This Engagement Is Closed

This Green Line Stage 1 page is now archived. Please click below to go to the current page.

Visit our project pages below to see our final recommendations being shared.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

Visit our project pages below to see our final recommendations approved by Green Line Committee on May 19, 2021.

Since Council approval in June 2020, the Green Line team has been advancing functional planning from Elbow River north to 16 Avenue. This work has been focused on finalizing the alignment – for example, the path the tunnel will take through the Beltline from 11 Avenue to 2 Street – determining locations of underground stations and evaluating what the utility relocation program may look like to support construction of the tunnel and stations. An additional priority has been understanding the form and alignment that the bridges over the Bow and Elbow rivers will take.

In 2020 and early 2021, we conducted a variety of public virtual engagement opportunities to help inform functional planning for project areas from Eau Claire to 16 Avenue N.,), including Planning in Crescent Heights (Streetscape Masterplan for Centre Street North and Crescent Heights Mobility Study), North Central Mobility and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Studies and the Bow River LRT bridge. These opportunities included virtual workshops & information sessions, online feedback and stakeholder meetings.

Using input received during engagement, the Green Line team refined the concepts, plans and recommendations for these project areas. In April 2021, we hosted a series of virtual events to present final project plans and recommendations to the public, before we presented them to the Green Line Committee for approval on May 19, 2021. You can watch the recorded public presentations below


Recent events and presentations

Downtown/Beltline (segment 2A) virtual presentation


Planning in Crescent Heights virtual presentation


Bow River LRT bridge virtual presentation


North Central Mobility & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Studies virtual presentation

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD

As part of Green Line’s segment 2 functional planning, the project team completed an integrated communications and engagement program that provided citizens the opportunity to participate in meaningful engagement. We ensured coordination across all of the active projects as part of our segment 2 functional planning, including North Central Mobility & BRT Studies, Crescent Heights Mobility Study and Streetscape Master Plan for Centre Street North.

Engagement and communications occurred for segment 2 projects from October 2020 through to April 2021 over two phases of engagement and one phase of information sharing. Throughout the project we engaged with residents and Calgarians at-large, Community Associations, Business Improvement Areas, local business owners, special interest groups and ward offices.

Our first phase of engagement included listening to Calgarians and exploring their opportunities and challenges related to the various projects. The feedback from the first phase was used to inform initial concepts and ideas, which were presented back to the community for evaluation in our second phase of engagement. Our final phase included information sharing, reporting back on how community input has informed the final recommendations, and sharing the final project recommendations with the public before Green Line Committee.

We employed a variety of engagement and communications tactics, including a stakeholder working group, online surveys, virtual workshops, meetings and presentations, digital web-based open houses, in-community sounding boards, postcards and letters, signage, social media and email newsletters. We took extra care to ensure that our approach was meaningful, inclusive and removed barriers to participation. This included the use of plain language and descriptive materials for those with low-vision, translated materials in simplified and traditional Chinese, the use of 311 for feedback and the piloting of new digital based tools to improve user experience.

Throughout the entire project, we held over 46 public sessions and stakeholder meetings and conducted 13 online surveys. In total, over 60,000 people were made aware of the project through our communications campaigns, we connected with over 15,000 participants through our engagement opportunities (online portal and sessions) and received over 1,600 ideas and contributions across all phases.

*Please note that these metrics above are not inclusive of our final phase, as this phase is still underway at the time of this report and will be updated to reflect final participation.

At a high-level, some of the themes we heard through the engagement included a desire for an enhanced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, concerns about the mobility network in the future, strong desire for a vibrant and walkable Centre Street North and concerns about impacts within Crescent Heights. We also received a mix of visions for the Bow River LRT bridge, that incorporates convenient access and viewpoints, while being designed in an environmentally sensitive way.

What We Heard Reports

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS

ENGAGEMENT ARCHIVE

Over the past few years, we’ve heard from Calgarians about the importance of the Green Line to Calgary and their communities. This has included extensive feedback that will continue to be will be used as we continue planning and finalizing the functional plan.

To learn about past engagement that has informed the Green Line project, please visit the archive.

APPROVED STAGE ONE ALIGNMENT

On Tuesday, June 16, City Council approved Administration’s Green Line recommendation on the updated Stage 1 alignment (from 16 Avenue N. to Shepard) along with changes to construction staging.

“Council’s approval today is a pivotal step in achieving the vision of Green Line promised to Calgarians,” said Michael Thompson, General Manager of Green Line. “The Green Line will improve mobility for all Calgarians connecting communities, employment hubs and key destinations across the city.”

In addition to approving the alignment, Council approved a new construction staging strategy. Administration’s recommendations reflect many thoughtful conversations since the June 1st Green Line Committee meeting with Council and stakeholders and balance the commitment to move forward with Stage 1, with the desire for greater certainty around managing risks.

The updated Stage 1 alignment can be delivered within budget, reduces project risks, and improves customer experience while achieving the project vision.

Green Line Stage 1 will be constructed in three segments:

  • Segment 1 from 126 Avenue S.E. to the Elbow River (includes nine stations)
  • Segment 2 from the Elbow River to 16 Avenue N. (includes six stations and has been divided into 2 smaller segments)
    • Segment 2A: 2 Avenue SW station to Elbow River
    • Segment 2B: 16 Avenue N to north of 2 Avenue SW station

Construction of Stage 1 is a pivotal first step in achieving Green Line’s vision.

The total investment of $4.903 Billion will create an estimated 12,000 direct and 8,000 indirect jobs. This is significant and comes at a critical time when it is important to bolster Calgary’s economy. Green Line will be ready to service the needs of Calgarians when Calgarians are ready for economic recovery.

The Green Line will connect Calgarians to social and cultural destinations, and promote affordable housing and transit oriented development. It will also reduce greenhouse gases by 30,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 6,000 vehicles being taken off the road on opening day.

This image outlines a number of the benefits associated with Green Line Stage 1.

Flip through the pages below to learn more about Stage 1 of the Green Line LRT. You can view in full screen mode by clicking in the centre of the image. If you prefer to download the file, click here.

ABOUT THE GREEN LINE

The Green Line LRT is the largest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history. With $4.9 billion in unprecedented investments from the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and City of Calgary, Green Line will play a key role in shaping our city’s future. The Green Line will kick-start our economy with 20,000 jobs. Connect people and places. And reduce congestion on our roads. Green Line will help build the Calgary of tomorrow.

Green Line Vision: A city-shaping transit service that improves mobility in communities in north and southeast Calgary, connecting people and place, and enhancing the quality of life.

Like Calgary’s current LRT lines, the Green Line will be built in stages as funding becomes available.

At a Glance, the Green Line when completed, will:

  • Serve Calgarians in 27+ communities
  • Serve 60,000-65,000 LRT customers daily
  • Support over 220,000 to 240,000 trips per day
  • Consist of 46 km of track
  • Include 28 stations (+1 with new 9 Avenue N station)
  • Provide a future airport connection
  • Support future Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in 10 stations areas

Green Line serves the mobility needs of Calgarians:

Green Line improves mobility choices.

  • Green Line will deliver high-quality transit service to Calgarians in north central and southeast communities.

Green Line connects people and places.

  • Construction of the Green Line is our next step towards completing Calgary’s transit network.

Green Line enhances quality of life.

  • Along with the MAX Bus Rapid Transit lines, Calgarians will have fast, frequent, reliable transit service that connects communities, employment hubs, and key destinations across the city.