Calgary moves closer to boosting road safety funding after 225% jump in fatal pedestrian collisions

Calgary is one step closer to boosting funding for safer roads, as the city sees a steep increase in fatal collisions involving pedestrians.

There was a 225 per cent jump in fatal collisions involving pedestrians in 2024.

If you ask Calgarians, it’s no secret that walking around the city is growing more challenging.

“Everyone is in just too much of a hurry, just slow down,” one person told CityNews.

“Impatience, people pulling out because they don’t want to wait,” another added.

It’s why Calgary’s Community Development Committee voted Thursday to provide an additional $1 million in one-time funding from the city’s reserves towards improving safety for pedestrians and motorists this year. 

“The one-time investment of $1 million will address urgent safety needs that include expanding successful pilot programs, like our speed cushions, speed hump pilot and as well enhancing sidewalk and intersection safety,” Joanna Domarad leader of mobility safety with the City of Calgary.

A city report to the community development committee shows that Calgary’s collision rates are significantly higher than other Canadian cities like Edmonton or Toronto. 

Part of that reason, according to the report, is how little Calgary spends on safety programming; $5 million annually compared to $50 million in Edmonton and $80 million in Toronto.

But, as the province cracks down on the usage of photo radar, it could be even harder for the city to find funding to improve road safety.

“Police traffic teams are now spending more time on Stoney Trail where there used to be photo radar. They’re [police] not going to be in our school zones, they are not going to be on our neighbourhood streets,” said Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott.

The measure will now go to council for a vote, while city staff say they plan on asking for more than double the funding that Calgary currently spends on road safety in their 2026 budget request.