Green Line back to the drawing board on downtown route

Calgary's long-stalled Green Line LRT project is being reset on the most contentious question: how the train will reach downtown.

City councillors voted Tuesday to direct administration to present alternative routes by September, stepping back from the provincial government's current plan for an elevated track along 10th Avenue and Second Street Southwest.

Public engagement found that while most respondents had a positive impression of elevated track design generally, the majority of people surveyed who live and work nearby oppose the specific downtown route. City staff said the design raises concerns about property values, noise, and downtown vibrancy.

"To proceed with an option that would potentially sterilize the downtown or have a significant impact on property values, that is a significant concern of ours," said Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

Alternatives the city could present in September include other routes for elevated tracks, or paths for ground-level or underground alignments. Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen signalled flexibility on refinements but reiterated his opposition to an underground tunnel, citing cost and ridership benefits of the elevated approach.

The southeast portion of the Green Line, designed to include 10 stations running from Shepard to Victoria Park, broke ground last June. The long-term vision is a 46-kilometre line from Seton in southeast Calgary to 160th Avenue in the north end.

The $6.25-billion project is Calgary's largest infrastructure investment. Construction was set back when the province pulled funding in 2024. A new agreement came later that year, though downtown connectivity remained unresolved. The city is eyeing a 2031 opening date.

After more than a decade of planning, the Green Line's route remains the line between vision and reality for the city.