The Green Line LRT project is moving forward in Calgary. Calgary city council decided the transit line will run at street level along 10 Avenue, stopping at Second Street S.W., and falling short of previous discussions of connecting the LRT to the downtown core. “We’ve debated this for years and years and years, but finally, here in the city of Calgary, we’re getting this needed transit project done and we’re not stopping,” Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said. Some councillors say the confirmed route is not ideal, but still the best option available to the city. “This is not an ideal option by any means,” said Ward 4 Coun. DJ Kelly. “This is the best of the options that we had in front of us, and I look forward to the conversation from here on in about how we get that line through downtown to the north.” Construction on the south line is underway as the Green Line rolls ahead — but not everyone wants the project to get the green light as some business owners along 10 Avenue say the project could be the end of the line for them. “This is the worst possible scenario for us, literally. They’re going to force it down the street where it doesn’t really fit,” John Batas, owner of Michael’s Pizza, told reporters at City Hall on Tuesday. “I don’t know what we can do at this point (to) reevaluate our future, because I don’t see it being on 10th Avenue anymore.” Councillors have considered elevated track options, but the two proposals that came in ranged between $500 million and $1 billion more. “Our transit motivation has not been moving Calgarians effectively and safety throughout the city, and this was presented as the least bad option,” said Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness. “We better do it, or else we won’t have a Green Line.” The Alberta government has nixed plans to use provincial money for a Green Line tunnel in phase one of the build, but Farkas says there may be a workaround. “I understand that the provincial government is open to the city continuing our advocacy with our federal counterparts about how we potentially could partner with the feds for an underground downtown portion, only between the city and federal governments,” Farkas said. “And I’ve had good indications from federal counterparts at the ministerial level so far in those conversations, and they’re ongoing.”
