Feds follow through on transport pledge

Liberals promise $1.53 billion in funding for first stage of the Green Line

The Liberal government says it’s making good on its promise of green for Calgary’s Green Line LRT project.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed in an announcement Tuesday that Ottawa would put forward $1.53 billion to the first stage of the Green Line, the expansion of the city’s light rail system that is intended to link Calgary’s north and south.

The money was first promised by the former Conservative government just before the 2015 election when the party lost power. Trudeau’s Liberals said during the campaign and after that they would see the project through.

Trudeau told reporters and officials gathered at Stampede station that the funding is now part of a fully laid-out infrastructure plan.

“Working with our provincial and municipal partners, we’ll get the Green Line LRT built,” said the prime minister.

Alberta’s NDP government also committed $1.53 billion to the project last year, making it equally funded by all three levels of government.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said that although Trudeau had supported the project in the past, the big difference is that Ottawa has now committed to an “accelerated timeline” that is close to the province’s pledge to dole out the money over eight years.

“It was the last piece we were missing in order to really move forward,” said Nenshi.

“More details will come soon but we are very, very pleased with the cash flow and the timing . . . which will save hundreds of millions in interest over time.”

Nenshi said the prospective savings could potentially mean more work is done to extend the line in the initial phase of construction.

The first stage of the Green Line, which is intended to run from Crescent Heights to Shepard, is slated for completion in 2026.

It involves the design and construction of 20 kilometres of track, 14 stations, a fleet of 70 low-floor light rail vehicles, a vehicle maintenance and storage facility, eight bridges, four tunnels, and three park-and-ride facilities.

Ultimately, the project is intended to run from the South Health Campus to the new neighbourhood of Keystone in the north.

“The Green Line is going to transform the city. It’s the largest single infrastructure project in the history of this province,” said Nenshi. “It is a big deal.”

But Conservative MP Pat Kelly said Trudeau doesn’t deserve any pats on the back for simply following through on something initiated by the Harper government.

“It was really a non-announcement,” he said.