Integrated & Accessible Transportation

Okotoks is a community with integrated, connected, multimodal, sustainable transportation options

Okotoks residents and the environment benefit from integrated and accessible transportation. It supports those walking and rolling, cycling and riding transit, while also still facilitating automobile access.

Outcomes For 2022

Develop more inclusive and barrier-free active transportation infrastructure and service levels

Provide more sustainable, active transportation through strategic land use and transportation options

Supports all modes of transportation with access to community amenities and events

Highlights of what we achieved in 2022

› With a successful E-scooter Pilot Program in 2021, the E-scooter Program was approved by Council in February 2022 to be provided annually through a third-party company. The e-scooters were a popular alternative for community members and offered some relief to transit service.

28,135 e-scooter trips were taken in 2022, up from 15,766 in 2021

The number of available e-scooters increased from 75 to 150

› When Okotoks Transit was first designed, the target was to have 52,000 passenger trips per year by 2026. This was surpassed with 62,241 passenger trips completed in 2022. Administration started working on possible short, medium, and long-term solutions to meet the growing demand.

Transit Target exceeded! There was a substantial increase of 45.63% in passenger trips between 2021 and 2022. This increase saw the passenger trip target exceeded four years ahead of schedule

› A network screening tool for transportation safety was developed that takes known information about a location of concern and provides a risk-based ranking. This is based on traffic volume, vulnerable road users, frequency of casualty collisions (if available), speed and public concerns. The ranking provides a rationale for further investigation, which identifies potential improvements or mitigation measures. Using this tool, improvements were made to signage and lighting at Southridge Drive and Cimarron Boulevard following a review by a transportation safety professional. Additionally, a signal timing review was completed for the intersection of Southridge Drive and Woodhaven Drive, with changes including the addition of a protected southbound left turn during the peak morning period.

› The final phase of the Veterans Way Pedestrian Corridor project was completed. The vision for this project was created in 2014 and was constructed in three phases. This project established a key active transportation corridor between downtown and the vast pathway network in Okotoks.

› The Town wrapped up a snow clearing and sanding pilot, which allows transportation crews to monitor plowing and sanding operations to show route completions.

› Milestones achieved as part of the Active Transportation Strategy included implementing a monitoring system using trail counters; completion of a condition assessment of all pathways and sidewalks; and development of a new system to identify, track and address maintenance issues.