Yesterday, Okotoks Town Council approved sending both an individual letter, and a joint letter with Foothills County, to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC), formally opposing the proposed increase of the Highway 2 speed limit from 110 km/h to 120 km/h. Council’s position is supported by multiple engineering studies that identify long-standing safety concerns at three key intersections south of Okotoks.
The Province is collecting feedback on raising speed limits on select divided rural highways. While most proposed changes do not directly affect Okotoks, the Town has identified significant risks at the Highway 2 intersections at 306 Avenue, 338 Avenue and 370 Avenue, where collision patterns and high travel speeds have been well-documented.
“The engineering evidence is clear: higher speeds increase the severity of collisions along this corridor,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Until the recommended safety improvements are constructed, increasing the speed limit would contradict the findings of these studies and elevate risks for all drivers.”
Safety Findings Reinforce the Need for Improvements
Over several years, ATEC, Okotoks and Foothills County have completed a series of detailed intersection reviews. Collectively, the studies indicate:
- 70–90% of collisions involve left-turn and through movements.
- Median closures at all three intersections are the most effective and strongly recommended safety measures.
- High travel speeds increase collision severity.
- Some interim recommendations suggested lowering speeds to 80–90 km/h, not raising them, if medians remain open.
Despite previous municipal endorsements, these recommended upgrades have not yet been implemented.
“The path forward is well understood,” said CAO Elaine Vincent. “Constructing the Highway 2 / 338 Avenue interchange and closing the medians at 306 and 370 Avenue are the solutions identified in every technical review. These upgrades must be in place before any consideration is given to raising speed limits.”
Council Direction
With today’s approval, Council has directed Administration to request that ATEC:
- Postpone any speed increase on Highway 2 until the required safety improvements are constructed.
- Commit funding for the Highway 2 / 338 Avenue interchange as the long-term solution identified through regional studies.
- Proceed with the recommended median closures and interim safety enhancements already endorsed by both municipalities.
- Align decision-making with findings from ATEC’s own intersection reviews and the South & East Calgary Regional Transportation Study.
This unified position reflects the shared priorities of Okotoks and Foothills County and reinforces the need for coordinated regional safety improvements.
Next Steps
The approved letters will be submitted to ATEC ahead of the December 12 provincial deadline. Okotoks will continue advocating for the investments necessary to improve corridor safety and support reliable transportation for residents and regional travelers.