The Red Line LRT South Extension is tied to Calgary Transit’s RouteAhead strategy, the Calgary Transportation Plan and Municipal Development Plan, and our Future Rapid Transit Network Plan. LRT extensions such as this are part of long-term transportation planning to accommodate future growth and evolving transportation needs in Calgary.

LRT Mainline Extension

The Red Line South LRT Extension includes approximately 4 km of double track going south from Somerset-Bridlewood LRT station to 210 Avenue South with two new stations at Silverado and 210 Ave S, and connections to other transit/bus routes and the pathway and bikeway network, as well as exploring the potential for park and ride.

The study will help decide where the Red Line will go, where the new stations will be built and how the stations should be designed, as well as what environmental impacts need to be managed and the staged implementation of the plan. The results will be used to support the business case needed to secure funding and move the project forward to detailed design and construction. We are engaging with the public and impacted parties to understand project opportunities and/or constraints as well as their needs, wants, concerns, and ideas.

Maintenance and Storage Facility

In addition to the Red Line extension, the functional planning study also includes a Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) at 210 Avenue S. The results of this work will confirm how much land is needed for station area and for the MSF, and recommend the layout based on future growth, environmental considerations, and operational needs. It will also create an implementation plan and business case to move the project toward detailed design and construction when funding becomes available.

The Red Line is the busiest line in Calgary’s LRT network. This extension will provide improved transit service to 90,000 Calgarians in nine South Calgary communities by 2048. It will also connect to the future Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) at 210 Ave. S, which is critical to the expansion of the overall LRT network to catch up with the rapid transit demand growth in Calgary.

The Functional Planning Study stage of the Red Line extension project has been supported through Advance Design to Shovel Ready Funding and Municipal Sustainability Initiative Funding from the Province of Alberta. Detailed design and construction are currently unfunded.

During Phase 1 we gathered feedback to identify how interested parties and the public use the transit system, challenges they face, and ideas to inform the station concepts for the Red Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) South Extension. To view the What We Heard Report for Phase 1, please click on the link below.

Phase 1 What We Heard Report

In Phase 2 we are gathering feedback on station concepts to check if they respond to the needs and priorities identified in Phase 1 and determine whether adjustments should be made to ensure future designs are safe, accessible, and integrated with surrounding neighbourhoods.

In Phase 3 we will finalize and reveal the recommended plan to interested parties and the public, as well as prepare the final functional planning study report.

We are aware of public concerns about safety on the transit system. To address this priority, in October 2023, Council approved a multi-disciplinary Public Transit Safety Strategy. The strategy contains specific actions and accountabilities, and steps are being taken every day to improve safety. Visit the Public Transit Safety Strategy page for details on what’s been done so far and next steps underway.

How the project will respond to the safety concerns:

The Red Line LRT South Extension project is still in the early Functional Planning Study stage. Design and construction are not yet funded. Our study will document safety considerations and lessons learned from the existing system and from public engagement to guide future design and construction phases, as follows:

• Integrate safety into early planning: The project will identify opportunities to enhance safety within the study area by applying early-stage Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to new stations, park-and-ride areas, bus terminals, and pathway and bikeway connections.

• Plan stations with surrounding land use: The study will consider how station area planning, traffic and pedestrian circulation, landscaping and nearby land uses can support safety and visibility. Land uses that encourage an active, continuous presence—such as mixed-use developments, retail or community spaces—can increase “eyes on the street” and help discourage unsafe behaviour around stations, creating a more welcoming environment for all riders.

• Leverage lessons from existing LRT lines: Safety improvements identified through Calgary’s Public Transit Safety Strategy—such as clear signage, improved station lighting, and unobstructed sightlines—will guide safety considerations in this study and inform future design work for new Red Line stations.

• Collect and transfer public feedback: Public input related to personal safety, comfort, and visibility gathered during engagement will be compiled and carried forward to the preliminary design stage, where it will help shape detailed design decisions.