The City of Calgary, Rocky View County and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the next phase of the Prairie Economic Gateway, a proposed major trade and logistics hub in the Calgary region.
The project acceleration agreement is intended to speed up the transition from engineering and design work toward construction activities, according to a release.
The three organizations will also work together to assess the commercial, technical and financial feasibility of the public off-site infrastructure required to support future development at the site.
A more detailed due diligence phase will now begin, focusing on the infrastructure, financing and project-delivery requirements that must be addressed before construction decisions can be made.
A rail-anchored logistics hub
The Prairie Economic Gateway is envisioned as a multimodal, rail-anchored logistics hub connected to the CPKC mainline. The proposed development would be located east of Calgary in Rocky View County, directly along the CPKC rail corridor.
The project is being led by the City of Calgary and Rocky View County in partnership with private-sector rail and development companies.
The gateway is designed to expand trade-enabling infrastructure capacity while addressing first-mile and last-mile transportation constraints.
Its broader objectives include increasing the economic benefits generated through trade, improving supply chain reliability and resilience, and supporting greater diversification of Canada’s trade.
The project could also strengthen the Calgary region’s role in moving goods through Alberta and connecting businesses to national and international markets.
Construction industry sees long-term opportunity
The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) welcomed the new MOU, describing it as an important step toward advancing the project.
The association said the gateway represents a generational opportunity to strengthen Calgary’s position as a major centre for trade, logistics, manufacturing, distribution and industrial development.
The CCA also highlighted the project’s potential to support the infrastructure required to attract private investment and generate long-term economic activity.
For the construction sector, the association said the development could create a significant pipeline of work for its members over the next decade while reinforcing Alberta’s role within national and international supply chains.
The CCA said it was encouraged by the cooperation between regional partners and the Canada Infrastructure Bank to examine the infrastructure, financing and delivery requirements needed to move the project forward.
The association stressed that large-scale trade infrastructure will be increasingly important as Canada works to strengthen supply chain reliability, expand access to international markets and support economic diversification across the Prairie provinces.
The new due diligence phase will now determine how the required infrastructure can be financed and delivered, bringing the Prairie Economic Gateway another step closer to potential construction.
