Project update – March 2024
In preparation for upcoming construction, 40 trees along the MAX 301 corridor from 28 Avenue N.W. north to Country Hills Boulevard N.E. have been marked for removal. These trees will be removed beginning March 18 on Centre Street and 28 Avenue N.W., progressing north towards Country Hills Boulevard. We have worked hard to preserve as many trees as possible from any effects from construction. The project’s design includes planting 48 new trees to replace those removed.
Detailed design for the project was completed in the fall of 2023 and the project was tendered and awarded in early 2024.
Construction on the North Central BRT project is expected to begin in late April 2024 at 40 Avenue North and Beddington Boulevard. As work progresses, construction at additional locations along Centre Street and at Country Hills Boulevard will begin. All lanes will remain open during peak hours, with single lane closures in place during non-peak hours as station improvements progress. Completion of the North Central BRT Short-Term Improvements Project is targeted for summer of 2025. Full details on future project areas and construction timelines will be posted on this page as plans are finalized in 2024.
Detailed design on medium-term projects is also expected to begin in 2024, upon completion of the short-term projects.
Project background
As part of the Green Line LRT project, The City conducted the North Central Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) functional planning study from 2020 to 2021, resulting in recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term improvements. The proposed North Central BRT improvements will link the investments that The City is making with Green Line to provide improved connections to north central communities and support the future transition to LRT along the corridor, which runs from Downtown along Centre Street up to Harvest Hills Boulevard N.E., and continues through to 160 Avenue N.E.
These improvements will:
- provide shorter transit travel times
- increase reliability
- enhance comfort and convenience
- improve accessibility
- improve walking and wheeling amenities
With Green Line Committee approval of the study recommendations in May 2021, work on implementing the recommendations will begin to move forward in 2022.
Centre Street South Public Realm improvements
In coordination with the North Central BRT study and Tomorrow’s Chinatown, we are exploring public realm improvements for Centre Street South from the Riverfront Avenue to 4 Avenue South.
The first phase of this project included working with the community to identify areas of concern and opportunity for potential public realm improvements and pedestrian safety along Centre Street South. The analysis is focused on the North Central BRT Study to ensure that any infrastructure or stations that are proposed are integrated to promote the public realm and do not prevent any potential future improvements.
In spring 2021, two rounds of virtual public engagement were held to inform phase 1 of the project. Based on feedback received during engagement, the project team has developed preliminary design concepts and recommendations for consideration in future stages of the project. Click here to view the final report.
Phase 2 of the project will develop the concepts from phase 1 and complete a comprehensive streetscape master plan. Currently, there is no anticipated timeline for phase 2 of this project. This work will be completed as funding and resourcing for improvements become available.
