Calgary Council Approves Revised Green Line LRT Alignment After Months of Debate
The scaled-back first phase will run from Shepard to 16 Avenue N, with tunnel boring set to begin in spring.
After months of contentious debate, Calgary City Council has approved a revised alignment for the first phase of the Green Line LRT, clearing the way for tunnel boring operations to begin this spring.
The Final Route
The approved alignment runs from Shepard in the southeast to 16 Avenue N, a total of 18 kilometres with 14 stations. The downtown segment will run underground through a 3.2-kilometre twin tunnel beneath 2nd Street SW and Centre Street.
“This has been one of the most scrutinized infrastructure decisions in Calgary’s history, and rightfully so,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Today’s vote gives the project the certainty it needs to move forward.”
Budget Confirmed
The total project budget remains at $5.5 billion, with $1.53 billion from the federal government, $1.07 billion from the province, and the balance from the city. A contingency fund of $400 million has been set aside for unforeseen costs.
Construction Ahead
The tunnel boring machine, which has been assembled at the 2nd Street SW launch shaft over the past four months, will begin operations in late March. Surface-level construction on the southeast segment is already well underway.
“The Green Line will transform how Calgarians move through this city,” said transit advocate Chris Turner. “It’s been a long, sometimes painful process, but the result will serve this city for generations.”
The first phase is expected to open to passengers in 2029, with future extensions to the north and south to be determined based on ridership and funding availability.
