The back-and-forth harangue between Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta Transportation Minister Drew Dreeshen may be taking it to the streets.
Last week, Calgary City Council signed on to the Alberta Government’s realignment of the Green Line LRT, which includes elevated track over 10 Ave. from 4 St. SE to 2 St. SW.
Gondek voted no to the realignment, saying elevated track over 10 Ave, was “reckless” and would "destroy businesses" on 10th underneath the LRT track.
With council’s majority vote, the next step is for Calgary administration to write a business case for the Green Line, which will be submitted to the Alberta Government before Feb. 14 and, after, if necessary, modifying and approving the business case, it would forward the document to the federal government to secure its funding for the project.
It’s now come down to what could be called a high stakes card game, with Gondek, on Tuesday, wondering if the business case didn’t include the Alberta Government’s plan for elevation over 10 Ave., what would be the result.
It would, of course, come back to the Alberta Government's authority over the final document being sent to the Feds, which has dedicated millions of dollars to get the Green Line up and running.
To that end, Gondek has sent a letter to Premier Smith and Minister Dreesheen, inviting them to a walking tour of the downtown portion of the province’s proposed Green Line alignment.
“As the Mayor of Calgary, it is my responsibility to ensure that our city’s development reflects the needs and concerns of all Calgarians, especially when it comes to transformative projects like the Green Line LRT,” said Gondek. “Given that public and stakeholder engagement will be significant...I have sent a letter to Premier Smith and Minister Dreeshen, inviting them to join me and community leaders in a walking tour of the proposed downtown route of the Green Line.”
Gondek said the walking tour is important for all involved to see “the potential impacts of the proposed elevated line on our community. And it will be the first step in this important engagement process.”
Gondek says she will be inviting her city council colleagues as well as business owners in the affected area to join the walk about.
“Our businesses and residents have expressed significant concerns about how an elevated line could fundamentally change the landscape of our downtown,” she says. “From altering the character of our public spaces to affecting the safety and flow of traffic to the economic and social well-being of building tenants, these are issues we cannot ignore.”
“And to be crystal clear, I’m not talking about aesthetics. We need to understand the practical, day-to-day impacts that could alter how we live, work and socialize in these spaces. The input from those affected is invaluable in shaping a project that will serve Calgarians for generations to come.”
In urging Smith and Dreeshen to accept her invitation to see the potential impacts firsthand, Gondek said, “We have a unique opportunity to build something great, but it must be done right and with the utmost consideration for those it affects directly.”
