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Alta. premier says government's LRT plan is Calgary's best option

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Calgary city council has yet to comment on the province's plan for the Green Line LRT, but Premier Danielle Smith told Albertans on the weekend that it's the best way forward for the project.

"I think we just have to come to terms with the fact that this project is a $20-billion project overall. It is a lot more expensive than anyone anticipated," she said during her weekly call-in radio show on Saturday.

"We're trying to make the best of getting a reasonable amount of it built at a reasonable price and we hope that council looks at that and balances it and makes a decision on it soon."

On Friday, Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen announced the province's take on the Green Line project, building off a third-party report by AECOM.

The province's plan ditches the idea of a downtown tunnel and adds five more stops, extending the Green Line all the way to Shepard.

After announcing the province's vision, Dreeshen said "the ball is now in Calgary city council's court."

Jyoti Gondek, along with councillors Peter Demong and Andre Chabot, were briefed on the province's proposal last week but, according to a statement, have not seen AECOM's full report.

The mayor and her councillors are expected to share their comments on the province's proposal at 11 a.m.

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