Green Line (Calgary)

This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. The reason given is: The Green Line project is currently in limbo due to the Government of Alberta rescinding their share of the funding. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2024)

Green Line
Overview
Status	Winding down[1]
Owner	Calgary Transit
Locale	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Termini	Phase 1: Eau Claire Stage 1: 16 Avenue N Full vision: 160 Avenue N Phase 1: Lynnwood/Millican Stage 1: Shepard Full vision: Seton
Stations	Phase 1: 7 Stage 1: 15 Full vision: 29
Website	www.calgary.ca/greenline
Service
Type	Light rail
System	CTrain
Route number	203
Operator(s)	Calgary Transit
Depot(s)	Highfield
Rolling stock	CAF Urbos 100[2]
Daily ridership	Phase 1: 32,000[3] Stage 1: 56,000–65,000[4] Full vision: 140,000
History
Planned opening	≈ 2031 (≈ 2031)[5]
Technical
Line length	Phase 1: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) Stage 1: 20 kilometres (12 mi) Full vision: 46 kilometres (29 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	At-grade, elevated, underground, street running
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	Overhead lines, 750 V DC[6]
Operating speed	80 kilometres per hour (50 mph)
Map diagram Legend Future extension 160 Avenue N 144 Avenue N Highway 201 Stoney Trail North Pointe 96 Avenue N West Nose Creek Beddington Trail NW Beddington 64 Avenue N Thorncliffe 40 Avenue N 28 Avenue N 16 Avenue N 9 Avenue N Bow River Phase 2 Phase 1 Eau Claire 7 Avenue SW Downtown Transit Mall Canadian Pacific Kansas City Centre Street S Red Line to Somerset–Bridlewood Blue Line to Saddletowne 4 Street SE Elbow River Ramsay/Inglewood Canadian Pacific Kansas City 26 Avenue SE Blackfoot Trail Highfield Highway 2 Deerfoot Trail Bow River Lynnwood/Millican Ogden South Hill Quarry Park Douglas Glen Shepard Future extension Prestwick McKenzie Towne Highway 201 Stoney Trail Auburn Bay/Mahogany South Hospital Seton This diagram: view talk edit

The Green Line, also known as Route 203, was a proposed expansion of the light rail (LRT) network in Calgary, Alberta, planned to run between Calgary's north-central and southeastern boundaries, connecting with the Red Line and Blue Line in the city's downtown. The Green Line would be the largest public infrastructure project in Calgary's history^[7] and the first rail line in the city to operate low-floor trains if built.^[8][9] If completed, the full vision of the Green Line would comprise 29 stations spanning 46 kilometres (29 mi), bringing the total number of CTrain stations in Calgary to 74.

Like the Red Line and Blue Line, the Green Line will be constructed in stages and phases. Stage one of construction features 15 stations (10 at-grade, 3 underground, 2 elevated). Phase 1, which is a portion of Stage 1, has been funded with three roughly equal contributions from the City of Calgary, the Government of Alberta, and the Government of Canada. Phase 1 will be 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long and include 7 stations.

Major construction was planned to begin in early 2021 but was delayed to April 2022 after Alberta's United Conservative provincial government failed to contribute the province's pledged portion of the line's funding. The government rebuked the project as a "line to nowhere", asserting that the City of Calgary did not have "any credible plan" despite nearly four decades of research and planning.^[10][11][12] This came after months of speculation from city officials, politicians, and journalists that the provincial government and others associated with the United Conservative Party^{[13][14][15][16]} were attempting to stifle or cancel the Green Line.^[17]

Due to the provincial government's actions, the City of Calgary temporarily paused the project's procurement though planning, pre-construction and public engagement continued through 2021.^[12] Delays persisted until the project received final approval from Alberta's provincial government on July 7, 2021,^[18] hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met privately with Jason Kenney in Calgary. This meant the project had full approval from all three orders of government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated "The money is there and the agreements are signed, so regardless of an election, the Green Line is going to go forward."^[19]

Construction of the Green Line officially began in April 2022^[20] with PCL Construction selected as the construction management contractor for utility relocation work.^[21] The Green Line Board released the Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a proponent to construct phase one of stage one of construction, from Lynnwood/Millican to Eau Claire, on September 26, 2022. In April 2023, Green Line entered the Development Phase of the project and began the comprehensive design of the alignment.^[22] On July 30, 2024, Calgary City Council approved a revised Green Line Phase 1 project scope, capital funding request, and delivery model, as recommended by the Green Line Board. The revised scope deferred the underground Centre Street Station for the future and shortened the line to end at Lynwood/Millican. It also moved the Maintenance and Storage Facility from Shepard to Highfield. Construction of the remainder of the Council-approved Phase 1 south to Shepard, and any future extensions north or south as outlined in the approved Stage 1 alignment plan, will proceed when additional funding is in place. This comes following increased cost pressures identified as the design was advanced. The revised Phase 1 scope from Eau Claire to Lynwood/Millican is anticpated to be completed in 2031.^[23]