Province gives the go ahead on a new Green Line plan assuring cost certainty
The Green Line board says the City of Calgary has an agreement with the province in regards to a new phased procurement strategy on the massive project.
The first phase will consist of building the LRT from Shepard in the southeast to Eau Claire at the same time, while using the existing red and blue lines.
Previously it was broken down into three phases.
“The business case for Green Line remains strong," says Don Fairbairn, executive chair of the Green Line Board.
"Moving forward with a new procurement will bring greater cost certainty and ensure we can deliver on our mandate to build Green Line, within council-approved direction, on behalf of our funding partners and for Calgarians."
The previous plan would have seen construction start this summer between Shepard and Inglewood.
The board is now seeking bids, something Fairbairn believes will not be an issue.
This also means phase 2 from Eau Claire, across the Bow River to 16 Avenue North, will advance if cost of escalation and other risks do not materialize in phase 1.
The board says a 0.5 per cent increase in escalation costs results in an additional $100 million for the project
This plan was sent for provincial approval on May 28th.
The board says the federal funding business case that is with the province now needs to get the stamp of approval before it is then sent to Ottawa, something Fairbairn does not have a timeline for.
However, Fairbairn is very confident the province will support the plan.
“We have an agreement with the province that this procurement is acceptable to them, and most importantly, it's acceptable to us," he said.
As for when construction could start, no timeline has been given.
The city has said before that it was delayed until at least 2022.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi calls Wednesday an exciting day and is still targeting 2025-2026 for completion.
“It is certainly that we are a bit delayed," he said. “I am hopeful that we will still be able to get close to there, it may drop a little bit. But as the results of this procurement come in we’ll be able to add the timeline.”
The province did allocate $25 million in Budget 2021 for the Green Line and set aside another $341 million in the subsequent two budgets. The federal government has also committed more than $1.5 billion to the project.
The Green Line will cost an estimated $5.5 billion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.