Calgary City Council voted in favour of the $5.5 billion Green Line project on June 16, 2020. The North-South Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will be the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history.
“The Green Line will improve mobility for all Calgarians connecting communities, employment hubs and key destinations across the city,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of Green Line.
In addition to approving the revised State 1 alignment, Council approved a new construction staging strategy. The city’s recommendations reflect many conversations since the June 1 Green Line Committee meeting with Council and stakeholders and balance the commitment to move forward with Stage 1, with the desire for greater certainty around managing risks.
Green Line Stage 1 will be constructed in three segments:
- Segment 1: Elbow River to Shepard
- Segment 2A: 2 Avenue SW station to Elbow River
- Segment 2B: 16 Avenue N to north of 2 Avenue SW station
“Stage 1 builds the core of the Green Line long-term vision and will enable future incremental expansion as funding is available to realize the full benefits of the rapid transit network,” Thompson said. “High quality transit, like LRT, is a necessity for cities to grow, be attractive to entrepreneurs and a talented workforce, and to be competitive economic centres locally and internationally. Green Line is planned for long-term city shaping and spurring redevelopment and investment opportunities in Calgary and will be an important part of the city’s recovery generating 20,000 jobs.”
Segment 1 of the Green Line is shovel ready. The procurement process will move forward with the Request for Qualifications shortlisted proponents to be announced in June 2020, and the Request for Proposal to be issued by July 24, 2020. Given Segment 1 will be delivered as a design build finance project, the proponent teams will be bidding on the project starting on July 24, 2020. However, the detailed design and construction will begin in 2021.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi called the vote a victory for all Calgarians. According to Nenshi, an investment in transit is an investment in social mobility, city building and the environment, among other benefits.
For further information and a map of the approved Green Line route, click here.
Featured image credit: City of Calgary.
