Beltline Neighbourhoods Association

Help us reimagine 17th Avenue

17th Avenue SW is one of Calgary's most beloved main streets with hundreds of local businesses, great public spaces and lots of vibrancy. But with the growing popularity of 17th Avenue there are signs the street is not always functioning as great as it could be when we regularly experience overcrowded sidewalks, gridlocked traffic, and excessive noise and air pollution from vehicles.

The Beltline Neighbourhoods Association wants your feedback on piloting an open street on 17th Ave in summer 2025 to help make it function better for everyone. We value your feedback and will be providing future updates with the results of this survey.

Benefits of Open Streets

More and more Canadian cities are finding success with car-free open streets. Here are some of the benefits they are seeing:

Boost Local Economy and Support Businesses: Pedestrian zones typically increase revenue for local retailers. Studies have shown that pedestrianization leads to a surge in foot traffic, enhancing sales and reducing commercial vacancy rates. Additionally, people walking, cycling or wheeling tend to spend more at local businesses than people driving, highlighting the economic benefits of providing more space for people.
Enhance Community Well-being and Safety: Pedestrian zones create safer, more accessible spaces for everyone. By reducing vehicular traffic, noise and air pollution, we lower the risk of collisions and create a more inviting and livable space for residents and visitors.
Accessibility and Mobility: Transforming 17th Ave into a pedestrian zone improves accessibility and mobility for all, including seniors, children, and those with mobility challenges. By reducing vehicle traffic and enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, the area becomes safer and more navigable, encouraging more people to walk, cycle, and engage in active transportation

Success Stories

Among hundreds of cities globally, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver have pursued open streets pilots on streets similar to 17th Ave SW to praise from residents and business owners. Here are some of the success stories.

Tell Us What You Think!

Take the public survey: open to all residents and visitors to 17th Avenue SW. It takes less than 5 minutes!

TAKE THE PUBLIC SURVEY

Take the business survey: open to all businesses located on 17th Avenue SW in the Beltline. It takes less than 5 minutes!

TAKE THE BUSINESS SURVEY

Proposed Timeline

Summer 2024 - Public and business engagement surveys.

Fall 2024 - Report on feedback.

Winter 2025 - Work with City of Calgary, BIA and businesses to develop a plan based on public and business feedback.

Summer 2025 - Pilot temporary open streets on 17th Ave.

Fall 2025 - Assess success of the project and report back to public.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will businesses be open during the pedestrian hours?

Yes, businesses are encouraged to remain open and even extend their operations onto the sidewalks!

Which parts of 17th Ave SW will be pedestrianized?

We are considering various options between 4 St SW and 11 St SW and will work with the City of Calgary, local BIAs and businesses to develop a plan for Summer 2025 based on the public and business engagement feedback.

How will cars move around the open street?

Similar to the pedestrianized Stephen Avenue downtown, cross streets can be left open for vehicles to travel north/south across 17th Ave SW.

What is the schedule for closures?

We are considering various options and will work with the City of Calgary, local BIAs and businesses to develop a plan for Summer 2025 based on the public and business engagement feedback.

What activities and features can we expect during pedestrian hours?

We are considering various options and will work with the City of Calgary, local BIAs and businesses to develop a plan for Summer 2025 based on the public and business engagement feedback.

How can businesses take advantage of open streets?

Businesses are encourage to activate additional space in front of their shops with expanded patios, kiosks, demos or other possibilities.

How can I provide feedback on the pedestrianization initiative?

We encourage you to provide feedback through the surveys linked on this page.

What is the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association?

The BNA is a non-profit community association representing over 25,000 residents of the Beltline in Calgary.

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