The abandonment of our Green Line LRT

The future of Calgary’s Green Line - once considered a crucial, ‘city-shaping’ project, expected to take 6,000 cars off the road each day, is now in serious doubt.

In its original vision, first approved by City Council in 2017, the Green Line was designed to connect the City’s North and South with a 20 km stretch made up of 29 stations.

A month ago, City Council approved the latest in a series of project redesigns reducing our Green Line to only 7 stations, justifying it with the explanation that “We need to begin somewhere.” Not surprising, since the City has already spent $1.3 billion on the project so far.

Fast forward to last week, and a sudden announcement by Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen that the province will pull its $1.53 billion in funding from the $6.2-billion transit project if the city doesn't change course. This comes after Minister Dreeshen stated a month earlier that funding was “100 per cent secure”.

Minister Dreeshen, pictured with a locomotive, Spring 2024

The province’s threat to withdraw funding would leave another $1.5 billion in federal funding in limbo, while stranding the City’s investment of $1.3 Billion in land purchases and infrastructure upgrades for a project that will likely never happen.

Is this the end of Calgary’s Green Line? Not if we have a say about it. A robust public transit system can be a climate-positive and equitable transportation option when it is made accessible to as many people as possible. The Calgary Climate Hub supports the construction of the currently planned Green Line, and strongly advocates for future expansion of the track to reach the maximum number of Calgarians.

We encourage all Hub Members and supporters to make use of the links and tools below to contact their elected officials and voice their concerns for the withdrawal of provincial funding, while also expressing their support for a robust Green Line that is built with the needs of Calgarians as a priority.

What can you do to show your support?

➔ RALLY to support the Green Line - Monday 16th at 12 Noon

➔ Email your Elected Officials - via Calgary Alliance for the Common Good

➔ Email your MLA - via Calgary’s Future

Words and graphics by Daniel Smithies