Adjustments

This investment is the design and engineering of the east leg of the Airport Transit Connection. The east leg will connect the future 88 Avenue N.E. Station on the Blue Line to the Calgary International Airport. This connection is six kilometers with three new stations and will have an estimated daily ridership of 13,000 passengers.

This strategic investment ensures that The City is ready for funding opportunities from other orders of government, investments from the private sector and potential partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank.  The design and engineering are subject to the Airport Transit Connection planning study currently underway (funded by the Government of Alberta).

Benefits

Calgary is one of the last large cities in North America without mass rapid transit to its airport. Once an airport transit connector is built, Calgarians and visitors will be able to access downtown and the complete Calgary Transit system; thereby providing cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation to and from the airport.

The Calgary International Airport and its business partners are significant employers. The Airport Transit Connector will connect employees to this employment hub and moderate the need for additional employee and customer parking. Reduced GHG emissions once built.

Cost

Third party funding: $3 million from the Government of Alberta.  Future phases eligible for external funding from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada. 

This investment is the design and engineering to extend the Blue Line from Saddletowne to 88 Avenue N.E.. This extension with bring LRT service to high-density northeast Calgary communities and industrial areas. This investment is also required to connect the Blue Line to the Calgary International Airport, via the Airport Transit Connection. This extension is one kilometre with one new station at 88 Avenue NE and will have an estimated daily ridership of 3,500 passengers.

This strategic investment ensures that The City of Calgary is ready for funding opportunities from other orders of government.

Benefits

Businesses and communities in northeast Calgary will benefit by connecting employers and employees with mass rapid transit. This investment in northeast Calgary will also provide a positive signal to the urban development industry on the value proposition of private investments in the area.

The Calgary International Airport and its business partners are significant employers. The Blue Line extension to 88 Avenue N.E. is a necessary component, in tandem with the Airport Transit Connector, to unlocking the potential of an inland port.

Cost

Third party funding: $2 million from the Government of Alberta.  Future phases eligible for external funding from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada. 

The investment is for the design and completion of early works to enhance the current Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Route 301. The improvements will enable a flexible and convertible mobility corridor in advance of the future Green Line North LRT extension. Key elements of the design are a transitway north of Beddington Trail N, queue jumps and traffic signal priority south of Beddington Trail N and enhanced heated shelters along the line. This strategic investment ensures that The City is ready for funding opportunities from other orders of government and potential partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The investment is in addition to the current program of improvements along Centre Street ($50 million in existing approved funding).

Benefits

Calgarians will experience an improved transit service on the Centre Steet corridor, better connecting people to employment and housing opportunities. The investments will also help communities and businesses transition to the future LRT service. This investment in north central Calgary will also provide a positive signal to the urban development industry on the value proposition of private investments in the area.

Cost

Third party funding: Future phases are eligible for external funding from federal and provincial governments.

This investment of $4 million in base-operating budget is for transit service improvements to high ridership routes and corridors, base service and local routes, and On Demand service to additional communities. 

Benefits

This funding will enable buses and trains to come more often on key routes and corridors, extend the operating hours of transit routes, and introduce On Demand service to additional communities. Administration prioritized this investment because it will improves reliability, accessibility and connectivity on Calgary’s transit system, promotes social equity and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Cost

This investment will fund more resources and coordination of safety on transit and in the surrounding community, such as 65 additional Transit Peace Officers and more effective targeted partnerships. This investment will increase the number of staff available to address safety incidents at transit stations and surrounding community spaces, and foster collaborative partnerships with community organizations. Proactive communication strategies and accountability reporting will be implemented to manage public expectations.

Benefits

This investment will significantly improve the customer experience on Calgary Transit, fostering increased safety and perceptions of safety among transit riders. The positive impact will extend to the community, leading to cleaner and safer stations and trains, positively affecting safety in the surrounding areas and community spaces. Administration identified this investment as its number one priority because investing in community safety, including safety on public transit, will enhance overall safety throughout Calgary. Additionally, investing in transit and community safety will improve the well-being of City staff.

Cost

Administration has identified a need for steady and stable increases in operating funding over the next six years in order to prepare for Green Line operations. This is an annual investment of an additional $8M in base budget that will be used for three things prior to the opening of Green Line: 1) To acquire land along the alignment that supports interim or future transit projects; 2) To support a coordination team working to integrate City Services and infrastructure with Green Line during the development and construction phase; 3) To ramp up operations through the introduction of new bus services feeding the future Green Line and hire and prepare City staff to take on Green Line operations. Once the line has launched, the full amount of this investment will be used on an ongoing basis for both bus and train operations as outlined in the Green Line business case.

Benefits

This investment will make sure City Services and Green Line are sustained during development and construction phases. During these phases, the public, businesses, traffic, and transit will experience interruptions and disruptions in certain areas of the city. City services will need to adapt and carefully manage the resulting changes to reduce negative impact. Administration supports this investment as one of the main tools to adapt to these changes proactively. By purchasing land along the corridor, The City will create opportunities for transit investments in the future corridors that support customers earlier.  Introducing bus service in the Green Line catchment areas will attract more customers prior to the formal Green Line opening. Finally, investments in hiring/training staff and purchasing equipment before Green Line opens will ensure the service is ready to launch successfully.

Cost

Allow children 12 and under to continue to ride transit for free.

Benefits

This investment saves households money, increases access to affordable transportation options, and encourages early adoption of public transit for youth. Administration prioritized this investment because it reduces barriers to public transit and advances economic, social, and climate resilience in Calgary.

Cost

Limits the increase transit fares to 3 per cent, rather than the planned 6 per cent, in 2024.

Benefits

Calgary Transit customers will see their transit fares increased at a lower rate than planned. It reduces financial barriers to accessing transit and encourages ridership. Administration supports this investment because it will make life more affordable for Calgarians, including those that use Low-Income Transit Passes (as the cost is tied to the youth/adult monthly pass), and customers of Calgary Transit Access. In turn, ridership should continue to grow and customer satisfaction will be maintained or increased.

Cost

Additional resourcing in the areas of Human Resource Equity Diversity Inclusion & Belonging, Respectful Workplace, Talent Management and Business Advisory Services. These areas are critical to Human Resources core service delivery, and to supporting organizational growth and the advancement of an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Benefits

Calgarians will benefit from this investment because all City services depend on having the right people with the right skills to deliver services, and human resources support is needed to make that happen. Calgarians can also expect a more productive organization as we enhance the ways we work together. Finally, we know it’s important that all Calgarians see the diversity of the city reflected in City administration and that's why it's essential that we continue to support our work in the areas of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. Administration prioritized this investment because The City's people and culture are the cornerstone of delivering great services.

Cost

Supports a third-party review of compensation for the Councillors and the Councillors’ assistants, including remuneration as well as meeting expenses for the committee. As part of this work, an expert third-party review of compensation may be required to ensure relevant and accurate information on market comparators is available for the Committee. A Council Compensation Review Committee is typically formed each Council term to make recommendations to Council regarding its pay, pension, benefits and other forms of compensation.

Benefits

Transparent, fair and reasonable compensation decisions based on accurate and impartial data will promotes citizen trust and confidence in their local government, as well as attract and retain qualified talent.

Cost

Fully fund a Ward Boundary Commission to review the effectiveness of the 14-ward system and report back to Council. The investment includes remuneration and expenses for the Ward Boundary Commission; public advertising and engagement; data analytics and research; and facility rentals.

Benefits

Citizens and Council will benefit from the fair and impartial advice to support Council in adjusting ward boundaries for variances in population between wards to ensure equitable representation.

Cost

In recent years, costs have risen much faster than expected due to inflation, supply chain issues and rising labour costs. This investment will cover rising costs where actual inflation has been higher than budgeted. This is important to keep Administration budgets balanced as part of municipal financial responsibility.

Benefits

Calgarians will continue to see services delivered as planned. Administration prioritized this investment because, while some higher than anticipated inflation can be absorbed through contingencies and efficiencies, this level of inflation would require service reductions to make up the balance.

Cost

This fund provides a flexible strategy to respond to cost escalations at the portfolio level and deliver Council approved investments in a timely and cost-effective manner. Without this funding, projects may face significant delays, de-scoping or cancellation. The fund will enable the timely deployment of capital dollars. A recommendation will be included as part of the 2023 November Adjustments to the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets to provide Administration with the authority to transfer budgets to specific projects as needs arise.

A variety of projects across all City Wards are experiencing cost escalations. A partial list of projects currently experiencing varying degrees of cost escalations include multi-use facilities with amenities such as fire stations, libraries, non-market housing, Libraries, Recreation facilities, partner projects, and Transit asset replacements. 

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

Calgarians benefit from the services and supports enabled by the timely delivery of capital investments. When projects are delayed, de-scoped or cancelled, the services that require the capital investments are degraded or remain inaccessible to residents and businesses.

The ability to deal with capital cost escalation at a Portfolio level will speed up project delivery and make sure the City is seen as an owner who contractors want to work for. It will support retention of skilled labour in Calgary as project cancellations and delays erode Calgary as a good place to do business and invest. Calgary needs a healthy construction industry, to ensure that the industry remains competitive, can retain a highly skilled workforce, and continues to be a significant contributor to Calgary’s economy.

Costs

The investment is to conduct initial scoping, capabilities analysis, alternatives assessment and develop a future roadmap for The City’s enterprise management and control systems. The enterprise systems underpin all services delivered to citizens, Calgary communities and businesses. They allow the management of the people, assets and resources necessary to deliver services and supports. This investment will allow The City to be proactive and properly plan for new enterprise management and control systems and will fund the assessment of current systems and alternatives in the market.

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

These systems will enable Human Resources, Finance and Supply services, which will lead to better reporting, more effective talent management, better financial controls and faster procurement of good and services.  Administration will be ready to introduce system changes or implementations necessary to meet the reporting needs and expectations of Calgarians, Council and relevant legislative requirements. The City will operate more effectively and efficiently.

Cost

Increase resources to respond to the growing number of citizen inquiries and requests as the city grows and the number of people in each ward increases.  

Benefits

Citizens will find it easier to get in touch with someone in their councillor's office and may find that their inquiry is resolved faster. Councillors will be able to support increasingly complex emerging issues and constituent needs.

Cost

This investment addresses the critical need for more affordable housing and is aligned with related capital investments. It incorporates recommendations from the Housing and Affordability Task Force and funds four operating programs to increase housing supply and support Calgarians’ access to affordable housing: a secondary suite incentive program, support for downtown office conversions, a land fund to increase the number of parcels available for development, and the One Window program to create a simplified way for Calgarians to access non-market housing. 

Benefits

The investment will improve Calgarians’ access to housing by supporting The City’s efforts to boost housing development by an estimated 1,000 more market homes beyond what is normally built in a year, and at least 3,000 non-market homes a year. 

Costs

This investment addresses the critical need for more affordable housing. $30 million will support partners to build housing for Indigenous and equity-deserving populations. $60 million will be used to leverage funding from other orders of government to support partners to build new affordable housing. The capital investment will support The City’s efforts to boost housing development by an estimated 1,000 more market homes beyond what is normally built in a year, and at least 3,000 non-market homes a year. 

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

Equity-deserving populations will have improved access to affordable housing, and housing insecurity and homelessness will be reduced.  Access to housing contributes to mental and physical health, as well as maintaining community and citizen safety for Calgarians.

Cost

Third party funding: Advocating for funding from other orders of government

Converting the funding of Calgary's Mental Health and Addictions Strategy from temporary funding to permanent funding allows The City to make longer term partnerships and helps partner organizations attract and retain top talent to tackle this important issue. It signifies that The City is truly committed to helping Calgarians who face mental health and addiction issues find the hope and support they need through this community-based, cross-sector initiative. The strategy has three outcome areas: Being Well, Getting Help, and Staying Safe.

Benefits

Social disorder is often rooted in mental health and addiction. Administration prioritized this preventative investment because it will help people get the support they need and reduce social disorder at the same time.   Sustainable funding for mental health and addictions, as opposed to a series of one-time funding allocations, allows The City to provide social organizations with greater stability, thereby increasing internal capacity and the ability to deliver programs to those who need them most.

Cost

This investment provides the additional funding necessary to build the first phase of the Symons Valley Centre.  This first phase includes a 20,000 sq ft library plus commercial retail unit / flex space and the build-out of the infrastructure (main street, utility servicing) for the whole site. 

Benefits

Calgarians in the communities surrounding the Symons Valley Centre will have improved access to the growing suite of services accommodated by library space. This first phase of development is also key to future phases that will bring non-market housing and market housing delivered by the private and non-profit sector along with a Transit Centre. This investment will signal to the urban development industry on the value proposition of private investments in the area.

Costs

The investment is for community park upgrades, replacements, and new infrastructure such as shade structures, seating, playground equipment (including accessible playgrounds), parking, amenities and other emerging needs. The funding will also enable leveraging of external funds through partners such as the Parks Foundation Calgary and other granting agencies with a focus on equity-deserving communities. An anticipated 48 playgrounds or amenities will be addressed with the investment.

This investment is scalable and will be delivered by both internal and third parties as appropriate.

Benefits

Through this investment, Calgarians will have more opportunities to connect with each other and build community. This investment allows for upgrades to community parks in response to the needs of residents, as well as renewing important community amenities.

This investment creates opportunities to leverage external funds and create a stable and flexible funding model that can respond to the growing and evolving needs for park spaces.

This investment will increase the mental and physical wellbeing of Calgarians.

Costs

Third party funding: Will leverage funding where possible.

This investment will provide funding for a community-based organization to build capacity and provide training for community groups on asset-based community development approaches. An asset-based approach to community development focuses on leveraging the strengths and assets that currently exist in a community to help its residents in meeting their shared objectives. This investment option will also fund up to 10 community connectors positions, to support Calgarians’ involvement in, and contributions to, their communities.

Benefits

Calgarians will be provided with additional support at the community level to shape and nurture civic participation. This can lead to communities feeling more supported by their local government while increasing social inclusion, and to improved social connections by harnessing the energy of new residents and seeding civic inclusion for those looking to build neighbourhood connections.

Costs

Provides support to non-profits delivering programs to Calgarians experiencing vulnerabilities including helping them meet their basic needs. This investment responds to Council's direction to Admin to provide an affordability program in recent consideration of the impact of local access fees.

Benefits

Calgarians will benefit from affordability and prevention measures provided by increased support to non-profit programs, which help keeps families housed, allows people to escape violence, escape homelessness, and ensures individuals have heat and electricity.

Cost

Converting temporary funding to permanent funding allows The City to hire additional permanent frontline firefighter positions to staff a second Medical Response Unit, as well as increase staffing on critical firefighting apparatus, along with a number of key positions that support frontline operations and employee wellbeing. Permanent funding allows a more sustainable approach to planned improvements to frontline emergency response.

Benefits

Citizens will see faster response times and a resulting potential for improved outcomes at high-risk emergencies, in particular for medical calls which have increased at a disproportionately high rate in some areas.  In addition, there will be an increase in public and firefighter safety by ensuring the most effective resources are available for deployment. For these reasons, Administration prioritized this investment.

Cost

This investment will allow The City to take a more proactive approach to problem properties, and assemble more situation response teams to address community safety concerns and connect homeowners in need to social service supports. The City will be able to address a wider range of problem properties including those that are in a state of neglect or disrepair, properties with excessive storage of materials (e.g., hoarding), or a residential site being used for non-residential purposes that cause public health, social, safety and/or community issues.

Benefits

Citizens will feel safer and have more pride in their neighbourhood.  With this investment The City can address more of the properties that are causing concerns for residents. Finally, the investment will fundamentally change how problem properties are addressed at an operational level by enhancing our ability to proactively address many of the root causes of property-related concerns and improving community safety and revitalization.

Cost

This investment provides additional community peace officers and training resources to enforce vehicle noise and traffic safety bylaws in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service. 

Benefits

Calgarians will hear less noise emitted from vehicles in residential neighbourhoods and commercial districts. A peace officer traffic enforcement team will focus on vehicle noise concerns during months when complaints are higher, generally spring and summer. Calgarians will also feel safer on the roads as, when capacity allows, the additional peace officers will also enforce targeted traffic issues in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service, such as speed enforcement in school zones and checking unsecured loads, creating an overall program of community traffic safety in Calgary.

Cost

This investment will deliver an anticipated 6 - 7 kilometers of new 5A Network infrastructure. It will include connections to address gaps in the network, as well as new corridors that connect with schools.

Two additional Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons will also be installed in each Ward.

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

Calgarians of all ages and abilities can enjoy safe and active modes of getting around their city. The program has a specific emphasis on (a) addressing inequities in access to the 5A network, and (b) providing safe and active routes to school. School aged children and their parents will be able to walk and ride to school as a safe option. The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) enhance safety at known higher-risk street crossing locations.

Growing the 5A network provides Calgarians the choice of a less car-dependent lifestyle, where they can access education, employment, businesses, and other services using active modes of transportation. The shift out of the private vehicle to active transportation modes has the added benefit of moderating congestion for individuals that do need to use private vehicle.

Costs

This investment increases the funding for The City’s Pavement Rehabilitation Program by an additional $30 million in the current business cycle, to improve the quality of city roads. The investment will also deliver safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure at prioritized locations where road resurfacing is already prioritized.  These investments support building back better and are complementary to the 5A Network Program that prioritizes corridors that connect with schools and provide equity of access. 

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

Calgarians and goods movement industry will benefit as safety will increase and allow traffic to flow more efficiently. Improving the quality of pavement of our road network is important for critical services such as Fire, Police and Ambulances. Proactive investments provide a better return on investment as repairs are made at the pavement surface rather than having to reconstruct the roadway due to severe deterioration.

Costs

A portion of the $200M+ of deferred maintenance in building components rated in ‘critical’ and ‘poor’ condition will be addressed. These reinvestments include mechanical, electrical, structural, and building envelope items (like roofs and HVAC systems). This capital maintenance spans across city-owned, community-facing, operations and office buildings.

This investment is scalable.

Benefits

Buildings enable service delivery to Calgarians, including recreation and social programs, business services, fire, parks and roads operations, and many others. We have already begun to see an increase in unplanned closures of facilities due to deferred maintenance backlogs which impacts Calgarians access to City services. This additional funding would be used to minimize these closures.

Costs