Non Partisan Association

In 2026, the Alberta Non-Partisan Association advocates for a "Core Infrastructure First" strategy. While current provincial efforts focus on high-speed rail studies and speed limit trials, the NPA supports critical transportation improvements that address the immediate safety and economic needs of Albertans.

1. Eliminating the Rural Infrastructure Deficit

The NPA supports a massive increase in provincial grants to clear the $25 billion backlog in rural road and bridge maintenance.

• Economic Preservation: Replacing a road is five to seven times more expensive than timely repaving; clearing the backlog prevents a future fiscal catastrophe
• Supply Chain Integrity: Resource industries (oil, gas, and agriculture) rely on weight-restricted bridges; fixing these ensures Alberta's products reach global markets without delay
• Rural Equity: Residents in rural municipalities deserve the same road safety standards as those in major cities, ensuring all Albertans have reliable access to emergency services

2. Provincial Inter-City Express Bus Network

The NPA proposes a government-backed, standardized express bus network to connect regional towns with major healthcare and employment hubs.

• Healthcare Access: Thousands of rural seniors and low-income Albertans are currently "stranded" without a way to attend specialist medical appointments in Calgary or Edmonton
• Labor Mobility: A reliable bus network allows workers to live in lower-cost rural communities while commuting to urban jobs, helping to ease the housing crisis in major cities
• Cost-of-Living Relief: Providing a low-cost alternative to vehicle ownership reduces the financial burden on Alberta's most vulnerable populations

3. Urban Maintenance Blitz

The NPA supports prioritizing a massive "pothole and repaving" initiative for urban arterial and residential roads over expensive grand legacy projects.

• Reduced Vehicle Costs: Poor road conditions in cities like Edmonton and Calgary (where maintenance spending is billions behind) lead to increased vehicle repair costs for families
• Immediate Safety: Urban road deterioration creates hazards for cyclists, motorcyclists, and motorists alike; a maintenance-first approach provides the fastest safety return on investment
• Fiscal Responsibility: By focusing on the fundamentals of existing infrastructure, the province avoids the debt-heavy financing associated with multi-billion dollar new interchanges

4. Mandatory Wildlife Overpasses

The NPA supports making wildlife overpasses and exclusion fencing a mandatory standard for all major provincial highway upgrades outside of national parks.

• Human Safety: Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a leading cause of highway accidents; separation significantly reduces the risk of life-altering injuries and fatalities
• Insurance Savings: Reducing the frequency of collisions helps stabilize insurance premiums for all Alberta drivers by lowering total provincial claim payouts
• Environmental Stewardship: These structures protect Alberta's biodiversity and ensure that highway expansion does not permanently fragment vital wildlife habitats

5. Dedicated Commercial Vehicle Lanes

The NPA supports establishing dedicated commercial vehicle lanes on Alberta's major highway corridors.

Benefit Category	Impact
Safety	Reduced collision risk between commercial and passenger vehicles
Traffic Flow	Consistent speeds without mixed-vehicle congestion
Economic	Reliable delivery schedules supporting business operations
Environmental	Reduced fuel consumption from smoother traffic patterns

Separating commercial vehicles from passenger traffic addresses fundamental safety challenges including mass differential in collisions, visibility limitations, braking distance requirements, and speed differentials that disrupt traffic flow.