Project status

Business Case

• Submit updated Business Case for approval from Shepard to Downtown to the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada by Feb 14, 2025.

Construction

• Following approval of business case finalize tender packages.
• Issue tender packages to the construction Market in 2025.
• Shovels in the ground in the SE Segment.

Functional Plan

• Start the Downtown Functional Plan, to be completed by the end of 2026.

2025

• Submit updated Business Case for approval to the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada.
• Multiple tender packages released to construction market.
• Shovels in the ground on SE Segment.
• Start Functional Plan for Downtown Segment.

2026

• Construction in the SE Segment continues.
• Functional Plan for the Downtown Segment completed.

2027

• Construction in the SE Segment continues.
• Construction in the Downtown Segment begins.
• Light Rail Vehicle Delivery begins.

On January 28, 2025, the Green Line team brought forward 10 recommendations for City Council to vote on. All recommendations were approved with the majority of Council voting yes.

The Provincial Business Case Framework was provided to The City of Calgary on January 24 that set out the expectations that informed these recommendations.

Approval of these recommendations allows the City to submit an update to the approved 2021 Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) business case to the Province and Government of Canada, and pending their approval, proceed with main construction of the SE Segment concurrent to developing the Functional Plan for the Downtown Segment.

1. Endorse the shared common vision between the City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta for a south-to-north Light Rail Transit (LRT) program in the City of Calgary that extends from 160^th Avenue North through the downtown on 2 Street SW to Seton in the Southeast, which includes:

a. Connection to the Red and Blue Lines;
b. Connection to the new event centre; and
c. Allows for a future connection between south and north legs of the LRT.

2. Direct Administration to implement a concurrent development process for delivery of a south-to-north LRT program, as follows:

a. SE Segment: Shepard to Event Centre/Grand Central Station – Begin construction in 2025; and
b. Downtown Segment: Event Centre/Grand Central Station through Downtown – Begin Functional Plan in 2025.

3. Direct Administration to work with the Government of Alberta to submit an updated business case to the Government of Canada by February 14, 2025. The business case will be for the proposed concurrent development of the SE and Downtown Segments in order to secure the federal funding based on requirements of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant.

4. Upon confirmation of ICIP funding for the SE and Downtown Segments, direct Administration to begin construction in 2025 for all required project elements for an operational LRT system for the SE Segment, including but not limited to:

a. Track;
b. Stations;
c. LRT Systems;
d. Bridges;
e. Maintenance and storage facility; and
f. Delivery of the Light Rail Vehicles.

5. Direct Administration to immediately undertake the Functional Plan for the Downtown Segment of the LRT from Event Centre/Grand Central Station through Downtown. The Functional Plan will include but not be limited to:

a. Advancing design;
b. Validating the cost estimate;
c. Engagement and collaboration from stakeholders and community members;
d. Flooding and Stormwater impacts;
e. Noise and Vibration;
f. Property Impacts: access/egress and assessed value impacts;
g. Safety impacts: crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) considerations;
h. Traffic modeling and traffic impacts; and
i. Transit system underlying service impacts.

With reporting back directly to Council with the results of the Downtown Segment Functional Plan no later than the end of Q4 2026, with updates directly to Council quarterly or as required at the discretion of Administration.

6. Following the completion of the Downtown Segment Functional Plan work, including the validation of the Government of Alberta cost estimate, and with broad project support from Calgarians and Stakeholders, seek Council direction to initiate construction including enabling works in 2027. 

7. Once construction on the Downtown Segment has been initiated, direct administration to undertake the Preliminary Design for the south-to-north LRT program from:

a. Shepard to Seton; and
b. Downtown to 160 Avenue North.

8. Direct Administration to collaborate with the Government of Alberta to establish a program governance and delivery oversight committee comprised of equal representation from the Government of Alberta and the City of Calgary.

9. Direct Administration to advise the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta of Council’s approval of the recommendations in this report.

10. Direct that the Confidential Distributions #1, #2 and #4, Distributions #3 and #5 and Closed Meeting discussions be held confidential pursuant to Sections 16 (Disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), 17 (Disclosure harmful to personal privacy), 21 (Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (Advice from officials), 25 (Disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of the public body) and 27 (Privileged Information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed by 31 December 2039.