Green line LRT
Green Line Downtown Has a Path Forward
Council has approved the 10 Avenue and 2 Street S.W. surface alignment for the Green Line Downtown Segment.
The decision confirms that Green Line will travel at-grade along 10 Avenue S., connecting the Event Centre to a new station at 2 Street S.W.
For CDA, this is an important step forward for Green Line and downtown Calgary.
From Decision to Design
Throughout the alignment discussion, CDA encouraged decision-makers to consider how Green Line would affect the businesses, properties, and destinations directly impacted by the route.
With the alignment now confirmed, the conversation moves into a new phase: how the Downtown Segment is designed and integrated into downtown.
The City has confirmed that design work will now progress and that it will continue engaging impacted stakeholders. Businesses and property owners along the alignment will have opportunities to participate as the project team works to understand impacts and identify solutions.
The City has previously confirmed that the LRT is planned to run down the centre of 10 Avenue, with a lane of traffic on either side to maintain access to businesses and parkades. The proposed 2 Street S.W. station will also connect into the Plus 15 Network, providing access to the Red and Blue Lines, MAX BRT routes and downtown office towers.
CDA’ s Perspective
The approval provides important certainty about how Green Line will enter downtown.
Now, the details matter.
As design progresses, CDA will continue to advocate for the needs of downtown businesses and property owners, with particular attention to access, mobility, public realm, streetscape, connectivity, and the overall downtown experience.
Green Line has been years in the making and is currently expected to open in 2031. As Calgary continues to grow toward a population of two million, investing in transit and connecting more Calgarians to downtown will be increasingly important to our city's future.
Stay Involved
Council's decision doesn't end the conversation - it changes it.
The City has indicated that further engagement with impacted stakeholders will take place in the coming weeks and months. CDA will continue participating in that work and sharing relevant opportunities with our downtown business community.
Share your feedback with us at info@downtowncalgary.com
Learn more about Green Line LRT on the City of Calgary’s website.
An Important Step Forward for Green Line Downtown
On September 8, Executive Committee recommended that Council advance Option 3 – the 10th Avenue and 2nd Street S.W. surface alignment for the Green Line Downtown Segment.
This is an encouraging step forward in a project that has been years in the making, with completion currently expected in 2031. As Calgary moves toward a population of two million, how we invest in transit and connect people to our downtown will be increasingly important to our city’s future.
The recommendation is not the final decision and will now move to Council for consideration.
What We Know About the Proposed Alignment
Since the Committee meeting, CDA has received additional information from the City’s Green Line team about how the proposed alignment would operate along 10th Avenue:
“The LRT will run down the center of 10th Avenue S., allowing for a lane of traffic on either side to ensure access to parkades and businesses is maintained. Connected to the station will be a new climate-controlled pedestrian access that will bring transit riders directly into the Plus15 Network to connect to the Red and Blue Lines, four MAX BRT Lines and downtown office towers. Improvements to the pedestrian underpass at 1 Street S.W. will also be undertaken to maximize the experience for those walking, cycling and scooting to and from the station area.”
We appreciate the Committee’s recognition that how Green Line moves through downtown matters, including the need to address public realm, streetscape, mobility and connectivity along 10th Avenue.
This is particularly important to CDA. Ahead of the meeting, we identified mobility, access and design along 10th Avenue as areas requiring additional consideration as the project moves forward.
CDA's Perspective
Executive Committee’s recommendation provides an important path forward for Green Line and downtown Calgary, but it is not the end of the conversation.
As the recommendation moves to Council and detailed planning continues, businesses, property owners and destinations directly affected by the alignment need to remain part of the process. There is still significant work ahead to understand and address the impacts and opportunities associated with how Green Line moves through downtown.
There is still time to have your say as Council has not yet made its final decision.
What do you think of the direction recommended by Executive Committee? What questions or concerns should CDA be raising as the project moves into its next stage?
Share your feedback with us at info@downtowncalgary.com.
How Should Green Line Move Through Downtown?
The City of Calgary has brought forward three alignment options for the downtown portion of the Green Line LRT. These options will go before the Executive Committee on September 8, which could make a recommendation to Council on how the Downtown Segment should move forward.
With significant implications for downtown businesses, properties, mobility, and the public realm, this is an important decision for Calgary's downtown.
The alignments are:
The City of Calgary has assessed the trade-offs of all three options, assessing varying levels of cost, risk, mobility and more. See the City’s assessments below.
CDA's Perspective
Calgary has an opportunity to move the Green Line forward in a way that strengthens both our transit network and the future of downtown. As Council considers the downtown alignment, we encourage careful consideration of the impacts on the businesses, properties, and destinations that will be directly affected.
Property owners and businesses along 2 Street S.W. have been clear in their opposition to an elevated alignment and have raised concerns about impacts to property, safety, access, and public realm
The proposed alignments also raise concerns about potential impacts to cultural and entertainment infrastructure along 1 Street S.E.
Additional consideration is needed to understand and address mobility, access, and design impacts along 10 Avenue
We encourage Council to listen to those most affected and ensure these impacts are fully understood as it determines the best path forward for the Green Line downtown.
We want to hear from downtown businesses and property owners.
Review the three alignment options and tell us what impacts, opportunities, or concerns Council should consider as it determines the path forward.
Send your feedback to info@downtowncalgary.com.