Federal Government confirms Green Line LRT Funding

The Green Line is a multi-billion dollar investment in Calgary’s future that will help build vibrant communities where people can live, shop, work and play. Today, the Federal government confirmed their commitment of 1.53 billion dollars for stage 1 of the Green Line LRT. This is an unprecedented investment in public transit infrastructure and the largest in Alberta’s history.

Today’s announcement and confirmation of funding brings us one step closer to building Calgary’s next LRT.

“The Green Line is an incredibly important investment in Calgary’s future, that will create jobs, and provide Calgarians from Crescent Heights to Shepard with fast, reliable and modern public transportation,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

You may have already seen some Green Line construction projects underway in communities along the route alignment. These enabling works projects are clearing the way for the Green Line LRT, and include utility relocations, land preparation, environmental remediation and transit improvements.

Major construction of stage 1, which runs from 16 Avenue N to 126 Ave SE. will begin in 2020 with an expected opening day in 2026.  This is the longest segment of LRT ever constructed at one time in Calgary’s history.

“We have the experience and expertise to design and deliver the Green Line project,” said City of Calgary Transportation General Manager, Michael Thompson, “Calgary builds world-class LRT, we’re ready to deliver excellent transit service”

Since 1978, Calgary has been continuously building and expanding its Light Rail Transit system and has created one of the most well used Light Rail Transit systems in North America.

The full vision for the Green Line is 46 kilometres from 160 Avenue N. to Seton in the southeast. Like the Red and Blue Lines the Green Line will be constructed in stages over a number of years. The City will continue to advance the long-term vision for the Green Line, including the TOD planning work, land acquisition and transportation and transit planning to prepare for future stages of construction.

Green Line Stage 1 Fast Facts:
• 20 km from 16 Avenue N to 126 Avenue SE
• 14 stations
• 8 bridges
• 1 km of elevated track between Inglewood/Ramsay to 26 Avenue stations
• 4 km Centre City tunnel from 16 Avenue N to Macleod Trail
• 1 light rail vehicle (LRV) Maintenance & Storage Facility north of 126 Avenue SE (Shepard)
• Approximately 70 low floor vehicles
• $4.65 billion capital construction cost

Green Line Next Steps: In-Person and Online Feedback Wanted

Since the Green Line LRT was approved by City Council in June we’ve started preparing for major construction and now we need your help!

Starting this month, The City of Calgary will be hosting events from 16 Avenue N to 126 Avenue S.E. Construction on stage 1 is set to begin in 2020 and work has begun to develop technical documents that will guide that construction.

We want to hear from Calgarians how you want the LRT to integrate into your neighbourhood. Over the next couple of months, The City will be hosting in-person and online opportunities for you to provide feedback on things like street furnishing, fencing, crosswalk treatments, and more.

We also want to know how you see yourself and your neighbours using Green Line stations and plazas as community space, and what would make you feel safer using the LRT.

There’s plenty of in-person opportunities for you to participate, but if you can’t make it out you can provide your feedback online. 

Station design

The City has developed a cohesive look for Green Line LRT stations that will be applied across the entire alignment. Having a consistent design for all stations along the Green Line allows The City to utilize what is known as a “kit of parts.” Green Line – stage 1 will span 20 kilometres through many different communities. The cohesive design has been developed to be easily integrated into each distinct neighbourhood, while maintaining a recognizable look along the line.

At our upcoming sessions we’ll be introducing preliminary concepts for stations. You’ll be able to provide comments on your initial thoughts and speak to the architects who helped create the designs.  

There’s almost 20 opportunities to see us in person! Find an event near you or participate online.  

Green Line LRT: All Aboard

2017 has been an eventful year for the Green Line. The City has been working closely with Calgarians  over the last three years on planning the long term vision for the Green Line LRT, including setting the route and station locations. This year, the full 46 kilometre vision was approved by Council, and funding commitments were made by all three levels of government. Council also approved the first stage of construction, which includes building 20 kilometres of track from 16 Avenue N to 126 Avenue SE; 14 stations (including four underground stations); four park and rides; a new maintenance and storage facility; and a new fleet of light rail vehicles. Since these approvals, the team has been hard at work mapping out next steps and ramping up Green Line construction projects.  

We need your help to move this project from vision to reality.

First things first: please subscribe to our email distribution list. This is the best way to ensure you’re getting the latest Green Line information from The City. We won’t always send snail mail about engagement opportunities and construction activities, so subscribing to receive our regular email updates is best. 

Ogden Station Area Rendering – Opening Day 2026

Tell us how you want to see the Green Line integrated into your community.

We’re refining the design of the Green Line and want your input on safety and security, aesthetics and landscaping, and access to stations. From January to March 2018, we’ll be hosting sessions and online opportunities where you can provide feedback on how the LRT will look and feel in your community. Input collected from the public will be reflected in the technical documents that will guide the construction of the Green Line.

Subscribe to our email distribution list and watch for Facebook ads and other promotions in your community in the new year for session details, dates and times. 

Lynwood/Millican Station Area Rendering – Opening Day 2026

Green Line construction projects in your community

Calgarians living or working along Stage 1 of the Green Line will have already started to see construction activity along the future Green Line route. These construction activities include items like utility relocation, environmental remediation and land preparation. Doing this work now means it will be easier to build the Green Line LRT tracks and stations in the future. 

Construction on sludge line relocation near 130 Avenue S.E.

A full list of the projects under construction, in design or undergoing public engagement is available at www.calgary.ca/GreenLine.

Green Line route and stations approved by City Council

Yesterday, City Council approved the full 46 km alignment and 28 stations for the Green Line LRT from 160 Avenue N to Seton. This is a major milestone for the program, and ensures that the Green Line can be built in stages as funding becomes available.

We could not have reached this major milestone without the support of Calgarians. We would like to thank the community associations and business groups along the route, and the thousands of people who took part in events across the city over the last two and a half years. Your local insight has helped shape this program – from envisioning the development potential around stations to changing the route to protect community assets, and refining locations of stations for better access for customers. We couldn’t have done this without you, and we appreciate the countless hours you have dedicated to working with us to plan the best Green Line for Calgary.

What happens now?
Our focus this summer will be to secure the funding required to start construction on the first 20 km from 16 Avenue N (Crescent Heights) to 126 Avenue SE (Shepard). We are aiming to have shovels in the ground by 2020, with the first stage of construction complete by 2026. Visit the website to learn more.

2017/2018 construction
In December 2016, the Federal and Provincial Government committed more than $250 million to fund a series of Enabling Works for the Green Line LRT for 2017/18. These projects will clear the path for future Green Line construction, and include utility relocations, land preparation, environmental remediation and transit improvements.

Some projects are anticipated to begin this summer. Please check the website for details.

Next steps – fall 2017 & beyond
We will be back in the fall to talk to communities within the stage 1 construction area to further refine the design and plan for construction.

Planning will continue on future stages of the Green Line LRT as well as the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) work in the north.

Area Redevelopment Plans and Station Area Plans will continue to be refined in the southeast, and will be presented to Council in 2018.
Fast Facts on Green Line:

Full Green Line

• 46 km – full Green Line route
• 28 Stations in total
• At full community build-out, the Green Line will carry an estimated 240,000 trips per day

Stage 1 construction

• 20 km
• 14 stations
• 8 bridges (Elbow River, Blackfoot Trail, Highfield Blvd, 46 Avenue SE, Deerfoot Trail, Bow River, 78 Avenue SE and 90 Avenue SE)
• 1 km of elevated track between Inglewood/Ramsay to 26 Avenue stations
• 4 km Centre City tunnel from 20 Avenue N to Macleod Trail
• 1 light rail vehicle (LRV) Maintenance and Storage Facility north of 126 Avenue SE (Shepard)
• Approximately 70 low floor vehicles
• $4.65 billion capital construction cost

To follow the Green Line story, visit our website or subscribe to newsletter updates.

Recommendation for Green Line LRT in the Beltline: Connecting Victoria Park to Inglewood/Ramsay Station

After several months of intensive evaluation and stakeholder engagement, Administration will formally recommend a Beltline alignment to City Council later this June.

While the tunnel under 12 Avenue S between 2 Street S.W. and MacLeod Trail S.E. was approved by Council in April of this year, the alignment for the stretch between MacLeod Trail S.E. and the Inglewood/Ramsay station had not yet been determined.

Administration evaluated four possible options against criteria that included technical feasibility, cost, connectivity, property impacts, and development potential.  We also met with stakeholders and nearby community members to understand the opportunities and challenges presented by each of the options. (Learn more about the four options and evaluation criteria here.)

No single option serves all stakeholders and meets all program objectives without trade-offs, but Administration believes that Option 4: Transition to 10 Avenue S presents the best balance across all evaluation criteria.

Some benefits of the recommended alignment include:

• Minimizing traffic access and circulation impacts in Victoria Park
• Reducing impact to community of Ramsay
• Improving station access for community of East Village
• Supporting future development

The recommended alignment requires land acquisition in the form of partial (only a part of the property is required), full (all of the property is required), and underground strata (property is required underground for the tunnel). The exact land requirements are still under review. Once the alignment is approved by Council, Administration will advance design and arrange to meet one-on-one with all impacted property owners. Land acquisition is a risk for any project. If The City cannot acquire the required land, Administration will re-evaluate the remaining alignment options and determine the best course of action.

Administration will recommend Option 4: Transition to 10 Avenue S to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation and Transit on June 21, 2017, and then to City Council on June 26, 2017, where we will seek approval to proceed with additional design and stakeholder engagement. Council could approve the recommendation as-is, or could require Administration to take additional steps before granting approval.

Drop in to our upcoming information session to see details of the recommended alignment:

Thursday, June 15
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Kahanoff Centre – 105 12 Avenue S.E.

Tune in to the Committee and Council meetings via Calgary.ca/Council, and be sure to subscribe to our email distribution list to get the latest updates from the Green Line LRT team. 

Recommendations announced for the first stage of construction for the Green Line LRT

Today, City of Calgary Administration announced their recommendation for the first stage of construction for the Green Line LRT. Stage 1 of Green Line is recommended to extend from 16 Avenue N (Crescent Heights) to 126 Avenue S.E. (Shepard). This will be the longest LRT line ever constructed at once in Calgary’s history, and is one of the largest transit projects being planned across Canada. As we’ve done with all other previous lines in Calgary, the Green line will open in 2026 with extensions added pending further funding. 

Fast facts about Stage 1:

• Includes construction of 20 kilometres and 14 stations, including the Centre City tunnel, and a new maintenance and storage facility, and a fleet of new low floor LRT vehicles. 
• Projected to serve 60,000 to 65,000 Calgarians on opening day. 
• This first stage of the Green Line is based on anticipated funding from the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments for a total of $4.65 billion. 
• Stage 1 is projected to begin construction in 2020, pending approvals and funding, and is anticipated to open in 2026. 
• In the 10 years leading up to opening day, Stage 1 is estimated to create over 12,000 direct construction jobs and over 8,000 supporting jobs (engineering, planning, administration, etc). 
• An estimated additional 400 long-term operational jobs will be created to operate and maintain Stage 1. 
• It will reduce greenhouse gases by 30,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 6,000 vehicles being taken off the road on opening day. 
• Is the most technically complex portion of the Green Line due to the tunnel in the Centre City. Building it now creates the foundation for future extensions, which can be built station-by-station as additional funding becomes available. 
• The full 46 km Green Line LRT from 160 Avenue N to Seton in the southeast would be built out in subsequent stages in the future. 

Planning today for the long-term Green Line LRT vision

In size and scope, the Green Line will be the single largest piece of public infrastructure that The City of Calgary has ever undertaken. The 46 kilometre line will almost double Calgary’s existing 59 kilometre LRT network, and the project tops the list of priorities for The City of Calgary.

A project as big as the Green Line LRT takes significant time, planning and resources. The City has been working in earnest on the Green Line for several years, and has carefully evaluated every component of the project, from corridor and alignment to development potential and community benefits. The City has also met with thousands of Calgarians at hundreds of events to hear perspectives that helped the Green Line evolve into the project that it is today.

Estimated costs and funding status

Early in the planning process, it was estimated that the Green Line could cost between $4.5 and $5 billion, which assumed funding contributions of $1.53 billion from each of the three levels of government. This estimate was based on per-kilometre costs of past LRT lines in Calgary, and did not include the results of public engagement, a full analysis of land requirements, or the recommendation for underground stations in the Centre City.

Through public engagement, we heard clearly that Calgarians want the Green Line to be built right the first time, which meant making an up-front investment in tunnelled infrastructure in the Centre City. Read our blog for more information on how we arrived at the fully tunnelled route in the Centre City.

The Green Line will be a long-term investment in Calgary’s future, and will be built in stages over a number of years. Discussions are currently progressing among all three levels of government to determine the overall funding for the program.

Read our blog on how Federal Funding fast tracked the Green Line LRT project.

Projects across Canada

The Green Line vision and planning that Administration will present to City Council for approval in June will then be presented to prospective Federal and Provincial funding partners. There are currently ten other major transit projects in the planning or construction stages across Canada. It is critical that The City present a smart, sustainable and forward-looking program to finalize the funding needed to make the first stage of the Green Line LRT a reality.

What happens next?

Next week, Administration will formally recommend the first stage of construction of the Green Line to City Council. The recommendation will include building the core from 16 Avenue N (Crescent Heights) to 126 Avenue S.E. (Shepard), with the intention to extend the line as funding becomes available. This staged approach has served Calgary well in the construction of both the Red and Blue LRT lines, and Administration is confident that, this staged approach will achieve the ultimate Green Line vision.

To learn more about how Administration arrived at this staging recommendation, view our FAQ or read the report to Council when it is posted later today.

Upcoming decision dates:

• Strategic Session of Council - Monday, May 15: Council will hear the details of the staging recommendation.
• Standing Policy Committee for Transportation and Transit (T&T) - Wednesday, June 21: Administration will present the full Green Line vision to Committee, including alignment and Transit Oriented Development plans.
• City Council - Monday, June 26: Administration will seek approval of the full Green Line vision from City Council

Upcoming public events:

The Green Line team is holding events along the alignment to give Calgarians a sneak peak of the full vision that will be presented to Committee and Council in June. Watch your inbox and calgary.ca/GreenLine for details about events in your community.

Subscribe to our distribution list to make sure you’re getting the latest information about the Green Line LRT.

For more information, view the Green Line Stage 1 FAQ (PDF).

Green Line LRT evaluates two additional alignment options for Beltline segment

Evaluation of the Beltline alignment options for the future Green Line LRT is underway, and Administration is now considering two additional alignment options to connect the Beltline and Victoria Park to the future Inglewood/Ramsay station.

We’ve included some quick facts about this update below, but you can find more information about each of the options in our Green Line LRT: Beltline Segment Update.

Quick Facts

• On April 11, 2017, City Council approved Administration’s recommendation for the Green Line to be underground in the Beltline from 2 Street S.W. to MacLeod Trail S.E. 
• Administration has not yet determined how the Green Line will connect from MacLeod Trail S.E. to the Inglewood/Ramsay station
• Administration is still exploring the MacDonald Avenue S.E. option (MacDonald Ave option) as well as the option that skirts to the north of the Victoria Park Transit Centre (also known as the bus barns or VPTC)
• Administration is now also exploring two additional alignment options: 
• Transition to 10 Avenue S Option: this would see the line jog north from the Centre Street station on 12 Avenue S to 10 Avenue S, where it would run parallel to the south side of the CP tracks until it reaches the Inglewood/Ramsay station

Transition to 10 Avenue S Option

• Staged Option: this would allow the Green Line to skirt the Transit Centre until the Centre is re-located, at which time the Green Line tracks would be re-aligned and a station would be built on the former Transit Centre lands

Staged Option

• Cost estimates, including potential land/property costs, for all four options need to be fully understood before Administration can make a recommendation. A targeted cost range for the Beltline to Inglewood/Ramsay segment has been established, and Administration needs to further quantify the capital costs and value to Calgarians of each option. 
• Administration will continue to explore these four options, which will include technical analysis and conversations with stakeholders and the communities
• Administration intends to take an official recommendation to City Council in June 2017. If further analysis is required for these options, recommendation timelines for this portion of the Green Line alignment can be modified
• City Council is ultimately responsible for approving the alignment 

What Happens Now?

Property owners who may be impacted by either of the new options will receive a letter from The City shortly.

Join us at one of two public drop-in sessions to learn more about the options and to discuss the opportunities and impacts of each:

Thursday, May 4 between 4:00 to 8:00 pm
Alexandra Dancehall – 922 9 Ave SE 

Saturday, May 6 between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Commons - 1206 20 Ave SE

Learn more about each of the options and how Administration will make a recommendation.

Green Line LRT Update – March Committees

What was discussed and what it means

The City of Calgary’s Green Line LRT team is continuing to explore potential routes in the Beltline and working towards finalizing the alignment on the north segment of the line. This month, we presented information updates to two City Council committees. Here is a breakdown of what was discussed and approved in these meetings.

SPC on Planning and Urban Development – March 8

Green Line TOD: The focus of this report was to provide an overview of the transit oriented development (TOD) planning activities undertaken so far. These activities will inform a future TOD Implementation Strategy. Members of the Council Committee asked questions around how the Green Line is approaching TOD differently than previous projects, and how our efforts relate to the other planned and existing TOD sites in Calgary. Read the meeting minutes or watch the recording here.

Update on Area Redevelopment Plans (ARP) – March 8

The Planning and Urban Development (PUD) committee approved a deferral of the Inglewood ARP, Ramsay ARP, Millican-Ogden ARP and South Hill Station Area Plans, to return to Council no later than Q4 2018. This deferral allows us time to learn more about the final alignment of the LRT, the Developed Areas Guidebook and the TOD Implementation Strategy. In June, we will be working with Community Associations in each of these areas to determine our next steps, together. Please stay tuned to our website and our newsletter for regular updates, and learn about opportunities for public participation.

SPC on Transportation and Transit – March 15

This quarterly presentation to Committee included an update on program progress, including an update of the alignment on the north segment, and an update on the evaluation of Beltline alignment options. Committee unanimously approved the recommendation to narrow the focus of work to the underground option for 12 Avenue S, between 2 Street S.W. and Macleod Trail S.E. Administration has not made a recommendation for the alignment connecting the Beltline with Inglewood/Ramsay Station, as more technical investigation and community engagement is required. Read the meeting minutes or watch the recording here.

Green Line in Ramsay

The City’s Green Line team has started working with the community of Ramsay to discuss the possible implications and opportunities of an alignment option on MacDonald Avenue S.E. We hosted a public meeting on Thursday, March 2, and continue to meet with property owners one-on-one. 

We heard many questions and comments from the community, and submitted that feedback as part of our report to SPC on Transportation and Transit on March 15. Those questions and comments have been compiled here (Click “open” if dialogue box appears). We don’t have all the answers to your questions yet, but you can see early responses to some of your frequently asked questions here (Click “open” if dialogue box appears). We will keep you informed and involved as we move through the evaluation of the MacDonald Avenue S.E. option. Stay tuned for details about upcoming engagement opportunities by subscribing to our community email list. 

Provide your input

There are currently online opportunities to provide your input on the north leg of the Green Line! Get involved at http://engage.calgary.ca/greenline/north . Stay informed on the overall project by visiting www.Calgary.ca/GreenLine

City hosts information sessions for projects in Inglewood and Ramsay

The City is investing in Inglewood and Ramsay to make life better every day. With more than 20 City projects under construction or under consideration, we know there’s a lot going on. We want to make sure you have the information you need and the opportunity to ask questions, so we’re bringing many of these projects together for two public information sessions. Drop in at either of our upcoming information sessions to learn more and provide your input. These events are identical but offered at different times.

Thursday, March 9
4 – 8 p.m.
Alexandra Centre
922 9 Ave SE

Saturday, March 11
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Festival Hall
1215 10 Ave SE

Drop in at any time to view the information boards and talk to the project teams. There will also be a brief presentation by the project manager every hour (at 5, 6, 7 p.m. on Thursday, and at 10, 11 a.m., 12 p.m. on Saturday).

We hope you can join us on one of these dates, but if you’re unable to attend, you’ll have the opportunity to provide online input beginning Thursday, March 9.

At the information session, you will learn more about:

• How The City is coordinating these projects to help create the best possible neighbourhood with the lowest impact to your everyday during construction 
• The 9 Avenue S.E. Main Streets Streetscapes project
• The 12 Street S.E. Bridge Replacement project
• The 9 Avenue S.E. Bridge Replacement project 
• The 25 Avenue S.E. LRT Grade Separation Study 
• The 17 Avenue S.E. BRT project 
• The Inglewood Storm Trunk project
• The Bioengineering project

You will also be able to provide your input on:

• The structure and design of the new 9 Avenue S.E. Bridge 
• Landscaping and commemoration of the 12 Street S.E. Bridge
• Priorities, ideas and concerns for the 25 Ave S.E. LRT Grade Separation Study
• How you like to receive information from The City
• How you like to provide input to The City
• Your transportation priorities and how you get into, out of and around your community

The City will be back later this spring to update you on project progress, and to collect more feedback, as each of the projects moves through their respective visioning, study, design or construction processes.

Learn more about what we’re working on in Ramsay and Inglewood at www.calgary.ca/InglewoodRamsay, and stay up-to-date on the latest news by subscribing to our mailing list.

Green Line LRT project considers alternate route in Victoria Park and Ramsay

The Green Line LRT team has been evaluating alignment options in the Beltline since early last year. We began with more than a dozen options and, through several phases of evaluation, narrowed those options down to two: 12 Avenue S Surface, and 12 Avenue S Tunnel + Surface, shown in the graphics below.

12 Avenue S Surface

12 Avenue Tunnel + Surface

Over the course of our detailed evaluation, we’ve discovered significant technical and operational considerations for the alignment east of 4 St S.E. (the East Victoria Park area). As a result, we have been considering alternative options to connect the Green Line from the Beltline to the Ramsay/Inglewood area.

Considerations include:

• Victoria Park redevelopment -Canada Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is currently developing its Rivers District Masterplan, which includes potential Calgary Next facilities and consideration of future Olympic infrastructure . The Green Line will be part of these discussions to ensure the LRT supports the future area transportation network to best serve Calgarians who travel by foot, bike, bus or car
• Travel times - The alignment to the north of the Victoria Park Transit Centre would result in slower travel times for Calgarians, and costly wear and tear on LRT vehicles due to very tight turns
• Existing transit operations - Operations of the Victoria Park Transit Centre would be significantly impeded by a Green Line alignment around the north side of the facility, impacting transit service reliability throughout the city
• Budget - The Green Line does not have the budget to re-locate the Victoria Park Transit Centre, so the team is exploring alignment options that do not require the relocation. The team has also explored a tunnel option through Beltline and under MacDonald Avenue SE. This option, while technically feasible, has been removed from consideration due to cost.

The City of Calgary’s Green Line team is now exploring the option of a street-level LRT on MacDonald Avenue SE to address the challenges created by the original 12 Avenue options. The MacDonald Avenue SE options are:

12 Avenue S Surface – MacDonald Ave

12 Avenue Tunnel + Surface – MacDonald Ave

The City will present these four alignment options to City Council’s Transportation and Transit Committee on March 15, 2017. After further evaluation, we intend to take a single recommended alignment to City Committee and Council later this spring.

We are committed to working with the communities to determine how the Green Line on MacDonald Avenue SE could best be integrated into the neighbourhood to create connections and build community spaces, if this option moves forward.

There are a number of opportunities to get involved:

• The City will continue to meet with the Ramsay community association and homeowners whose properties could be impacted
• Join us at a public meeting on March 2, 2017, at 6 p.m. at The Hemmingway Room of The Commons, 1206 20 Ave SE. This presentation will be a preview of the update the Green Line team will provide to City Committee on March 15, which will include:
• An overview of our evaluation and how we arrived at the MacDonald Avenue SE option
• An overview of the trade-offs of each option
• An outline of the next steps in the evaluation and decision process 

We will provide more opportunities for public and community involvement this spring. Watch Calgary.ca/GreenLine for more information about other upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Green Line committee update – what was approved and what it means

Council’s Transportation & Transit Committee has approved a fully tunneled LRT route in Calgary’s downtown core. This recommendation will now be taken forward to Council on October 3 for a final decision.

Since December 2015, the Green Line team has been studying five possible routes in downtown to find the best way to integrate the Green Line into Calgary’s core, and connect across the Bow River to the communities along Centre Street North. After extensive analysis and public engagement, the fully tunneled option was found to be the best investment in Calgary’s future.

The fully tunneled option would see the Green Line LRT run underground from the Beltline, under 2 Street S.W., and under the Bow River. The line would resurface north of 16 Avenue N along Centre Street N.


Why is underground the best recommendation for Calgary?
While this option requires significant up-front investment, it offers the best opportunities for future generations of Calgarians. It allows us to maintain the pedestrian, cycling and vehicle connections in the core, while enabling future development to occur unhindered in our city’s economic centre.

Consider this:

• All five options evaluated in the downtown core would require some length of underground tunnel in order to connect with the existing Red and Blue LRT lines. It would not be possible to connect with these lines with a street-level system due to technical challenges with operating three intersecting LRT lines in addition to the existing road network, and the requirement to be under or over Canadian Pacific Railway’s main line.
• The fully tunneled option enables the road, cycling and pedestrian network to remain intact in downtown.
• The fully tunneled option reduces potential impacts to Prince’s Island Park and the Bow River valley.
• The cost of the options varies from $1.5B (street level) to $1.95B (fully tunnelled).
• The fully tunneled option was highly supported by the public, and stakeholders including Chinatown BRZ, Crescent Heights Community Association, Eau Claire Community Association the, local developers and residents.

What happens next?
The Green Line team will now continue their analysis and public engagement on the route in the Beltline. We are currently reviewing 10 Avenue and 12 Avenue S as potential routes. As per Councillor Woolley’s amendment to the recommendations at Committee, the Green Line team will explore both surface and underground options along both 10 Avenue and 12 Avenue S. A final recommendation for the Beltline is expected to be brought to Committee in December 2016.

Public engagement is ongoing to refine the route in the north, and land use policy planning is now being refined in the southeast. Final recommendations for the full Green Line route alignment will be brought forward by June 2017.

Costs
We often get questions about the expected price tag of the Green Line – so we thought we’d provide you with an update on what we know to date.

Where we started: Earlier in the planning process, it was estimated that the Green Line could cost between $4.5 and $5 billion. This estimate was based on per-kilometer costs of past LRT lines in Calgary, and did not include the results of public engagement, a full analysis of land requirements or the recommendation for underground stations. 

Where we are today: As of today, we know that there will be four underground stations and a tunnel in the downtown core. Public engagement and design is ongoing on the route alignment in the Beltline and along the northern portions of the Green Line. Once the route alignment is refined in these areas, cost estimates will be adjusted to reflect the updated route and land requirements.

What’s the deal with funding?
The Green Line will be a long-term investment in Calgary’s future, and will likely be constructed in phases over a number of years. Discussions are currently progressing among all three levels of government.

Federal Government: In July 2015, the Government of Canada announced support for the Green Line for up to $1.53 billion from the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The City is currently awaiting application guidelines to be released in order to apply for this funding.

Provincial Government: Funding discussions are ongoing with the Government of Alberta. The City applied for funding through the Province’s Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP) on August 31, 2016.

Municipal Government: In December 2015, The City committed $1.56 billion over 30 years, contingent on receiving support from the Provincial government.

Stay tuned over the coming months to learn more about the cost estimates as they become further refined. Visit Calgary.ca/Greenline to find out how you can get involved in the public engagement process.

The new Green Line LRT: Shaping the way we move

Over the past 20-30 years the city of Calgary has seen tremendous growth, both in jobs and population. Since the creation of Calgary’s first LRT line in 1981, Calgary has grown from a city of 600,000 to over 1.2 million people. Transit ridership has followed the expansions of the LRT network, averaging 320,000 passengers per day in 2016; the highest LRT ridership per capita in North America. Now with the Green Line LRT, we have another opportunity to plan for future growth of the city by providing Calgarians with even more ways of getting around.

At our last speaker series session, the team explored “Building transit villages” and on September 20 you’ll learn more about the past, present and future of mobility options in Calgary and hear how the panelists shaped mobility in their respective cities.

Panelists include Tamim Raad, former Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority, Brian McCarter, Principal at ZGF Architects in Portland, Oregon and Allison Brooks, Executive Director of the Bay Area Regional Collaborative in San Francisco, California.

We hope you’ll join us for a brief presentation followed by our panelists who will be answering your questions on mobility trends.

Tuesday September 20, 2016
Glenbow Museum Theatre, 130 9 Avenue S.E.,
Doors open at 5 p.m., presentation starts at 5:30 p.m. Event concludes at 7 p.m.Light refreshments will be available, seating is limited so please arrive promptly

Upcoming in the series (more details coming soon):

• Calgary’s Potential – October 2016

If you missed the previous sessions, watch the video recaps:

• June 2: City shaping – Watch the video  
• June 21: Building a transit village – Watch the video

Follow the Green Line story on Twitter @yyctransport #GreenLineYYC, and for more information on the project, visit Calgary.ca/greenline. For questions about the Green Line project, please email greenline@calgary.ca.

Planning for change within Calgary's hidden gem, Millican-Ogden

Tucked away above the Bow River in southeast Calgary, Millican-Ogden is one of Calgary's oldest communities. It was originally built to house Canadian Pacific Rail workers. Over time, Millican-Ogden developed into the established residential community that it is today, with a rich variety of housing types, commercial developments, and park spaces. For many, Millican-Ogden is a "hidden gem" within the city, and interestingly, in some ways that's how residents want to keep it.

The Green Line will be coming to Millican-Ogden with two LRT stations to be located within the community. These new stations will bring the area lots of attention. It is inevitable that people traveling through the community will start to see the unique amenities it offers and its enviable location. This will no doubt spur significant redevelopment interest in the community.

To get ahead of development pressures and to plan for change, my team and I are leading the development of the new Millican-Ogden Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP). It is a document that will outline a vision for the future of the community and include policies to guide redevelopment to achieve this vision.

Last year, community members got together for a series of workshops. They mapped out ideas and a vision of the future of the area. My job is to continue that work with community members, City departments, landowners and others to develop a plan to implement these ideas and to identify local improvements that can be made to the area to benefit existing and future residents. The new ARP we are developing will include up to date policies to facilitate transit-oriented development that is sensitive to the local neighborhood.



What has struck me most while talking to Millican-Ogden residents is the commitment and passion they have for their community. Many of them have lived in the community for decades and it is common for children who grew up in the neighborhood to move back to Millican-Ogden to start their own families. The community offers so many unique resources and supports for its residents and is inclusive and welcoming of people of all ages and incomes.

Like many communities of its age, Millican-Ogden could benefit from new investment and residents are excited about the Green Line and the opportunities it will bring with it. When a “hidden gem” such as this is discovered by so many people, it can be both good and bad for the community. They will recognize its many positive attributes and want to become part of it too. My job is to make sure that redevelopment in the Millican-Ogden enhances and contributes to the community's unique character and facilitates positive change in the lives of residents who have called Millican-Ogden home for generations.

The post is written by Jill Sonego, Lead Planner for Millican-Ogden station area planning. To learn more about the ARP, the public is invited to attend an open house on June 22 from 5-8 p.m. at Banting and Best School (1819 66 Avenue S.E.), or visit Calgary.ca/ogdenstn.

Green Line's South Hill station explained by Lead Planner, Breanne Harder

I’ve worked for The City for just under four years, primarily within Planning & Development and Transportation Planning. Working on the South Hill Station Area Plan has allowed me to bring together my interests and education in transportation and the built environment, while providing a great opportunity to redevelop a large area within established Calgary; normally, this scale of redevelopment is reserved for suburban areas.

About South Hill
South Hill is located south of Glenmore Trail at Shepard Road SE. Today, the area is predominately undeveloped with two mobile home parks and some industrial buildings, however, a Green Line LRT station and a major transit hub are planned for the area. These significant changes have led to the development of the South Hill Station Area Plan, which will guide development in South Hill.

The policy plan will put the tools in place to transform South Hill to an urban village with opportunities to live, work, and play in the area. Services and amenities will be located along a pedestrian-oriented high street that will include an urban plaza and park space.

The urban plaza and park space will be flexible throughout the seasons.

As part of the development of this policy, I recently invited stakeholders and landowners to a drawing and dialogue workshop where we discussed ideas for South Hill while illustrators developed images and diagrams based on conversations surrounding typologies in South Hill. The illustrations that resulted from our discussions are now being used to inform the land use and vision for the area.

Larger retail stores can be located on the second level,
allowing for smaller units that provide more interest at street level.

What are typologies? Typologies are commonly found forms in cities. Examples of typologies include residential, commercial, industrial and office. While cities throughout the world have these typologies, the specific elements of each typology vary widely based on context.

Including a session focused on typologies during the policy development process allowed us to work with the public and focus on the best possible outcomes for South Hill, given its context.

 Lead Planner of the
South Hill Area Station Plan,
Breanne Harder

As a planner, it provides me with an added link between the vision and developing policies that will help achieve that vision. Stakeholders invited to the session bring their expertise and landowners in the area provide additional community knowledge. Together, the concepts developed will be used to produce a relevant policy plan that provides support for decision-making throughout the planning and development process.

What am I most excited to see once this project is complete? One day, taking the CTrain to South Hill station and spending time on the high street, seeing how the policies I developed shaped the area into an urban village in south Calgary.

Federal funding to fast-forward Green Line to LRT

In a historic move, the federal government has announced 1.5 billion dollars from the Public Transit Fund will be awarded to the Green Line project. This is the single largest infrastructure investment in Alberta’s history. 

What does this mean for Calgarians? 

The Green Line was initially planned to be constructed over 30+ years, starting as a bus-only Transitway, and later converting to LRT. This announcement from the Federal Government means that Calgarians in the north and southeast areas of the city will be able to enjoy faster, more reliable, light rail service ahead of schedule. Currently, 290,000 Calgarians are estimated to live along the Green Line corridor, with thousands more working and visiting the newly developing employment hubs and community activity centres on the route.  The Green Line will not only bring transit into communities, but will connect neighbourhoods where Calgarians can live, work and play close to transit.

Changing the face of Calgary’s LRT network

The Green Line will add an additional 40 kilometres of track to the existing 59 kilometre LRT network. End-to-end, the route will connect North Pointe and Seton to downtown.

Modeled after the existing CTrain system, which is 100 per cent powered by renewable wind energy, the Green Line will be an environmentally sustainable addition to the city’s transit service.

Today, Calgary’s population is 1.19 million and will increase to about 1.89 million in the next 30 years.  It is estimated that the Green Line will service 41 million passengers annually.

Fun Facts:

• The Green Line will use low-floor trains which have similar capacity to current CTrains (780 passengers/3 car train), and carry over 8 times the number of passengers of an articulated bus. 
• Ride times will be cut in half on the southeast leg of the Green Line with the completion of LRT; current ride times are clocked at about 69 minutes to the downtown core from the southeast; this will be reduced to about 35 minutes.
• Calgary has the first wind-powered light rail transit system in North America and reduced CO2 emissions by over 56,000 tonnes in 2012.
• 290,000 Calgarians are estimated to live along the Green Line corridor (including the Centre City and Beltline), estimated to increase to 465,000 by 2043.
• Total city population is 1.19 million today, increasing to 1.89 million by 2043.

The Green Line will serve a number of community and business hubs in the city:

• Community Activity Centres
• Country Hills – 2,900 jobs
• Quarry Park – 8,300 jobs
• South Hill – 6,000 jobs

• Major Activity Centres
• Keystone Hills – 3,500 jobs
• Seton – 5,200 jobs 

• Industrial  Centres
• Aurora – 6,700 jobs
• Douglasglen Business Centre – 2,000 jobs
• Glenmore/Barlow Business Centre – 4,900 jobs 

View the media announcement, July 24, 2015:

Green Line SE...Demystified!

The City hosted three public workshops from March 10-12 about the Green Line SE Transitway route and development around transit stations. Approximately 400 people participated in the workshops. If you missed these sessions, check out the online survey - available until April 1.

Since the workshops, we’ve been hearing a lot of great questions about the project. Read on for further information about sections of the Green Line route that are currently in discussion.

Council has already approved the Green Line route alignment, so why is The City looking at possible alternate routes?

The plans for the Green Line SE were started in the 1980’s – so when Council approved funding for the Green Line SE in 2013, they asked The City to revisit the plans to make sure they work for Calgary today and in the future.

The project team looked at opportunities for improvement along the route. We focused on identifying areas where the route could be better integrated into communities, and potentially plant the seed for development around transit stations.

What areas of the route are currently up for discussion?

Three locations are currently under review for the Green Line SE route alignment:
• 11 Street S.E. in Ramsay
• Ogden Road
• 24 Street S.E. in Quarry Park

Why do we want to hear from SE Calgary about the three routing options?

We see opportunities to build a more integrated service that accommodates all modes of transportation, serves the community, and encourages liveable neighbourhoods. The alternate routes offer better community access to stations, seamless integration with local streets and sidewalks, and potential for future development. However, we also recognize that we need to consider the trade-off’s in terms of traffic and land impacts. We want to understand how the communities along the Green Line feel about the alternate routes, and where they see issues and opportunities.

Why are we looking at alternate routes in Ramsay?

The current Council-approved Green Line Southeast alignment in Ramsay has a number of challenges, including space constraints between Canadian Pacific Rail (CP) tracks and the neighbouring historical resource buildings. We are currently looking at this option in more detail to determine how/if this route can work within this space.

What opportunities does The City see if the Green Line runs down 11 Street S.E. in Ramsay?

Ramsay is a beautiful character community, and we believe the Transitway can offer a unique chance to extend this quality to 11 Street S.E. One of the City’s tools create more liveable neighbourhoods is the Complete Streets Guide, and the project team sees opportunities to enhance the street by tying into store fronts and businesses, and creating a pleasant and safe environment with green space, upgraded sidewalks, and better connections for pedestrians and cyclists.

Why is The City looking at an alternate route in Ogden?

The current Council approved Green Line SE alignment in Ogden shows the route running parallel to CP land. The Transitway would be on the east side of Ogden Road and would transition to the backside of the community of Ogden, extending from Lynnwood (near CN bridge crossing) through to South Hill. This option works well from a transit speed point-of-view, but misses the opportunity for community building and/or integration with the station.

Similar to the reasoning for an alternate route in Inglewood/Ramsay, we believe that there might be an opportunity to run the Transitway along Odgen Road to provide a more easily accessible station in the heart of the community. We are also looking at a hybrid option which would involve keeping the Green Line next to CP Rail with a station that fronts on Ogden Road. These could also potentially trigger revitalization and further development of Ogden Road

When will the Green Line SE route be finalized?

The route recommendations will be presented to Council in October 2015. The City will report back to communities with the final recommendations in September, prior to meeting with Council. Recommendations will be made based on input from the public, the development community, and The City’s internal groups (Transit, Planning, etc).

Visit calgary.ca/greenline for more information.

Green Line South East Transitway March Workshops

The Green Line Southeast Transitway, a dedicated road that will be used exclusively for public transit, is the newest planned addition to Calgary’s transit network. We are hosting workshops in March to hear your opinions about how the Transitway can be best placed in our communities.

Construction on the first 10 kilometres of the Green Line Southeast Transitway is slated to begin in 2017. The Transitway will eventually run for 26 kilometres, from 4 Street downtown to the community of Seton.

Participants for March Workshops Needed

The workshops taking place from March 10-12 will present possible alternate routes and discuss the opportunities, benefits and impacts of the Transitway to each community. This is your opportunity to have a sit-down discussion with the project team, discuss the route options, ask questions and identify issues.

There are three specific areas where The City is looking at making route refinements, including 11 Street SE, Ogden Road, and 24 Street SE.

Location	Date/Time
Glenmore Inn – 2720 Glenmore Tr SE	Tuesday, March 10. Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.
Cranston Century Hall – 11 Cranarch Rd SE	Wednesday, March 11. Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.
Venue 1008 – Inglewood 1008, 14th St SE Access from 14th St, off 9 Ave	Thursday, March 12 Workshop runs from 6:30-9 p.m.

The feedback collected at the sessions will be one of the factors used to help inform the recommendations for the final Green Line SE route.

Recap of January Public Information Sessions

In January, we hosted three Public Information Sessions to reintroducing the Green Line Southeast Transitway project. Over 600 people attended the sessions and overall, public reception was positive. Enthusiasm was strong for the project to move forward and citizens expressed a distinct desire for low-profile stations that could be functional in Calgary’s ever-changing weather. Many attendees also expressed that route accessibility for surrounding communities was a top priority.

For more information, visit us at www.calgary.ca/greenline and follow us on Twitter at @yyctransport, #GreenLineSE.