Liberals confirm $1.53B contribution to construct Calgary Green Line LRT

CALGARY—The federal government has contributed $1.53 billion to construct Calgary’s Green Line Light Rail Transit project.

A commitment to fund a third of the project was put forward by the former Conservative government in July 2015. Alberta and Calgary will cover the remaining costs.

The first stage of the project involves the construction of 20 kilometres of track, 14 stations, a fleet of 70 low-floor light rail vehicles, a vehicle maintenance and storage facility, eight bridges, a four kilometre tunnel and three park-and-ride facilities.

Construction of this stage is expected to begin in spring 2020 and be complete by late 2026.

An estimated 20,000 jobs will be created to support the system’s design and construction, with 400 jobs forecasted for the operation and maintenance of the Green Line when it opens to the public.

Part of the funding for the project comes from the over $3.3 billion in federal funding allocated to Alberta in a bilateral agreement signed on April 3 to support projects over the next decade in the areas of public transit, green infrastructure, recreational, cultural and community infrastructure, and rural and northern communities.

Once in service, Calgary’s Green Line will provide transit riders in the city’s north and southeast communities with a direct route to the downtown core.