Cost of southwest BRT estimated at $50M

Ald. Brian Pincott is confident commuters in southwest Calgary will soon be able to hop on a rapid bus line to get downtown.

The proposed lineinvolves the construction of dedicated bus lanes along 14th Street S.W. from Anderson Road North to Glenmore Trail.

The new lanes would then tie in to the existing ones on Crowchild Trail, with a final stop downtown.

Pincott said he's been working on this plan for two years and will be pushing hard for the project in the 2012 budget.

"It makes sense, it just makes sense, and certainly what I am hearing, the discussion around the council table leads me to believe that I might be successful at getting it in there," said the Ward 11 alderman.

If it were taken up by council, the line would be the fourth BRT running in the city.

Residents are encouraged to attend one of three open houses this week to provide public input and find out more information about the proposal.

But Pincott said he already has a vision for the route.

"I envision a bus rapid transit service from southwest Calgary to downtown that will be out of traffic so in separated bus lanes that will be able to get people from Cedarbrae, Woodlands to downtown in half an hour every single day guaranteed."

Open houses run Tuesday, Wednesday

What's not guaranteed is whether any private property along 14th Street would be needed for the project.

"The initial looking at it says no, we can do this within the existing right of way on 14th Street," said Pincott.

That includes a bus-only underpass at 90th Avenue.

Pincott said the early cost estimate is $50 million.

"At the end of the day, though, we can do this and get 15,000 people moving out of the southwest probably for around the cost or under the cost of an interchange," he said.

One open house takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Southland Leisure Centre at 2000 Southland Dr. S.W. from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The remaining two are Wednesday, Nov. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mount Royal University and from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Braeside Community Association at 11024 Braeside Dr.

Public comments from the open houses will be included in a report that will go to council early next year.