In 2009, Calgary’s Municipal Development Plan identified 24 Main Streets as key transportation and commercial corridors. The streets were prioritized based on their potential to accommodate future urban growth, transit-oriented roads and mixed-use building types.

Improvements made under the Main Streets Program are meant to revitalize the heart of established communities and lay the groundwork for the future. They set communities up with the infrastructure that will support future development, businesses and increasing populations.

Main Streets accommodate a variety of commercial and residential building types and are enhanced by multi-model transportation networks and attractive streetscapes. They may also include additional uses and services, such as parks, recreational amenities and other public spaces for residents, workers, and visitors to gather. Streetscapes and amenities are designed to compliment the character of the surrounding community. As a result, Main Streets are the cultural, social and economic hearts of communities – a centre of public life, where people come to live, work and play.

The Main Streets Program is one of the ways that The City is working to achieve our vision: “a great place to make a living, a great place to make a life” and common purpose: “Make life better every day” by creating public spaces that people want to live, work and play in.

Four principles function as the north star to ensure each Main Street is planned and holistically designed to honour our vision and common purpose, while also considering the many facets of a successful main street.

• Healthy and Social Lifestyle: A social and healthy environment creates a welcoming street. On the social side, the street is safe and accessible with opportunities for people to interact and gather. Healthy refers to both environmental health, like clean air provided through street trees, and opportunities for healthy behaviours, like walking, running, and cycling.
  
  
• Mobility and Functionality: The mobility and functionality principle focuses on the “street” part of a Main Street. Designs work to ensure the streets safely accommodate different modes and speeds of travel (such as walkers, cyclers, drivers or transit users) for people of all ages and abilities.

• Character and Identity: Main Streets with a strong character and identity are enjoyable, memorable, and unique streets. Character and identity can be achieved through tangible elements (e.g. heritage buildings and public art), programming (e.g. events), public amenities (e.g. benches or picnic tables), cultural diversity, and “bustle”, busyness, or energy. These features allow visitors, residents, and businesses to identify and “identify with” a specific Main Street. Together, these elements create a unique sense of place and offer memorable experiences for both residents and visitors.
   
• Economic Vitality: The businesses and uses along a Main Street give the street energy, and as a result promote economic vitality for surrounding community. Streetscape design, community activations and redevelopment opportunities encourage more people to work, live and play on Calgary’s Main Streets.

Thoughtful planning and consideration go into the development and construction of each project. In 2014, The City launched the Main Streets Program and a five-stage approach that systemically plans and designs each street to ensure their full potential is realized.

While we would love to complete all Main Streets as soon as possible, completion of Main Streets is dependent on private funding, public funding, and City priorities – all of which can fluctuate year to year and council to council. As a result, projects exist in various stages and may take several years to advance to the next stage.