Spring 2026 BRT Engagement Stance
We encourage community members to get engaged in the B2 BRT engagement. Link here. The alignment options of the BRT route along Whyte Avenue presents several different options that have different trade-offs. Getting engaged now ensures the City has a strong understanding of the public’s views of these trade-offs prior to finalizing decisions.
We are excited that the engagement documents depict areas where the BRT project will implement expanded public spaces, like wider sidewalks, new trees, and much more. We encourage the City to enhance and expand these proposals so that they reflect the direction provided in the Public Realm Strategy. This approach ensures that investment on Whyte Ave does not turn into a decade-long series of construction projects, but rather creates better transit connectivity and public spaces within one construction project.
We’re focused on getting this project funded. Ultimately, none of this work will even happen if the appropriate amount of funding is not set aside. There may be different views across the community about the different options. Though we do not necessarily have one position when it comes to alignment, we provide the following comments on the design options shared so far:
Don’t waste space in the middle of the street - People walking and rolling along the corridor need to do so on the south and north sidewalks. Trees planted in the middle of the street, excessively wide driving lanes, concrete islands take space and amenities that could support the pedestrian experience, and separate it from pedestrians and businesses who could benefit from shade and extra patio space. Ultimately, direction from the Public Realm strategy regarding sidewalk design and street interface should be reviewed and implemented through the concept planning.
Design visuals should be up-to-date and clear to support good engagement - Certain aspects of the design boards brought by the City are incoherent. For example, in the visuals presented for Option 2 from 106-102 St, the cross sections appear to suggest wider sidewalks, but the overhead view does not showcase the area being marked as an expanded sidewalk. Some of the graphics show 109 St as the connection all the way to the U of A, but this is not the case according to other engagement materials.
Station placement should align with community needs - Stations should be placed at locations where important community hubs and destinations are nearby. Campus St. Jean, the 96 Street neighbourhood commercial node, and Gateway Boulevard come to mind as places that should have quick and easy transit connections. Again, direction from the Public Realm strategy should again be heeded.
Within the next round of engagement, we encourage the City to demonstrate policy alignment with the Public Realm Strategy to ensure that we measure twice and cut once, as opposed to measuring once and cutting up the street several times.
