There are renewed calls to get the next phase of Calgary’s Green Line LRT project on track after a recently-released mandate letter to a provincial minister had no mention of the northern leg of the transit line.
The mandate letter instead directs Dreeshen to look at the feasibility of a “Metrolinx-like model for commuter rail service using heavy rail on the Canadian Pacific rail line from Airdrie to Okotoks.”Calgary-North East MLA Gurinder Brar called on the province to “make a firm commitment” to the next phase of the project, in the hopes that could inspire confidence and kickstart early stages of work and funding for the northern leg.
The report estimated that 58,100 people would use the line daily by 2048, but noted that a functional planning study hasn’t been completed on the entirety of the project.According to Darshpreet Bhatti, CEO of the Green Line project, officials are working with Bow Transit Connectors, the consortium of companies selected to build the first phase of the LRT development, to determine timelines, costs and designs.