By rosebell
In order to starting construction on Green Line light rail transit (LRT) in the southeast and downtown connection, Calgary City Council in Canada has given approval.
The decision follows months of collaboration with the Province of Alberta, making the Green Line LRT Calgary’s largest infrastructure investment.
The Green Line’s first phase is due to be split into two tracks following the approval and the date of commencing the station’s construction will be this spring from Shepard to Victoria Park, while a downtown plan will be developed over the next two years.
As both the city and province agreed to continue advancing design work for this segment, construction is going to begin this year between Victoria Park and Shepard in the southeast (SE).
Additionally, the council has agreed to partner with the province on a shared vision for Calgary’s south-to-north light rail transit line, developing from Seton through downtown to 160 Avenue N.
Considering that a decade of planning and over C$6bn in funding from the city, Province of Alberta, and Government of Canada was allocated, the Green Line main construction is slated to begin.
The project has already witnessed an investment of around C$1.4bn in planning, design, construction, vehicles, and land.
Due to that the 60% design completed and enabling construction underway on the SE Segment from Shepard to the Event Centre/Grand Central Station, the start of main construction marks a major milestone in the project’s history.
As construction begins in the southeast, the city will immediately start work on the Functional Plan for the Downtown Segment. This will advance design, validate the province’s cost estimates, assess impacts on existing infrastructure, and engage the public to ensure broad support from Calgarians before construction begins.
The scheduled date for completion of the study is the end of 2026, with downtown section construction potentially starting in 2027.
According to Calgary City Council chief administrative officer David Duckworth: “The Green Line is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure and an investment in Canada’s fastest growing city. Today’s decision helps us plan and build for Calgary’s best future.”
Creating the backbone of an over 46km transit system, the concurrent delivery of the SE and Downtown Segments will link Calgarians to more work, housing, and activity options and the LRT project will feature two underground stations in the Downtown/Beltline area, Eau Claire and 7 Avenue S.W.
