Calgary business, real estate organizations raise concerns about elevated Green Line alignment

An artist's rendering shows what an elevated Green Line LRT line could look like in downtown Calgary above Second Street S.W.

A group of organizations representing Calgary businesses and real estate is expressing concerns about the proposed elevated Green Line LRT in the downtown and Beltline areas.

In a letter sent to the province, NAIOP Calgary, BOMA Calgary, Calgary Construction Association (CCA) and Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) said they felt it would be “reckless” to support the proposed elevated line due to a number of concerns.

“Based on the report delivered to the community, we are not seeing any new information, data and/or financial details that would negate the previously identified challenges with an elevated alignment in the Beltline and the downtown core,” the organizations said in the letter.

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The groups sent the letter to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen in response to the province’s “reimagined” Green Line plan.

Some of the concerns the organizations raised include how the elevated alignment would affect adjacent properties, the “overall public realm experience,” the retail experience at grade, the Plus 15 network and downtown accessibility.

It also suggests that the current alignment would leave Eau Claire “stranded,” without taking advantage of the progress and sunk costs already made on the project in the area.

In an emailed statement, Dreeshen said he has met with representatives from the various organizations, along with AECOM, to discuss and consider their perspectives.

He added that the province’s goal is to deliver a project that maximizes taxpayer value and enhances the city’s transportation network.

“Time is of the essence to move this project forward. Many of the challenges identified regarding downtown alignment can be addressed through progress of the design,” Dreeshen said.

“Delays or re-evaluations risk jeopardizing federal funding, increasing costs, and leaving Calgary without the transformative transit solution it urgently needs.”

In 2024, the province contracted AECOM to identify and assess an alternative Green Line alignment that avoids tunnelling in downtown Calgary.

The AECOM report, released in December, suggested the downtown section of the Green Line should be elevated and shorter, cutting out Eau Claire and instead ending at Seventh Avenue to integrate with the existing Red and Blue Lines.

The province says that could save more than $1 billion compared to the city’s longer downtown route involving tunnels.

The public report, however, had a lot of information redacted, including details on cost estimates and why the route was chosen.

The letter states that without this financial information, these groups feel it would be “impossible to make an informed decision.”

“We would request the opportunity to work with the provincial government and the minister’s office in developing a more effective solution for the Beltline and downtown which fulfills the needs of all stakeholders and the City of Calgary,” the letter reads.

“We must build a transportation solution that can work today and for generations in the future.”

Dreeshen said the reimagined route would add five more stops, be 76 per cent longer and serve 60 per cent more Canadians.

The province said the route more closely aligns with the initial provincially and federally approved business case from June 2021.

The city opted in 2016 to go for the tunnel option – by far the costliest of the three considered – due to public feedback and considerations of traffic disruption, property values, noise and even shadows caused by an elevated track.

With files from CTV News Calgary’s Jordan Kanygin