| Work Detail |
The City of Calgary and the Alberta government announced they have reached an agreement to move a section of the Green Line LRT project forward. Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek issued the following statement on the next steps for Calgary’s Green Line LRT project: “Over the past few weeks, the City of Calgary and Alberta’s government have engaged in productive discussions to deliver a Green Line that meets the needs of Calgary’s commuters and preserves the value of Phase 1 of the project. “Through these discussions, we have agreed to advance the work from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard. This decision not only works to preserve more than 700 jobs, but also builds on the shared investments we have made towards the Green Line. “As part of our meetings, the province reaffirmed that the previously committed funding of $1.53B remains available to support the continuation of this work during the interim period. “Simultaneously, AECOM is developing a revised downtown alignment on behalf of the province. This downtown alignment will be either at-grade or elevated and will connect into the Red and Blue Lines, the new Event Centre, and to southeast Calgary communities. “The City is assisting in this review and meeting regularly with provincial administration and AECOM to inform its efforts. “We are committed to continuing this work and remain optimistic that we will continue to reach decisions that are in the best interest of Calgary commuters.” In September, the Alberta government threatened to withdraw the $1.53 billion in provincial funding for the project unless the project scope was reviewed by an independent third party. The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) welcomed the developments regarding the next steps for the project. “The Green Line LRT is essential not only for connecting hundreds of thousands of Calgarians, but also for driving job creation and economic growth in our city,” said Bill Black, president & CEO of the Calgary Construction Association. “We are proud to see the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta working together to ensure this project stays on track. Every step forward is a win for both Calgary’s commuters and the construction industry.” In statement issued by the association, it said the agreement to advance construction from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard “demonstrates a significant commitment to maintaining momentum on this critical infrastructure project. The CCA is especially encouraged by the preservation of more than 700 jobs as a result of this decision, as well as the continued investment in building Calgary’s transit future. “The CCA is also optimistic about the continued collaboration between the City and Province on refining the downtown alignment, which will improve connectivity to key destinations, including the new Event Centre and southeast Calgary communities. With $1.53 billion in provincial funding reaffirmed, the project remains a cornerstone for future economic development and a vital piece of Calgary’s transportation infrastructure.” |
