$3 billion in funding locked down for construction of Calgary's Green Line

Calgary’s Green Line has officially received the green light from the Government of Alberta.

The 46 km long, 28-station stretch of light rail transit is planned for construction in multiple stages, with Stage 1 having received $1.53 billion in funding from the Federal Government last May.

The first stage of the project will see the line run from 16th Avenue N to 126th Avenue SE, with 20 km of track and 14 stations along the way.

Calgary Green Line map (calgary.ca)

Premier Rachel Notley was in Calgary on Wednesday alongside Mayor Naheed Nenshi to announce additional funding for the project, securing $3 billion in equal parts from the municipal and provincial governments.

“Calgary is one of North America’s great cities,” said Notley in a release from the Government of Alberta.

“It’s growing, it’s dynamic, and this expanded transit project will help propel it into the future. The Green Line LRT is Calgary’s highest public transit infrastructure priority, and it’s a priority that our government is proud to support.”

The land that the Green Line will occupy is currently being prepared for construction, and it is estimated that Stage 1 of the project will be completed by 2026 — making history as it opens.

“The Green Line will be the biggest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history, providing critical connections and supporting our city’s growth, said Nenshi in the release.

Stage 1 expects to create 12,000 direct jobs and 8,000 additional jobs throughout construction, and hundreds of operation and maintenance jobs thereafter.

Once complete, the LRT line is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by the equivalent of 6,000 cars every year.