Final Masterplan Questions

• 1) When will this be built? What are the next steps for this project?

• The Crescent Road Master Plan does not currently have funding for construction. When funded, the plan will be ready to go to detailed design and construction.

  When the project is ready to proceed to detailed design, other next steps will include continued conversations with an Indigenous Elder guiding circle to determine specifics on elements of commemoration, educational or interpretive signage, and public art by Indigenous artists that would be included in this space. An operational plan for the gates around the park block will also need to be determined.

• 2) How does this plan address the social disorder in the community?

• The Master Plan includes several traffic calming elements that will minimize speeding and vehicle stunting throughout the area. This includes curb extensions, raised crossings, a soft chicane – or curve - of Crescent Road N.W., and a raised block of Crescent Road N.W. in front of Crescent Heights Park, which will include raised intersections at 1 Street and 2 Street N.W.

  The Master Plan is also helping support the efforts of enforcement groups in dealing with disruptive activities in the area. By improving amenities in the area, the Master Plan is fostering a sense of stewardship among Calgarians who use this space. The Master Plan is also improving lighting in the area and band has identified potential locations for security features like help phones and security cameras.

  Bylaw and Calgary Police Services (CPS) are aware of disruptive activities in the area and continue to work on a strategy to address these issues.

• 3) How will the re-construction of Crescent Road be funded?

• A funding ask associated with this project has been included in the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets. The City is also exploring other funding mechanisms such as grants for implementing this plan.

  There is a possibility that the project will only receive partial funding – that is, funding for some but not all of the project. If funding is limited, decisions will need to be made by internal teams on implementation priorities and the building out of the plan may need to be phased. These decisions will be made once more information is known about funding availability.

• 4) Who would operate the gates around the park block of Crescent Road and how would they be operated?

• Feedback from the community indicated that there is comfort with short-term closures for special events. The gates would be operated in alignment with City policies and procedures for short-term road closures. A more detailed operational plan for the gates is one of the next steps for the project once it is ready to go into detailed design.

• 5) When will we see additional traffic calming within the community?

• The Master Plan includes traffic calming interventions within the Master Plan area and in the broader community. The Master Plan does not currently have funding for construction but when funded , elements of the plan will be ready to go to detailed design.

• 6) How was public feedback used in this project?

• This project had two phases of public engagement. In the first phase, the feedback we received helped identify Issues and opportunities in this space. The project team developed three design options that responded to the issues and opportunities from Phase 1. The feedback on the design options helped identify what elements Calgarians wanted to see in the final solution and what could use more refinement.

  The final plan was influenced by much of what we heard through engagement. The project team made decisions that were also driven by technical expertise, policy, feasibility, and budget as additional inputs of information but much of the concept was driven by feedback from Calgarians. You can see how feedback themes from Phase 2 of public engagement influenced the final Master Plan in the What We Heard, What We Did table.

• NEW - 7) What is being done to increase traffic calming and decrease traffic and noise impacts in the parts of the neighbourhood outside of the main study area along the bluff?

• Several traffic calming measures are proposed in the Master Plan study area to minimize the potential for speeding and stunting in the area through physical infrastructure. You can find more information on those measures on page 30 of the Master Plan.

  Additional proposed traffic calming features for the community are also shown in Appendix A of the Master Plan. Please note that the appendix map shows both existing and proposed traffic calming measures. What’s proposed is shown in teal and labeled in yellow.

  Together, these measures will minimize the uninterrupted stretches of street where speeding and stunting is possible in the broader area.

  For additional concerns, please visit The City’s Traffic Safety webpage to learn more about how to request spot improvements for traffic safety in your community.
• NEW - 8) Why aren’t raised sidewalks being added to 4 Street N.W. between 12 and 16 Avenue?

• The Crescent Road Master Plan study area includes:

  • Crescent Road N.W. between 4 Street N.W. and Centre Street N.W.
  • 1 Street N.W. and 2 Street N.W. between Crescent Road N.W. and 9 Avenue N.W.;
  • 3 Street N.W. between Crescent Road N.W. and 12 Avenue N.W.; and
  • 10 Avenue N.W. between 3 Street N.W. and 4 Street N.W.

  This study area for the Master Plan was identified to align with the direction of the North Hill Local Area Plan (LAP). The LAP recognizes the McHugh Bluff and Crescent Heights Park area as an “important local and regional open space for all users” and identifies the transformation of this space “to improve safety, accessibility and enjoyment” is a priority investment to support the growth objectives for the area.

  4 Street N.W. north of 12 Avenue N.W. was not included in the Master Plan study area.

  For additional concerns, please visit The City’s Traffic Safety webpage to learn more about how to request spot improvements for traffic safety in your community.
• NEW - 9) What is being proposed for traffic calming along 3 Street N.W.?

• The Appendix map shows the proposed traffic calming measures beyond the traffic calming elements for the primary Master Plan study area, which includes 3 Street N.W. between Crescent Road N.W. and 12 Avenue N.W.

  The curb extensions and raised crosswalks will add physical elements that require cars to slow down at every block of 3 Street N.W.
• NEW - 10) Why not install more ‘speed bumps’?

• Raised crosswalks are one of the traffic calming features that have been included in the study area through the Master Plan. Raised crosswalks will act like speed humps to slow vehicles and elevate pedestrians for better visibility and accessibility when crossing roadways. You can find the locations of the raised crosswalks on page 30 of the Master Plan document.

• NEW - 11) How is the new multi-use path separated from the road? Will the current white posts be removed?

• The proposed permanent multi-use pathway on the south side of Crescent Road N.W. between 1 Street N.W. and 4 Street N.W. will replace the current adaptive roadway with the white posts. The permanent multi-use pathway will be at the same level as a typical sidewalk would be compared to the road everywhere except in the block in front of Crescent Heights Park as that whole block of roadway will be at the same vertical level. Signage and accessibility elements will be included in the block in front of Crescent Heights Park to clarify where all modes of travel are meant to be.

• NEW - 12) Why haven’t we done more to limit vehicle access in this area?

• Crescent Road N.W. is a street with many different roles, one of which is as a mobility corridor for all modes of travel. During the review of traffic patterns and in conversations during public engagement, the project team heard that it is a key connection by car for many people in Rosedale and Crescent Heights to and from their homes. Feedback that the project team received during public engagement showed a preference towards maintaining two-way traffic on Crescent Road N.W. and relative comfort with closing the street to traffic for short-term special events only. The gates on both ends of the block of Crescent Road N.W. in front of Crescent Heights Park will help support closures of the street to cars for special events and other community activation of the space.

• NEW - 13) Were the Crescent Road improvements included in the 2022 budget package to council?

• The Master Plan is intended to be funded through the Established Areas and Growth Strategy Program (EAGCS). A funding ask for the Established Areas and Growth Strategy program was approved by Council as part of the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets. There are multiple projects that are seeking to be funded through EAGCS. Decisions about prioritization and allocation of these funds are expected in the upcoming months.

• NEW - 14) Will local property taxes be impacted as a result of this work?

• The City conducts assessments each year that reflect the market value for property to determine annual property taxation. Although key factors, such as location, view, and green space may influence the value of your property, property taxes are not directly tied to capital project work, such as a Master Plan.

  For more information on property taxes, including tax bill information, assessment, and special taxes, please visit Property tax.
• NEW - 15) Will this plan help to reduce noise and social disorder?

• The City of Calgary does have existing noise bylaws for traffic and vehicle noise, including resources for filing noise complaints. You can find out more about the bylaws here.

  The Master Plan concept is helping support the efforts of enforcement groups in dealing with disruptive activities in the area. By improving amenities in the area, the Master Plan is fostering a sense of stewardship among Calgarians who use this space. The Master Plan is also improving lighting in the area and band has identified potential locations for security features like help phones and security cameras.

  The project team’s partners in Bylaw and Calgary Police Services are aware of disruptive activities in the area and continue to work on a strategy to address these issues.
• NEW - 16) Why did The City include an indigenous engagement component to this work?

• The project area falls within traditional Blackfoot territory that is also shared with Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut’ina, Cree, Alberta Métis Region 3, and other Indigenous communities. Long before this area was settled and urbanized, it was used for millennia by Indigenous communities.

  Knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders as part of this project was used to identify themes and opportunities for commemoration of a more fulsome history of this space through public art and urban design. You can refer to Section 4.3 on page 31 of the Master Plan for more information about those themes and opportunities. This approach is to enable the project to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #82 and #83, which appear under Stream B, “Spiritual Healing, Culture and Arts Commemoration,” of The City’s White Goose Flying report.

  You can review the project What We Learned report and read Section 2.1 on page 10 of the Master Plan to learn more about the Indigenous significance of this area and what the project team learned from discussions with Indigenous Elders about this project.
• NEW - 17) When will the bathrooms at the bottom of the bluff be opened?

• As part of the new Sunnyside Stormwater Lift Station, two public washrooms were added as additional features. The Lift Station was completed in the Summer 2022, and the washrooms are expected to operate seasonally starting in Spring 2023.

Phase 2 Questions

• 1. What is The City doing to address the immediate issues of social disorder and disruptive behaviour of residents in the area?

• A key goal of the Master Plan project is to use infrastructure to reduce the need for enforcement in the long-term. Traffic calming measures will help minimize the frequency and impact of vehicle stunting and other disruptive late night activities. Improved amenities and lighting will also help prevent some of this behavior. We are also evaluating the final concept using the formal Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) philosophy. Additional security features will be recommended as part of the final concept.

  The City's Bylaw Services, the Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) and the Calgary Police Service (CPS) are aware of the community’s concerns and continue to complete regular patrols of the area. Bylaw and CPS are actively working on a collaborative approach to better address these issues going forward.

• 2. Does paving the pathway mean that dogs would no longer be able to run off-leash on the path?

• Some pathways in Calgary run through off-leash areas similar to McHugh Bluff. As The City’s pathway network is open to users of all ages and abilities, dog owners need to have a high level of control over their pets at all times while using these shared, public pathways. Many elements –

  including accessibility, use types and snow clearing implications – are being considered to help inform the decision to pave the pathway or leave it un-paved.
• 3. How do the proposed designs affect the amount of parking in the area?

• All of the options shared in April and May would results in an overall reduction of parking in the area. The exact number of stalls that may be impacted by a new design will be determined in the detailed design stage. The reduction in parking was in response to community feedback of limiting loitering in the block along the park. With existing public parking at bottom of stairs, the addition of accessible parking, and loading zones by the church we believe this maintains the balance of parking in the area.

• 4. Who would operate the gates around the Crescent Road Park block?

• A decision about gates is still being finalized and informed by the results of Phase 2 Engagement, when people shared their feedback about comfort with closures. Gates would allow the block in front of Crescent Heights Park to turn into a “place” and act as a continuation of McHugh Bluff to the park when closed to cars. If gates are ultimately included, closures would align with the City procedures for the specific closure type. (for example, the Adaptive Roadway Program for seasonal closures, or the event permitting process for special event closures).

• 5. When would the improvements outlined by the final Master Plan get implemented?

• The final concept that will be shared with Council and Committee in September will be shared on our website once it is finalized at the end of this summer. If approved and funded through the upcoming budget cycle process, the concept is anticipated to go to detailed design and the beginnings of the implementation stage in 2023. Feedback received through the public engagement process will continue to be an important part of the detailed design and implementation process.

Phase 1 Questions

• Will Crescent Road N.W. be permanently closed between 1 St N.W. and 6A St N.W.?

• Based on early feedback during the temporary road closures, we have learned that community access is important for visitors and residents. No final decisions have been made about a permanent closure as we are just starting the Master Plan process. To gain insight from the community and users in the area we will be undertaking a two-phased engagement process that will provide opportunities to better understand how we balance the needs of different users in the long term. We anticipate that there may be opportunities to extend green space by repurposing some road space to create new spaces for gathering, while other traffic calming tools can be integrated to support a slower and safer street.

• Why is The City undertaking the Crescent Road Master Plan project at this time?

• In the summer of 2021, Crescent Road N.W. is temporarily closed to motor vehicles between 1 St N.W. and 4 St N.W. The closure in its current state is not intended to be the long-term solution to community concerns we’ve heard from over a number of years.

  Over the years Crescent Road N.W. and adjacent parks have become popular spaces for recreating, gathering, and celebrating. The popularity of this area comes with several concerns raised by the community: late night disruptive activities, parking issues, vehicle stunting and speeding, heavy fitness use, increased garbage and littering.

  Creating a Master Plan for the area will set the stage for future phases of detailed design and a cohesive vision will help guide future investment.

  Recognizing the importance of this space, we want to make sure we here will be undertaking a two-phased engagement process that will provide opportunities to discuss how we balance the needs of different users in the long term.

  Phase One – Confirm and Evaluate:

  • Confirm core challenges and opportunities
  • Evaluate potential interventions

  Phase Two – Review proposed concept(s) to help staff refine designs

• What types of changes will be considered?

• In addition to public feedback, the project team is reviewing data and traffic calming and public space best practices to inform the proposed design options- there are a number of interventions that we can consider applying to the street and park spaces.

  The project area includes three focus areas and a broader consideration of how adjacent neighbouring streets will be impacted regarding traffic and parking. We will review traffic calming tools like curb extensions, speed humps, raised crosswalks and look at opportunities to create new spaces for gathering, eating and reflecting.

  Focus Areas:

  1. Block of Crescent Rd. N.W. between 2 St and 3 St N.W.
  2. South side of Crescent Rd N.W.
  3. McHugh Bluff Stairs and pathway/fitness zone – Structural Engineering scope
• When will the temporary closure be removed or adjusted?

• We have not made a decision on an exact date of when the temporary closure will be removed or adjusted. We will review feedback from the first phase of engagement to better understand what people have liked and found challenging about the closure. We anticipate providing an update on next steps in mid-October.