Green Line LRT: a $5 billion dollar investment in Calgary’s future
YYC Matters spotlight on how the biggest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history will provide more options to move around the city.
We’re moving forward with the Green Line
On January 30, 2019 the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary signed a funding agreement for stage 1 of construction.
Renee Summers, Government and Community Relations Lead says this agreement marks a major milestone; essentially finalizing the joint investment in Calgary of nearly $5 billion by all three levels of government.
“As the city grows, these funding commitments help ensure balanced investment choices so Calgarians from all backgrounds can live, work and play sustainably and affordably”, she added.
“We’re continuing to move the project forward through our Enabling Works program which is a series of projects including land remediation, utility upgrades and land acquisitions to make way for the main Green Line construction next year. Shovels are in the ground and we’ve invested over $350 million in the local economy to date.”
Enabling Works: Highfield Landfill 
In preparation for the Green Line LRT, The City is completing nearly 20 Enabling Works construction projects including remediation of the Highfield Landfill last year.
More than 600,000 tonnes of waste (equivalent to an entire year’s worth) was removed from the area in four months, allowing the new train line and station to be built and opening up the space to new land uses including a regional pathway under construction right now.
Stage 1 of the largest transit project in Alberta history spans 20 kilometres from 16 Avenue in the north to 126 Avenue in the S.E. community of Shepard. The longest segment of LRT ever constructed at one time in Calgary’s history includes 14 underground, at-grade and elevated stations, a tunnel through the downtown core and light rail vehicle (LRV) maintenance facility.
Similar to how we have constructed our Red and Blue Lines, we’re starting by building the core of the Green Line, which will position us well for future extensions. Further stages of the Green Line, approximately 26 kilometers of the service, will require provincial funding.
The City is looking for a provincial commitment to provide further financial contributions to fund the full length of the Green Line.
Learn more about the City Council approved full 46 kilometre alignment (28 stations) at calgary.ca/greenline and visit yycmatters.ca for updates on all of the Alberta government’s commitments to Calgarians ahead of the provincial election.