Calgary City Council in Canada has given approval to commence construction on Green Line light rail transit (LRT) in the southeast and downtown connection.
The decision follows months of collaboration with the Province of Alberta, making the Green Line LRT Calgary’s largest infrastructure investment.
With the approval, the Green Line’s first phase will be split into two tracks and station construction will begin this spring from Shepard to Victoria Park, while a downtown plan will be developed over the next two years.
Construction will begin this year between Victoria Park and Shepard in the southeast (SE). Both the city and province agreed to continue advancing design work for this segment.
The council has also agreed to partner with the province on a shared vision for Calgary’s south-to-north light rail transit line, extending from Seton through downtown to 160 Avenue N.
After a decade of planning and over C$6bn in funding from the city, Province of Alberta, and Government of Canada, the Green Line main construction is set to begin.
The project has already witnessed an investment of around C$1.4bn in planning, design, construction, vehicles, and land.
With 60% design completed and enabling construction underway on the SE Segment from Shepard to the Event Centre/Grand Central Station, the start of main construction marks a major milestone in the project’s history.
As construction begins in the southeast, the city will immediately start work on the Functional Plan for the Downtown Segment. This will advance design, validate the province’s cost estimates, assess impacts on existing infrastructure, and engage the public to ensure broad support from Calgarians before construction begins.
The administration stated the study will be complete by the end of 2026, with downtown section construction potentially starting in 2027.
Calgary City Council chief administrative officer David Duckworth said: “The Green Line is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure and an investment in Canada’s fastest growing city.
“Today’s decision helps us plan and build for Calgary’s best future.”
The concurrent delivery of the SE and Downtown Segments will create the backbone of an over 46km transit system, connecting Calgarians to more work, housing, and activity options.
The LRT project will feature two underground stations in the Downtown/Beltline area, Eau Claire and 7 Avenue S.W.
To move forward, the city will collaborate with the Alberta and Canadian governments to approve the updated Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) business case.
