• Buried infrastructure renewal is needed along a portion of main street. Due to its age, these updates are required to maintain proper functionality.
• The Town is moving forward with downtown enhancements that were paused over the last few years. The work is based on community feedback received on the main street design in 2020, and downtown policy work that has been completed or underway since 2015.
• This project tackles Town priorities and needs: o A strategic priority of Okotoks Town Council is to develop the downtown to attract new business, and to enhance the diversification of the tax base. The intended outcome of the improvement project is that increased development activity will bring more people and new jobs to the community, making the area more attractive to local businesses, residents and visitors

We encourage you to contact Mitch Thompson with the Engineering team at the Town to discuss further. His contact information is mthompson@okotoks.ca or 587-434-4867.

• Okotoks is making long-term investments in the downtown. Utility infrastructure upgrades are needed to ensure continuity and reliability of water and sewer services.
  
• Enhancements to the street will improve accessibility, safety, climate resiliency and make
  the area more friendly and inviting for all residents and visitors.
  
• For businesses, long-term benefits will include an improved integration of their property with the street, more flexibility for operations, increased opportunities to attract customers and a more appealing and charming main street that attracts pedestrians and visitors. Some examples of how main street’s charm and attractiveness will be improved include: the addition of significantly more boulevard trees and street furniture, widening
  of the sidewalk for potential patio and retail operations outside of the storefront, improved street lighting and burial of overhead power.

• In 2024, formalizing parking on Daggett Street with paving, line painting, signage and fencing.
• Starting in 2025, replacement of buried utilities on North Railway Street between McRae and Elm Place. These utilities have reached the end of their useful lifespan and have been in service since the 1950s (about 75 years).
• Burial of overhead power lines on North Railway Street between McRae Street and Lineham Avenue, starting in 2025.
• Upgrades to the look, feel and function of main street between Northridge Drive and Poplar Avenue. These upgrades may include improved sidewalks and boulevards, tree plantings, street furniture and roadway updates. Safety and accessibility are challenges in some areas of our current main street and will be addressed through these improvements.
• Integrating Triangle and Pisttoo Parks into main street.

• Construction is expected to start in 2025 at the east end of downtown along North Railway Street, between Elm Place and McRae Street and will last until approximately 2026. Work will move west in progressive steps along main street and will occur during the construction seasons each year starting in the spring when the ground thaws. Specific timelines for construction will be developed once the final design is ready and engagement with impacted property owners has taken place.

The roundabout provides opportunities for traffic to circulate and keep flowing while a train is crossing at Lineham Ave, but it requires that drivers do not block the intersection. This is similar to any other traditional intersection where drivers should not enter the intersection and block traffic if they would not be able to complete their movement. To aid with circulation, traffic signage will be installed before the roundabout warning drivers not to block the intersection.

• While we don’t have a final design and construction plans yet, we expect that some portions of the streets and sidewalks will be temporarily closed during construction. These closures will be staggered to make sure main street remains accessible, especially for people visiting businesses or accessing their homes. Access to all businesses and residences will take priority during construction, to the greatest extent possible.
• The Town has hired a consultant team with experience in prioritizing traffic flows to businesses during construction disruption. We will continue to engage with businesses directly to understand business needs, discuss impacts and work collaboratively on minimizing those impacts where possible.
• In areas where construction is active, we will provide temporary surfaces and routes to ensure businesses and residences can be accessed. Navigation for vehicles, parking and pedestrians around construction areas will be signed.
• Once construction is over and the street is restored to its final design, through-traffic and on-street parking will be restored. There will be no permanent closure for vehicle traffic, and on-street parking will be kept. We will largely maintain the existing amount of on-street parking along main street while balancing the need for safety, accessibility and a sense of place.

• Comfortable pedestrian spaces with amenities like seating, greenery, waste collection, bike parking, even walking surfaces, and good lighting improve the overall shopping experience, making customers more likely to return. This will be balanced with the need for convenient on-street parking, which will be retained.
• Accessible spaces that are easy to navigate encourage people of all ages and abilities to experience the area. This fosters community pride, encourages foot traffic and economic growth.
• Vibrant, pedestrian-friendly areas attract more visitors. When people feel safe and comfortable walking, they are more likely to explore shops and services, increasing the potential for purchasing.

• Enhancement of these parks will offer more gathering spaces in the downtown for everyone in the community and connect these parks with main street.
• Everyone will be welcome to enjoy these parks, and opportunities for safe play for children will be available. The existing parks have space limitations, so we are considering different designs to improve safety and accessibility rather than traditional playground equipment.

Snow clearing in Okotoks is a shared responsibility between property owners and the Town. Clearing of sidewalks in front of a business or residence is the responsibility of the property owner while clearing of streets and parking areas is the Town’s responsibility. This image illustrates the responsibilities for the new sidewalks and boulevards. For more information on snow clearing, visit: https://www.okotoks.ca/your-services/maintenance/snow-clearing

• Preserving the existing mature trees on main street will help maintain the charming and inviting atmosphere of the downtown, in addition to the numerous other environmental and aesthetic benefits they provide. Where possible, and especially in the boulevard, mature trees will be retained. Tree health will be validated and detailed tree protection plans will be implemented on this project.
• There will be impacts to approximately 7 existing mature trees at Pisttoo Park. Tree removals are expected to commence in January 2025.
• Including Pisttoo and Triangle Parks, this project will contribute 42 new trees to the downtown core. The design demonstrates the Town’s commitment to providing environmental benefits through this project, and the net overall change will be a positive contribution to the ecosystem.

It is possible depending on the tree canopy and placement, that there could be impacts until the tree matures. We expect that as the tree grows over time and the leaf canopy extends upwards, the potential impact will lessen. Examples of how this can look can be seen on Elizabeth Street east of Northridge Drive where there are mature trees in the boulevards.

• Town events will be significantly impacted for most, if not all, of the entire duration of construction. Events including the Parade & Children’s Festival, Light Up, and community (non-Town) events that take place downtown on main street will see temporary changes while construction is occurring.
  
• The Town is currently reviewing what changes may be needed for community and Town events this spring/summer. Updates will be shared with the community when more information is available. Events that take place at the Olde Towne Plaza (Stephenson Park) and the area near the Okotoks Arts & Learning Campus are expected to continue as usual. All event details can be found at www.okotoks.ca/events
  
• Organizations, businesses and residents who participate in our local events will be contacted by the Town Events team with details about changes when appropriate. Information will also be shared on the Town’s website.

• Community feedback has been, and will continue to be, used to improve the vision for downtown and implementation during construction in several ways.
  In previous engagements, the community’s feedback and preferences were gathered regarding the look, feel, and function of main street surface improvements. Among many factors, we heard from the community and businesses about the importance of creating comfortable places where pedestrians want to be, while preserving space for vehicle traffic and parking.
  A What We Learned Report is available for review.
  
• Going forward, the community’s preferences will be captured and used where possible for improvements at Triangle and Pisttoo Parks, street furniture along main street, and importantly for business continuity and minimizing disruptions to businesses during construction.
  The Town will work directly with businesses and landowners fronting onto main street to ensure that the street improvement upgrades integrate appropriately with their property.

As the center of the community, flanked by the Sheep River to the south, the downtown has been the home of businesses, and a gathering place for celebrations and special events, since the Town’s incorporation over 100 years ago.
Learn more about the history of our downtown!