Calgary’s Green Line committee supports recommended Stage 1 alignment

An updated Stage 1 alignment for the planned Green Line light-rail project in Calgary, AB, Canada, will go before the city council following review of the alignment by the city’s Green Line Committee of Council on June 2.  

"Committee's review is a crucial step toward delivering an improved transit system for Calgarians," said Michael Thompson, general manager of Green Line. "We are confident we have the right alignment for Stage 1, the right project for Calgarians and the right approach to deliver the project successfully. This updated alignment presented to committee over the last two days provides the highest value transit system, while addressing previous concerns about budget, construction risk and customer experience."

In its entirety, the Green Line will deliver high-quality transit service to Calgarians in north central and southeast communities. Construction of Stage 1 of the Green Line is the next step towards completing Calgary's transit network, as set out in RouteAhead: A Strategic Plan for Transit in Calgary. Along with the new MAX bus rapid transit lines, the city of Calgary is committed to delivering a transit service that provides fast, frequent and reliable service for our customers that connects communities, employment hubs and key destinations across the city.

"Green Line is important to the future and benefits of all Calgarians," Thompson said. "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."

The updates to Stage 1 include: 

• A surface alignment on Centre Street N and a surface station at 16 Avenue N 
• Addition of 9 Avenue N Station in Crescent Heights
• A bridge over the river
• A Below-grade station/portal at 2 Avenue S.W. to be integrated in the Eau Claire Market redevelopment site
• 7 Avenue underground station
• Underground alignment on 11 Avenue in the Beltline and an underground station at 4 Street S.E.
• BRT improvements along Centre Street North

The city council will decide on the administration's recommendations on June 15, 2020. Pending approval, the administration will release the Request for Proposal (RFP) for segment 1 (Elbow River to Shepard) on July 24 and continue the functional planning for segment 2 (16 Avenue N to Elbow River). The Green Line Committee will meet in June or July to consider the recommendation on project governance.