Green Line downtown route endorsed by executive committee to run at street level

Calgary's executive committee has endorsed a surface-level downtown alignment for the Green Line LRT after years of debate over the project's routing and cost.

The selected route runs along 10 Avenue S.W. and 2 Street S.W., remaining at street level rather than underground or elevated. It is the only option of three proposed routes that fits within the project's current budget. Two other proposed routes included elevated track sections but would not fit within the existing funding envelope. The Green Line team advised that under the current funding framework, any cost overruns would fall to the City of Calgary.

The surface route is expected to attract the fewest riders of the three proposals, but Mayor Jeromy Farkas said the province and Ottawa remain open to funding the route selection. "It's a route the city can afford," Farkas said.

Ward 4 Councillor DJ Kelly, who moved the motion, framed the decision as a breakthrough after years of uncertainty. "The fact that we're a little bit negative on some of the things, like oh, 'we wish this,' or oh, 'that's too bad, but by approving this here today and moving this on to council, we have a full Green Line. We know where it starts. We know where it ends. That is the first time that we've been able to say that," Kelly said at the committee meeting.

The committee also approved amendments from Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Yule to bring forward capital costs for a full Max Green Bus Rapid Transit, and from Ward 8 Councillor Nathan Schmidt to ensure a clear public realm and interface plan for the surface line. Ward 11 Councillor Dan McLean, who favoured the surface option, offered a characteristically pragmatic view: "Well, it's not perfect, but I used to tell my kids that this wise old philosopher Mick Jagger would say, 'You can't always get what you want, but you can ask sometimes, you might find you get what you need.'"