Calgary city council to review Green Line downtown options in September
The Green Line's downtown functional planning study comes to city council's Executive Committee on Sept. 8, presenting alternative alignments for the $6.5 billion transit project.
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Calgary city council will review downtown alignment options for the Green Line transit project on September 8, when the Green Line's downtown functional planning study update comes before the Executive Committee.
The document will provide councillors with options for a downtown alignment running from the proposed Grand Central Station near the new Scotia Place event centre through to a viable launching point moving north. As HighOnCity reported in June, city-wide sentiment for an above-grade downtown alignment was generally positive, though the vast majority of downtown residents opposed it.
City councillors asked the Green Line team to return in September with alternative options from the original preferred route proposed by the province. The province said at that time it was open to adjustments to the downtown alignment, but that it must remain above ground.
Green Line director Wendy Tynan said the team has been reviewing all potential alignments proposed over the years. "The difference this time around is there's only a finite number of options, and the only thing that's really changed is what are the conditions to making the decision," Tynan said.
The most substantive condition is that the alignment cannot be underground. Each order of government — federal, provincial, and municipal — has specific criteria for project funding. Tynan expects that alongside the province's initial 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW elevated option, there will likely be three additional options presented, though she could not divulge which ones.
Some councillors have indicated they will vote no to any above-ground option, pushing for an underground alignment as was the preferred option after multiple rounds of engagement.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas previously explored the idea of a federal-only deal to put the downtown Green Line underground, and suggested potentially stopping the downtown route shorter and redirecting cost savings toward suburban Calgary to increase ridership.
What are the three additional downtown Green Line alignment options beyond the province's 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW elevated option?
What is the cost difference between the above-ground downtown alignment and an underground alignment?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When will city council review Green Line downtown options?
Calgary city council will review downtown alignment options for the Green Line on September 8, 2026, when the downtown functional planning study update comes before the Executive Committee.
How much does the Green Line project cost?
The Green Line transit project costs $6.5 billion.
What is the province's requirement for the downtown alignment?
The province requires that the downtown alignment must remain above ground and cannot be underground.
How many alignment options does the Green Line director expect to present?
Green Line director Wendy Tynan expects that alongside the province's initial 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW elevated option, there will likely be three additional options presented, though she could not confirm which ones.
