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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.