CALGARY — It’s been called a wretched urban eyesore, strip mall hell and a condo developers’ dream, but whatever people are saying about Macleod Trail, the city is listening.

An online public survey is the first step in a long-term transportation corridor study for Macleod Trail from 25th Avenue S. to Anderson Road. While the city is updating its 1968 plan, don’t expect changes to the major mall thoroughfare anytime soon.

“These types of studies are typically 10 to 30 years before any implementation,” said Mathew MacDonald, a city transportation engineer.

Area aldermen say the public’s input is key to bringing Macleod Trail, and its reputation, into the future.

“I’ve heard it described as one of the ugliest streets in North America,” said Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra.

Focusing off the busy roadway, onto Burnsland Road, one block east of Macleod Trail near the LRT line , might be a better answer for pedestrians, Carra said.

“Why don’t we put the people not on the busy car street, but on the transit street and provide the visual clues to cars driving by that there’s something happening there?”

The city could help kick-start the first major pedestrian-friendly redevelopment along Macleod Trail. It’s working on plans to turn over part of the sprawling Anderson LRT park-and-ride as mixed-use “transit oriented” development.

The thoroughfare’s neighbours include Kingsland, Haysboro, Southwood and Windsor Park and Elboya.

“It’s an eyesore and people are also not happy with traffic. We need to do this because we said we want it to be something different, we want an urban corridor,” says Ald. Brian Pincott.

“It truly has very little to do with the communities that abut it. How do we make it work for those communities?”

With infrequent bus stops, transit access is another sticking point,

“It is odd that we have a major transportation corridor that doesn’t work for transit. It serves cars only. Unless we start figuring out how it works for pedestrians and transit it will always be the blighted eyesore that it is.”

Planners are working to update the city’s 1968 Macleod Trail Functional Planning Report to align it with the 2009 Calgary Transportation Plan and land-use planning initiatives in the area.

“Macleod Trail is an important roadway for those who live, work, and travel through the area,” said MacDonald.

“We want to hear from anyone who uses this corridor during the week. Their feedback will help identify priority issues and help shape future transportation plans for Macleod Trail.”

The study will look at ways to improve community access, walking, cycling, transit, roadway operations and safety.

Local longtime business owners say they welcome anything to entice more customers.

Ranchman’s, a country and western dance hall which celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend, has seen the roadway change over the decades.

“I think it’s very important. Macleod Trail has so many businesses on it,” said Ranchman’s Harris Dvorkin.

The club was once a lunchtime hot spot, but ended noon service when it became too cumbersome for customers to walk across the busy roadway.

“We used to get a lot business from across the street. We’re hoping to open for lunch in the future,” he said. “Crosswalks would be fantastic. It would make it absolutely wonderful for everybody and make it very convenient. People could park and eat lunch and go shopping. That would make it into a nice mixed use.”

Others look forward to an urban boulevard to attract foot traffic and family-friendly shops.

“Instead of the porn store on the corner, it would be nice to have a cafe,” said Rob Gale, who owns Chinook and Hobby West, which has been on the corner of 50th Avenue since 1983.

“I like the idea of an urban corridor, but what’s that going to look like? As long as it really has a good feel, it sounds like a good idea.”

The city study aims to identify transportation needs along the corridor to support the 2009 Municipal Development Plan, which envisions the adjacent land use intensifying into an urban corridor with retail, office, mixed-use and residential uses.

Citizens have until May 4 to answer questions about how they use the thoroughfare at www.calgary.ca/macleod.

Take a virtual drive down the stretch of Macleod Trail being studied

szickefoose@calgaryherald.com