📋 2024 SURVEY: Majority of local businesses and public support piloting 17 Ave Open Street

The Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) has released a What We Heard Report detailing the results of the comprehensive local business and public engagement surveys that were conducted in summer 2024 to study the interest in an open street pilot program on Calgary’s 17th Avenue SW.

With the increasing prevalence of issues like crowded sidewalks, traffic congestion, and vehicle-related noise and air pollution the BNA sought local business and public input on the potential for piloting “car-free” streets as have been successful in Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and even Calgary’s (4th Street, Inglewood, Kensington, Stampede).

💫Key Findings

📊 More than 40 local businesses and 1,500 citizens citywide responded to the surveys. 

🙌 Majority of local businesses (54% support, 36% opposed) and citizens (82% support, 15% opposed) are in support of piloting open streets on 17th Ave.

📈 77% of the public said they would visit 17th Ave more often if there were open streets.

🎯 75% of the annual spending on 17th Ave comes from visitors that live within a 2km of the street.

👟 Walking was the most common mode of people visiting 17th Ave.

🏹 Primary drivers for public and local business support:

💨🔇Less vehicle noise and pollution.

🪐👟More space to walk.

🍷🍔🛍️Extended space for patios and retail.

🤓 READ THE FULL WHAT WE HEARD REPORT 

Project Goals

📈 Boost the local economy and support local businesses. 

🤗 Enhance community well-being and safety.

♿️ Improve accessibility and mobility.

Next steps

In Fall 2025, the BNA will be further engaging local businesses and citizens on design concepts in collaboration with Public City Architecture for pilot implementation in summer of 2026.

💥BUSINESSES: REQUEST A FREE WINDOW STICKER💥

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 2026 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:

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.