Rail For Alberta

I’ve been thinking about Canada’s intention to become more economically independent from the United States, and to connect more with Europe.

We should do the same thing with our city-building.

Our city-building has always been too influenced by the U.S, especially with car dependency.

Thoughts?

“...any updated zoning must not reintroduce exclusionary (single family only) zoning, allow for at least four units on a lot across the city without additional approvals, and must not reintroduce approval processes or other barriers that slow down development”

City report outlines hundreds of millions in federal grants at risk if council repeals blanket rezoning calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

If the new Green Line LRT engagement didn't piss you off enough, apparently IPC (infrastructure and planning committee) is doing a discussion about the corporate asset management plan process this morning. They have a list of critical assets in poor or very poor condition.

There's a suuuuuper interesting #yyccc infrastructure committee meeting happening right now, on inf and growth, while I scramble to write a Sprawlcast on a completely separate subject. Torn!!!!

2025 marks another record year for housing delivery in Calgary Calgary continued to lead the country in housing delivery in 2025, setting new records across the development and construction pipeline as The City of Calgary worked to meet population growth and impr...

If #yyccc can achieve a 50/50 split between building new homes on the edge of the city & building them within the city, taxpayers are projected to save $16B+ over 60 years. Last year, blanket rezoning brought that ratio closer to balance than ever.

newsroom.calgary.ca/2025-marks-a...

Green Line Downtown Segment: Functional Planning Study We’re developing a plan for the Downtown Segment of Green Line, building on the Province of Alberta's plan and alignment.

Tonight is the first opportunity Calgarians will have to share their opinions on the #greenlineyyc elevated alignment through downtown #yyc.

The online engagement session runs from 6:00pm-7:30pm.

Register now to make sure your voice is heard!

engage.calgary.ca/greenlinedow...

Rescinding the RCG base zone will not only put affordability and construction jobs at risk, it threatens transit funding as well. $860 million on the table potentially lost because of bad policy and ideology over substance.

🧵Don't have time to write an op-ed about infill, but here are my main points: 1) a significant portion of those against make claims that they aren't asked to support, and/or can't support, with facts; 2) those of us who support infill in mature communities remain largely voiceless in news reports;

Opinion: Passenger rail will be vital for Alberta's growth As Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan nears completion, the province stands at an inflection point.

Opinion: Passenger rail will be vital for Alberta's growth

edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

bsky.app/profile/tomf...

Calgary is facing some existential challenges and unfortunately, due to mistakes of admin and a failure of leadership across the board, we are not likely to meet those challenges.

Ideology and an outdated growth model are going to further strain resources and our rapidly aging infrastructure.

More than $861 million in federal funding at risk with rezoning repeal: City report - LiveWire Calgary Nearly a billion dollars in federal funding is at risk should Calgary eliminate its Rezoning for Housing bylaw in the spring, according to a new city admin report. A new government funding risk…

Nearly a billion dollars over 10 years could be at risk with a repeal of citywide rezoning, according to a new city report. One councillor, however, called it 'doom and gloom.' #yyc #calgary #yyccc

buff.ly/1I2F3xr

Calgary officials warn repeal of citywide rezoning could risk federal funding - Calgary | Globalnews.ca A new report from City of Calgary officials warns more than $861 million in federal funding could be impacted if council repeals citywide rezoning next month.

NEW: Calgary city council’s upcoming decision on repealing citywide rezoning could impact more than $861 million in federal funding moving forward, according to a new risk analysis from city administration.

globalnews.ca/news/1165515...

There's a very real debate to be had about density and sprawl, it's something that we've known about for almost a century. Cracks starting to show in council already?

Amsterdam Street jammed with colourful cars in the 1970s

Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."

This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.

Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.

Better choices instead of excuses.

Rode #yycbike Beltlinebahn this morning and...it was nice. Construction still ongoing at 2 St but honestly, was very chill.

The bike rack at the east end of the ship and anchor has disappeared behind a construction fence.
Very visible indication of how many people use bikes to get to 17th Ave!

Deerfoot construction: Added lanes, new bridges promise traffic relief Calgary drivers making the daily crawl along Deerfoot Trail are watching a years-long construction project transform the road in real time.

"Dreeshen did not indicate whether the province explored induced demand during the planning process"

What an idiot.

Imagine how much better traffic on the Deerfoot would be if they had invested $600 million into transit instead. calgaryherald.com/news/deerfoo...

Hey, Sonya Sharp and Communities First, Calgary’s Climate Strategy isn’t a “costly political stunt”, it’s necessary policy. Ignoring this isn’t going to make these smoke days go away.

Sincerely, every Calgarian struggling because of air quality advisories due to wildfire smoke.

1/

#yyc #yyccc

Sustainable Calgary's Executive Director, @celiaravenlee.bsky.social speaks about our work with kids to make healthier, safer communities. With your help we can turn prototype projects into best practices to make school streets safer across Calgary!

Graphic showing a 9 m wide track for metros can move as many people as a 175 m road for cars.

To carry 50,000 people per hour in each direction, a city needs a 175m wide road for cars.

Even if those cars are electric.

And then there’s all the parking.

OR a city can move A LOT MORE people in a lot less space, with A LOT LESS public money, emissions, pollution, noise etc.

Choices.

Simple.

Opinion: Walking the walk(shed) on transit-oriented development in Calgary Majority of land near C-Train stations zoned only for low-density housing. This should change to medium and high-density.

Calgary has long under-utilized its transit stations and regulated them to parking lots. So why, at a time when everybody is saying build housing near transit, we don't appear to be making progress on this?

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

This is what attempted murder looks like.

ANALYSIS | Alberta minister threatens to axe bike lanes. Can he make his case? | CBC News Province claims urban bike lanes worsen congestion. Ontario said the same thing — then a judge found they lacked evidence to back up their point.

"Whether it's dubbed ending the 'war on cars' or fighting for 'common sense,' the fight over which road users get asphalt space has sounded similar across the country."

Cycle track through central Copenhagen

“While Mayor, I was often asked ‘how have you been able to afford bike-lanes in #Copenhagen?’ I’d reply, ‘how have you been able to NOT afford it? 25 years ago we were a few days away from going bankrupt. So the city invested in the cheapest infrastructure… bicycling.’” — @mortenkabell.bsky.social

if mark carney wanted a big project in the national interest that would set us up for a better future, he could pour billions into expanding the transit networks in cities across the country and build dense public housing around transit stops. but that won’t directly enrich private investors!

Have you noticed how many people are riding bikes these days? It a really nice way to get around!

Some important added context on the current #yycbike lane debate the UCP has decided to stir up. Once it again, it appears "the feels" trumps the facts.

DYK that despite the population of #yyc growing by over 400,000 people between 2015 & 2023, downtown traffic volume has actually gone done? It's obvious the UCP & Minister Devin Dreeshen don't know that, but less traffic is what investing in alternatives like #yycbike lanes & transit is all about