Summary#

Calgary Council carried Councillor Yule’s notice of motion on March 31, 2026, by 14 to 1; Councillor Johnston voted against. It directs City staff to prepare a scoping report for a possible regional active-mobility corridor plan, and approves up to $150,000 for that report. The motion’s stated goal is to explore connected routes and regional cooperation; it does not approve building a pathway.

• City staff must work through the Regional Table with interested municipalities and report back through the Infrastructure and Planning Committee by the end of Q3 2026.
• The report must examine possible routes along Nose Creek toward Airdrie and the Bow River toward Cochrane, as well as existing pathways, gaps, constraints, land use, environmental and infrastructure factors.
• It must consider phasing, high-level cost ranges, possible funding sources, and tourism, recreation, placemaking and regional economic development.
• City staff must explore cultural and placemaking opportunities with local Indigenous Nations and organizations where appropriate, guided by areas of mutual interest.
• The Mayor is asked to advance the corridor as a possible early regional initiative and report through the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on regional interest and next steps.

What it means for you#

• Residents and pathway users: The decision studies possible connections for active travel and recreation. It does not build a route or change access to land, transport rules or fees.
• Partner municipalities: City staff must work with interested municipalities on the scoping report. The motion does not require any municipality to join or commit to construction.
• Indigenous Nations and organizations: The motion calls for exploring opportunities with them where appropriate, but does not set out how that work will happen.
• Taxpayers: Up to $150,000 is approved for the report, not for pathway construction.

Money#

Council approved up to $150,000 in one-time 2026 operating funding for the scoping report.

• The funding is from Calgary’s Fiscal Stability Reserve and assigned to the Project Development business unit.
• The motion gives no estimated cost for building any route or detail on future funding.

What is unclear#

• Which municipalities, if any, will take part, and whether they will support a corridor.
• The report will identify possible alignments, but the motion does not set a final route, construction schedule or approval process.
• The motion does not set a deadline for the Mayor’s report on regional interest and next steps.
• It does not explain how Indigenous Nations and organizations will be involved or define “where appropriate” and “areas of mutual interest.”

Case for#

• The motion’s stated rationale is that connected routes could support recreation, tourism, transportation options and regional cooperation.
• A scoping report could identify existing pathway links and gaps before municipalities consider whether to plan or build anything.
• Considering phasing, costs and possible grants could help show what a later project might require.

Case against#

• The decision funds planning, not a pathway. Residents will not get a route from this decision alone.
• The $150,000 is a spending limit for the report; the motion gives no estimate of future construction costs or funding.
• The report is to be prepared with interested municipalities, but their interest is not yet confirmed. Councillor Johnston voted against; the materials do not give a reason for the vote.