City recommends scaled back first leg of Green Line LRT

City administration unveiled the recommendedfirst phase of construction for Calgary's Green Line LRT Thursday, but escalating costs and a lack of funds forcedthe city to scale back plans.

The Stage 1 plan will see the line extend from 16th Avenue N.at Crescent Heights, underground through downtown then on to 126th Avenue S.E..

The Green Line was originally to stretch from Stoney Trail in the north past the South Health Campus in the deep southeast.

Mac Logan, the general manager of the city's transportation department said the plan changed because of feedback the city received from Calgarians.

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"Do it right the first time and future proof it," he said. "That meant making decisions like tunneling through downtown, which of course increases the cost of the project and so that did curtail how many stations we could build."

Even with the smaller line, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it's still the biggest project in the city's history.

"Council has to make a decision: build more of it earlier or take it underground downtown and that's the decision. So far council has been pretty clear that underground downtown is the way they would go," he said.

Construction to start in 2020

If approved by council, construction on the20-kilometre track would startin 2020.

The project is estimated to cost$4.65 billion. Like other LRT lines, the Green Line could be extended when more money becomes available.

When completed it is expected to carry roughly 60,000 people across 14 stations.

Coun.Jim Stevenson, who represents Ward 3 in the city's north end, said people shouldn't be disappointed it's not going north on Centre Street past16thAvenue.

"The people in the north in the area that Irepresent are going to be as excited as Iam about this announcement because this means that we're underway," he said.

Stage 1 of the Green Line won't reach the main residential areas of the deep southeast, butCoun. ShaneKeating, said he still likes this option.

"We had to do two things;connect to the core and connect to the maintenance facility. After that, it's what's ready to go,"Keatingsaid. "Ithink we saw the full extent all the way from16thtoShepard[station],that's ready to go today, so let's move forward."

City officials estimate more than 12,000 direct construction jobs will be created during the building of the first phase and once completed, will result in 400 long-term operational jobs.

Administration says completion of thefirst phaseis projected for 2026.

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