After some heated conversations about the Green Line LRT between the Alberta and Calgary governments late last year and earlier this year, both levels of government, plus the federal government, are once again aligned on the line. On Tuesday, Calgary’s city council executive committee heard an update from city administration the 2021 Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Business Case was submitted by the city and after review, was approved by the Alberta government and Government of Canada. The agreement secures funding for the line, $6.248 billion committed so far, and will allow construction and future planning for the line to proceed. The updated funding agreement was signed by the Alberta government on June 3, 2025, and all previously outstanding claims owing to the city (since May 2024) from the Federal and Provincial Governments have been paid, according to the city administration's report. "With the committed funds, the financial summary reflects costs and investments (construction, land acquisition, utility relocation, design, procurement of a new fleet of low-floor vehicles) on both the SE and Downtown Segments," said the report. A committee with representatives from the Alberta and Calgary governments, serving as equal representatives, will meet monthly to review progress. .The city will oversee construction of the initial 16 kms of the line from Shepard in the southeast to the Event Centre/Grand Central Station in the Beltline, just north of Stampede Park, as well as the planning and design development of the line west on 10 Ave. from the Event Centre, to 2 St. SW and into the downtown core. The report from administration said, “the SE project is progressing design, initiating procurement and ready to begin construction at the end of Q2 2025. Five projects are planned for 2025, while the vast majority of work will be delivered from 2026 through 2031.” A separate team will oversee the downtown segment, “mitigating future utility and schedule risks, while restoring the integrity of Enmax’s system throughout downtown, utility relocation work is recommencing on 2 St SW,” added the report. The work on 2 St. is expected to last until the end of March 2027. Most of the earlier arguments between Calgary and Edmonton focussed on the province’s insistence the downtown segment of the line would be on elevated tracks, rather than underground, as originally planned. It drew criticism from Calgary city council, as well as businesses located along 10 Ave. from the event centre and into the city’s core. .Administration told the executive committee the city is in the process of speaking to owners of the businesses on 10 Ave. as well as community associations and businesses located near the first two 2025 construction sites and along Barlow Tr. and 114 Ave. SE. According to the report, “SE Project team members are door knocking, providing construction schedules and sharing anticipated impacts. Outreach to both residents and businesses in other communities along the alignment will take place in Summer 2025, in advance of additional projects beginning construction.” Additionally, the executive committee heard there are 44,000 people living within 800 metres of the planned stations for the first phase and, once completed, expectations are of 55,000 daily riders from opening day of Phase 1. Administration also said an increase in population density is expected in areas along the line and construction of Phase 1 will create more than 20,000 jobs. The administration's report will go to a regular meeting of council fot debate and approval later this month.
