Northeast Stoney Crossing Study: 80 Avenue N.E. & 64 Avenue N.E.

The scope for this project is to examine the feasibility of a flyover over Stoney Trail at 80 Avenue N.E. and 64 Avenue N.E. and to determine the preferred network connection(s) for the area. An 80th Avenue flyover is required to provide adequate emergency response times to City land east of Stoney Trail and will be included in all concepts developed for the study area.

In 2018, City Council approved the East Stoney Area Structure Plan (ASP), which included plans for an overpass across Stoney Trail at 80 Avenue N.E. The primary purpose of the proposed overpass was to reduce fire service response times from Station 32 to the East Stoney Area and the overpass was considered a requirement for area development to proceed. It was proposed that the overpass would also accommodate transit service, pedestrians, and cyclists. Following the approval of the ASP, some members of Council expressed interest in the potential for the overpass to also accommodate general purpose traffic.

In late 2019, The City identified the opportunity to look at the broader connectivity across Stoney Trail in NE Calgary. Rather than focus solely on 80 Avenue, The City commenced a Functional Planning Study to look at long term public access options which could include 64 Avenue and/or 80 Avenue NE. As part of this project, a key element is to engage the public and impacted community members for feedback and input, to assist with the evaluation. The project team is asking questions and obtaining feedback to make sure the correct recommendation is put forth.

The 80th Avenue flyover is required to provide adequate emergency response times to City land east of Stoney Trail. Alternate emergency routes, such as Airport Trail, McKnight Boulevard and 64th Avenue were considered, along with several other alternatives, but these did not meet the required 7-minute emergency response time for the Calgary Fire Department approved by Council. The construction of a new emergency response station east of Stoney Trail was also considered, but the development area is not large enough to support the capital and operating costs of a new station.

In 2017/2018 engagement was undertaken during planning of the East Stoney Area Structure Plan, following The City’s statutory process. The Community Associations and other key interested parties were included in this process. During the approvals process, it was determined that adequate Fire/EMS access was required for development to proceed.

The 80 Avenue N.E. flyover was approved during City Council in December 2018 as an emergency access, transit, walking and cycling connection.

• A land use amendment and outline plan application (LOC2017-0111) was submitted for the Homestead community on April 06, 2017. In April 2017 mailouts were sent to approximately 5,000 residents in Coral Springs, Taradale and Saddleridge, along with all County landowners within 1 mile of the ASP boundary to inform hem of the ASP and directing them to the ASP project webpage
• On May 08, 2017 Council adopted the East Stoney Area Structure Plan, which outlined the development vision for the subject lands of this application.
• The initial application was posted on a Public Notice and website on May 16, 2017 and circulated to adjacent Community Associations and other interested parties.
• An information session was held on July 26, 2017 where the public had the opportunity to review and provide feedback on two possible land use concepts.
• On October 09, 2018 Council approved Bylaw 69P2018 and amended the East Stoney Area Structure Plan to remove the Growth Management Overlay for the majority of plan area providing greater certainty to proponents and allow for planning application reviews underway in these communities to continue moving forward.
• The application was posted on October 19, 2018 a second time and advertised in the Calgary Herald notifying the public of the upcoming Public Hearing of Council.
• On October 26, 2020 a second information session was held where the public reviewed the revised land use concept, supporting maps, graphics, and discussed with City staff.
• Homestead (LOC2017-0111) land use amendment (294D2018) and policy amendment (87P2018) was approved by City Council on December 10, 2018. A flyover was included in the Area Structure Plan at this time to meet the 7-minute response time.

The flyover crossing has no land impacts or encroachment onto private property and as such, there is no identified need for purchasing or monetarily compensating property owners. In the future if land is required for the project, The City of Calgary would contact the impacted owner(s). The City of Calgary does not intend to purchase properties, or portions of properties, unless the project design requires acquisition of private property.

The 80 Avenue N.E. flyover will not provide direct connections to/from Stoney Trail.

Currently connections to and from Stoney Trail are not viable due to the minimum distance required between interchanges on Stoney Trail, according to Alberta Transportation design standards. The project team will be investigating if potential connection options to/from Stoney Trail are feasible as the project progresses.

The dog park was implemented as a temporary park that made use of vacant lands within the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC) until an extension of 64 Avenue N.E. is warranted. If either concept 2 or 3 is selected as the recommended concept, the existing dog park will impacted by the flyover alignment. If a 64 Avenue is part of the recommended concept, options to relocate the dog park will be investigated.

The park would not be impacted in any of the 3 concepts being presented. The first concept does not have a flyover at 64 Avenue N.E. so there are no impacts to the park. Concepts 2 and 3 have the 64 Avenue N.E. flyover alignment south of the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Park boundary, and thus the park will not be impacted.

A traffic study is being completed as a part of this project and the findings will be used during the concept evaluation. The City has data available from numerous intersection traffic counts along both 64 Avenue N.E. and 80 Avenue N.E. (including Saddletowne Circle). In addition to existing traffic volumes, the projected future traffic volumes are being investigated and evaluated for all concepts.

The traffic analysis will be documented, along with all other analysis, in a study report that will be available to the public once the functional planning study work is complete and a final report is compiled. We are planning to finalize this report early next year.

A road safety review will be conducted on all three concepts. The findings of the safety review will be used during the evaluation of the concepts and will also be used to further refine the recommended concept that is carried forward. The safety review will be documented, along with all other analysis, in a study report that will be available to the public once the functional planning study work is complete and a final report is compiled. We are planning to finalize this report early next year.

In all concepts, the flyover at 80 Avenue N.E. is required to provide emergency services to the Homestead development and is expected to begin construction in 2021/2022.

The flyover at 64 Avenue N.E. is a long-term plan with no funding currently allocated to its construction during this budget cycle (2018 – 2022). The priority of the 64 Avenue flyover would be contingent on the need and speed of the surrounding development and would be evaluated at each budget cycle. The flyover would be designed to ultimately accommodate all public traffic, with multi-use pathways on both sides in the future.

The City is currently completing public engagement as part of the functional planning study, to obtain valuable feedback from residents and interested parties. The feedback received, along with technical review and requirements, will be used in the multiple account evaluation process of the three (3) concepts to assist with recommending a preferred option. Following the identification of a preferred option, the preferred option will be shared in winter 2020/2021, and input gathered to further refine the design development.

While a decision has been made for required Emergency services connection, and a flyover at 80 Avenue N.E. is proceeding, The City wants to work together with the residents on items we can include into the design to help mitigate concerns related to traffic operations, safety and access accommodation, aesthetics, community impacts and other permanent measures. The project team will also work with the adjacent residents to mitigate concerns such as noise, dust, etc. during construction.

Airport Trail - Phase 1 was completed in May 2014. Airport Trail - Phase 2 involves three stages and will be opened to traffic in 2022. More information about the project can be found on calgary.ca/airporttrail.

• Contact 311.
• Email nestoneycrossing@calgary.ca.
• Visit https://engage.calgary.ca/NEstoneycrossing to submit comments during the engagement period which runs from September 28 to October 16, 2020.