Prairie Economic Gateway: Calgary’s New Industrial Railway Hub

Something big is coming to the southeast edge of Calgary, and it’s going to have a lasting impact on the local economy and nearby communities.

The Prairie Economic Gateway is a transformational industrial, manufacturing, and logistics development now underway just east of Calgary’s city limits, along 114 Avenue SE near Stoney Trail and adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail mainline. It sits within Rocky View County, directly bordering the City of Calgary’s southeastern boundary – and it’s poised to become Western Canada’s largest industrial distribution and logistics centre.

What’s being called an “inland port,” the project is approved by all levels of government and has the support of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Over the next decade or so, the new industrial railway hub is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs and generate several billion dollars in economic activity. Construction is expected to break ground in 2027.

For Calgarians living in nearby southeast homes and communities, the project is an enormous opportunity. And for those thinking about where to buy a home that may be employed by the project, the communities surrounding the new commercial hub – including homes in the lake community of Chestermere – deserve a close look.

Key Takeaways

• Inland Port: The Prairie Economic Gateway is a proposed industrial hub located just east of Calgary’s southeastern city limits in Rocky View County, between 114 Avenue SE and the CPKC rail mainline.
• Joint Venture: The project is a joint initiative between the City of Calgary and Rocky View County, supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank
• Economic Impact: The project is estimated to generate over $7 billion in economic activity and create more than 30,000 jobs over the next 10 to 12 years during the development phase alone — not counting thousands of additional operational jobs once open.
• Phased Development: The first phase, the Shepard Logistics Centre (~400 acres), has received Gold Tier status from CPKC and is targeting a 2027 groundbreaking, with occupancy expected as early as 2028.
• Nearby Communities: include Hotchkiss, Sora, Mahogany, Auburn Bay, Copperfield, and southern Chestermere neighbourhoods, positioned to serve as residential hubs for the workers needed to make the project a reality.

What Is the Prairie Economic Gateway?

The Prairie Economic Gateway is a first-of-its-kind, rail-served industrial development designed to function as an inland port – essentially a landlocked version of a major shipping terminal. Think of it as bringing the logistical power of a coastal seaport deep into the heart of Alberta.

Anchored by direct access to the CPKC rail network – a 32,000-kilometre system that now connects Canada all the way through the United States to Mexico following CP Rail’s 2023 merger with Kansas City Southern – the Gateway will allow goods to move seamlessly between global markets without touching a coastline. Products can travel from Vancouver to Monterrey, Mexico, bypassing Chicago entirely.

First “Inland Port” in Canada

The full project, if completed, would cover up to 2,190 acres of industrial land, encompassing up to 20 million square feet of industrial space for manufacturers, logistics operators, distributors, cold storage facilities, and more. The site has been designated Gold Tier by CPKC through its North American Site Selection Program – a recognition of the land’s quality and readiness for major rail-served industrial development.

While inland ports are well-established in the United States – Georgia’s Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub being a notable example – this type of facility remains a novel concept in Canada. The Prairie Economic Gateway would be among the first of its kind in the country, helping strengthen the Alberta and Canadian economies for decades to come.

Prairie Economic Gateway: Economic Impacts

The numbers behind the Prairie Economic Gateway are staggering — and for anyone living in or near southeast Calgary, they signal a sustained wave of economic growth already taking shape.

Private Jobs: More than 30,000 jobs will be created during the development phase alone, in areas like construction, utilities, infrastructure development, vertical buildout, and power facilitation. Those are just the build-out jobs. Once the Gateway is fully operational, the employment picture grows considerably further – the precise number of permanent operational jobs will depend on the industrial and commercial portfolio that ultimately fills the site.

Government Investment: The return on investment is compelling at every level. The City of Calgary’s own analysis projects an 11.9x return on investment for the overall project, including more than a 1.7x return for the City alone. For every $1 in public investment, an estimated $8.90 in private-sector investment follows.

Population Growth: The project is timely as well. Calgary’s population is expected to reach nearly 2 million people by 2030, and over 140,000 new jobs will be needed in the region within the next five years to keep pace. The Prairie Economic Gateway, if fully realized, will absorb a meaningful share of that demand.

Prairie Economic Gateway: Nearby Communities

One of the most practical realities of a development this size is the housing demand it creates. Tens of thousands of workers – from skilled tradespeople and engineers to logistics professionals and warehouse operators – could live nearby, if they choose. Several southeast Calgary communities and nearby Chestermere neighbourhoods closest to the Prairie Economic Gateway are well-positioned to absorb that demand.

Hotchkiss (SE Calgary)

Hotchkiss is one of Calgary’s newest southeast communities and sits approximately 6 to 8 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway site — a drive of roughly 8 to 10 minutes via the 22x Highway. Developed by Qualico Communities, Hotchkiss real estate offers a mix of single-family homes, laned homes, and duplexes at a relatively accessible price point for new construction builds in Calgary.

Hotchkiss location on Calgary’s southeastern brim makes it by far one of the closest established communities to the Prairie Economic Gateway, which could translate to strong long-term demand as the project ramps up.

Sora (SE Calgary)

Sora is a newer master-planned community within the Hotchkiss area, placing it approximately 6 to 8 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway – about a 10-minute drive on average under normal traffic conditions. Multiple builders are active in Sora, offering townhomes and single-family homes designed for families and first-time buyers.

Sora’s proximity to both the Gateway and the broader southeast Calgary amenity corridor makes it one of the most strategically situated communities for workers tied to the inland port.

Mahogany (SE Calgary)

Mahogany is one of Calgary’s most celebrated lake communities, located approximately 10 to 14 kilometres away from the Prairie Economic Gateway site, with a commute of roughly 12 to 15 minutes via 88th Street SE to Stoney Trail and then to Highway 22X. Mahogany real estate features a private beach club on an 84-acre freshwater lake, with properties ranging from townhomes and duplexes to luxury estate homes.

The community’s well-developed infrastructure, including schools, retail, and recreation, positions it as an attractive option for professionals and families seeking a higher-end lifestyle within easy reach of the Prairie Economic Gateway.

Auburn Bay (SE Calgary)

Auburn Bay is another well-established lake community in southeast Calgary, sitting approximately 12 to 14 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway, with a drive of roughly 15 to 18 minutes. Auburn Bay homes and real estate wrap around a 43-acre freshwater lake and offer a diverse range of housing – from entry-level condominiums and townhomes to large detached homes for sale.

Auburn Bay’s maturity as a community, with abundant schools, nearby shopping at Seton, and the adjacent South Health Campus hospital, makes it a highly livable base for Prairie Economic Gateway-area workers who prefer a more established neighbourhood feel

Copperfield (SE Calgary)

Copperfield is another established family-friendly community in Calgary, located approximately 12 to 14 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway site, with a typical drive time of around 15 to 18 minutes. The community has been fully built out over the past two decades, with brand new construction homes in Copperstone, a recent subdivision.

Copperfield offers some of the southeast’s most competitively priced resale homes – detached, semi-detached, and townhomes alike. For buyers prioritizing affordability and access to a fully mature neighbourhood with parks, schools, and transit, Copperfield remains one of southeast Calgary’s most dependable choices.

South Shore (Chestermere)

South Shore is a growing community on the south side of Chestermere, offering single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes in a lakeside city setting. From South Shore homes, the Prairie Economic Gateway is approximately 20 km away – about a 15-minute drive.

Chestermere’s unique appeal as a small lake city just outside Calgary’s eastern limits means a slower-paced lifestyle just minutes away from the new rail and industrial hub.

Kinniburgh (Chestermere)

Kinniburgh is a semi-estate community tucked into the southeast corner of Chestermere, known for its larger lots and upscale single-family homes. It sits approximately 20 to 23 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway, with a commute of about 17 to 20 minutes.

For professionals in senior or management roles seeking a more spacious, premium residential setting, Kinniburgh real estate offers high-end living in a quiet, well-established setting.

Waterford (Chestermere)

Waterford is a newer community in southern Chestermere, offering townhomes and single-family homes through reputable builders.

Located approximately 20 to 22 kilometres from the Prairie Economic Gateway — about an 18-minute drive — Waterford homes for sale appeal to buyers who want new construction in a smaller city environment without the premium associated with new builds inside Calgary.

Project Timeline at a Glance

The Prairie Economic Gateway has been moving steadily from concept to reality:

• 2023: Planning work begins in earnest for what would become the Prairie Economic Gateway.
• February 2025: Both Rocky View County Council and Calgary City Council vote unanimously in favour of the Prairie Economic Gateway Agreement.
• March 2025: A Memorandum of Understanding is signed with the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• July 2025: Rocky View County Council unanimously approves the Shepard Logistics Centre Conceptual Scheme, covering approximately 1,287 acres in the southern portion of the Gateway lands.
• 2026–2027: Detailed engineering studies and design work for public infrastructure.
• 2027–2029: Infrastructure delivery and site development (groundbreaking targeted for 2027).
• 2030 and beyond: The Gateway opens for business and begins generating revenue.

Working at the Prairie Economic Gateway?

The Prairie Economic Gateway is one of the most significant economic infrastructure projects in Calgary’s modern history. For homebuyers and investors in southeast Calgary and Chestermere, the message is clear: the communities surrounding the new rail hub are on the front lines of one of the region’s biggest economic growth stories in recent years.

Whether buying a first home, upgrading to a lake community, or investing in a rental property, understanding the Gateway’s trajectory is a meaningful part of making a well-informed real estate decision in the southeast today.

Contact Your Team of Realtors® Today!

For anyone curious about buying or selling in these communities, reaching out to a local expert familiar with the southeast Calgary and Chestermere markets is the natural next step.

Contact your team of highly experienced Realtors in the Calgary Metropolitan Area by getting in touch with Cody and Jordan to discuss your real estate goals today! We look forward to connecting with you!

 

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