback was collected, and there is a need to verify and confirm the community’s priorities to ensure that the design options meet the needs of today. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted participation levels and the ways in which people could engage in 2021. Re-engaging the community now provides an opportunity to hear from a broader range of voices and address potential gaps in the feedback collected during the earlier engagement phase.

Yes. The ways Calgarians get around are changing. More people are choosing to walk, scoot, skateboard, or cycle for their daily commute to work or school, for errands and for fun. As a city, we want to provide convenient and affordable transportation choices for Calgarians of all ages and abilities. Wheeling lanes will be considered in the development of design options to support accessibility for all modes of transportation along the corridor and connections to The City’s Pathway and Bikeway Network.

The Pathways and Bikeways Network is a long-term vision to connect all communities with active travel options. It consists of off-street pathways and on-street bikeways, providing accessible, affordable, year-round access to transportation and recreation. Using feedback from Calgarians, the design of the Pathways and Bikeways Network tells us how to design and build sustainable travel options all year round. The Pathways and Bikeways Network supports the following five principles:

• Separate people by their speed: Providing separation between people travelling at different speeds improves safety, predictability and comfort. Where appropriate, people will be separated to improve their experience travelling on the Pathways and Bikeways Network.

• Improve visibility: Lighting, signage and pavement markings encourage people to use public spaces and provide visibility on roadways, pathways and in parks. They help make people visible to each other, help identify hazards like water, ice, cracks and other debris along routes.

• Make it reliable: Well-maintained pathways and bikeways will encourage more people to use them throughout the year, regardless of the weather conditions.

• Be accessible for everyone: An accessible city benefits everyone. Accessible pathways and bikeways enable people of all abilities to travel around Calgary. Accessibility is improved by the removal of barriers that currently exist across the network. Barriers can be off-set gates, major roadways, waterways, steep hills and uneven surfaces. Reducing or removing these barriers improves accessibility.

• Make it easy to use: Signs and pavement markings help people make decisions about their route and confirm they are heading in the right direction. Improved signage and wayfinding will help Calgarians get to community destinations. For more information about the Pathways and Bikeways Network and its principles, please review the Pathways and Bikeways Network Guiding Principles report.