In June 2017, Calgary City Council approved the final alignment of the 46km north-south line with 28 stations running from 160th Avenue North to Seton. Stage 1 calls for the construction of a 20km section between 16th Avenue North and 126th Avenue Southeast, 14 stations, a vehicle maintenance and storage depot, eight bridges, four tunnels, and three park-and-ride facilities, plus a fleet of 70 low-floor LRVs.

Construction of Stage 1 is expected to begin in spring 2020 with completion scheduled for late 2026. An estimated 20,000 jobs will be created to support the system’s design and construction, with a further 400 long-term jobs forecast for operation and maintenance of the Green Line when it opens.

The first stage is estimated to cost $C 4.65bn and funding will come from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. The government of Alberta provincial carbon tax revenues will fund its third of the project cost.

“Across the country, we are investing in major infrastructure projects that will transform the way Canadians move, work and live, while creating good, well-paying middle-class jobs today and for years to come,” says Canada’s prime minister Mr Justin Trudeau. “Today’s historic investment in Calgary’s public transit system will make it easier for people to get around and connect to the services they need, make our air cleaner, and create thousands of jobs for Canadians.”

Calgary currently has a 62km two-line light rail network with 42 stations.

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