Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Calgary and the Alberta government have reached an agreement to restart construction on a section of the city’s Green Line light rail transit (LRT) project, which was stalled in September when the province threatened to withdraw its $1.53 billion funding.
AECOM, the project’s contractor, will now develop a revised alignment for downtown that 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 their efforts,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “We are committed to this work and remain optimistic that we will continue to reach decisions that are in the best interest of Calgarians.”
“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 and 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.”
The agreement will allow construction to continue from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard, preserving about 700 construction jobs.
“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,” Black said. “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.”
Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen and Mayor Gondek issued a 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 value from the previous phase of the project. Through these discussions, we have agreed to advance work from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard.
“This decision not only works to preserve over 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 $1.53 billion remains available to support the continuation of this work during the interim period.”