[The ChosenOne]

If we could wave a magic wand, I would put the red and blue line underground and run the green line on the surface. With the situation we're in funding-wise, my crystal ball tells me we'll be doing elevated, as I can't see where the money's going to come from for underground.
There's a chance that some things come together, such as the NDP getting elected, and oil prices picking up, and then we'll see. Maybe it goes back to underground.

Low floor on ground makes the most sense and the high floor light metro should be underground. I don't get why people with no knowledge of building rail want to put a quiet street integrating low floor LRT underground, doesn't make sense.

 

[FCC1982]

If we could wave a magic wand, I would put the red and blue line underground and run the green line on the surface. With the situation we're in funding-wise, my crystal ball tells me we'll be doing elevated, as I can't see where the money's going to come from for underground.
There's a chance that some things come together, such as the NDP getting elected, and oil prices picking up, and then we'll see. Maybe it goes back to underground.

Why have any surface running LRT downtown ?
It’s incredibly slow and prone to collisions and delays.

 

[lemongrab]

Not much of a surprise but downtown businesses hate the idea of an elevated line but 88% of them will suck it up and live with it if that's the only option available.

Unless we change provincial governments or premiers any time soon, I am fairly certain elevated is going to be the only option available.

Businesses, property owners remain opposed to elevated Green Line through Calgary's downtown: survey

With a current budget of more than $6.2-billion, the Green Line represents Calgary's largest-ever infrastructure project

calgaryherald.com

A bit of a weird article as it's just regurgitating stats from the survey with subtle differences of how respondents are classified:

98 per cent of business owners who responded said they support the Green Line, but 93 per cent oppose the elevated alignment if it is “all that was on offer and doing nothing was the alternative.”

Eighty-nine per cent of business and property owners said they prefer a different alignment, and 80 per cent said an elevated alignment would be negative for their business. Just under half of businesses said they’d consider selling if an elevated route goes ahead.

Eighty-seven per cent of business operators along 2nd Street said they support an underground alignment.

As for property owners, more than half said they’d expect an elevated track would lead to reduced occupancy rates or sales levels.

When it came to tenants along the route, 60 per cent of survey respondents would prefer an underground alignment below 2nd Street. About 88 per cent said they’d accept an elevated route if it was the only option.

93% of business owners (who may or may not be property owners?) would prefer nothing over elevated...
88% of tenants (who may or may not be business owners? or could this mean residential tenants - but not residential property owners?) would 'accept' it...

I suppose this makes sense as the latter group has less permanent roots in the area. If things do go forward, they would all be well advised to STFU and/or start speaking positively, because otherwise they will just drive a self fulfilling prophecy.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

Like the city hall turn under the library. Or just making the turn less sharp.

Integration into a development on that parcel (10th Ave and 1 Street) is actually exactly what it would need. I have so many ideas... Rec Centre to replace the Beltline, Eau Claire and Inglewood pools, a school, etc.

 

[ByeByeBaby]

Reminder that Green Line downtown engagement page closes today. https://engage.calgary.ca/greenlinedowntown

 

[trtcttc]

Integration into a development on that parcel (10th Ave and 1 Street) is actually exactly what it would need. I have so many ideas... Rec Centre to replace the Beltline, Eau Claire and Inglewood pools, a school, etc.

That would be incredible. With the major public investment in Stampede Park complete, the Arts investments underway/complete, I hope we return back to recreation next investment cycle. If Broadway and all the ongoing projects (Imperia, Lincoln, etc.) finish, there's going to be a huge influx of people to the Beltline

 

[Red Star]

Low floor on ground makes the most sense and the high floor light metro should be underground. I don't get why people with no knowledge of building rail want to put a quiet street integrating low floor LRT underground, doesn't make sense.

Upon the completion of the SE Green Line, our city will have two high-floor LRT lines that carry about 300,000 riders per day running At-Grade in downtown, while a low floor LRT that will carry about 40,000 riders per day will be fully grade-separated in downtown. Kind of funny when you think about it.

I sound like a broken record, but I think using low-floor LRT was the wrong choice of technology. Especially for the SE LRT.

 

[badc0ffee]

Upon the completion of the SE Green Line, our city will have two high-floor LRT lines that carry about 300,000 riders per day running At-Grade in downtown, while a low floor LRT that will carry about 40,000 riders per day will be fully grade-separated in downtown. Kind of funny when you think about it.

Both lines are grade-separated from the CPKC line, though.

 

[whatchyyc]

At this point there really isn't much of a difference between high and low floor. They're both 2.65m wide vehicles with similar capacities. Either way, a North Central line needs a new corridor downtown and I see this as a way to kill two birds with one stone. Down the road Red can be buried under 8th

 

[The ChosenOne]

At this point there really isn't much of a difference between high and low floor. They're both 2.65m wide vehicles with similar capacities. Either way, a North Central line needs a new corridor downtown and I see this as a way to kill two birds with one stone. Down the road Red can be buried under 8th

High floor is simply superior, especially in a city like Calgary running a grade separated suburban type service.

Low floor is basically a glorified bus if you build the intended tracks for it (rarely grade separated).

 

[whatchyyc]

High floor is simply superior, especially in a city like Calgary running a grade separated suburban type service.

Low floor is basically a glorified bus if you build the intended tracks for it (rarely grade separated).

It really isn't when green line LRVs are the same width as the high floor vehicles, 82m long and carry the equivalent of a 3 car HF ctrain. Our units also have more doors for the length of train. SE alignment and grade separation has been the same regardless of floor height

 

[The ChosenOne]

It really isn't when green line LRVs are the same width as the high floor vehicles, 82m long and carry the equivalent of a 3 car HF ctrain. Our units also have more doors for the length of train. SE alignment and grade separation has been the same regardless of floor height

So your just listing attributes of a high floor LRV slapped onto a low floor, if low floor is so superior you'd think they wouldn't have to modify it?

They should've just done high floor without trying to be so progressive like were running a train line through a dense European capital walking street.

 

[whatchyyc]

It's not so superior just not that big of a deal, people are acting like it's the end of the world. I'm genuinely curious what your deal breaker problem is with low floor that isn't just "it looks too much like a tram"
A real change would be the green line using wider and longer metro stock potentially with full automation and grade separation. Compared to that scenario low vs high LRT might as well be the same thing.

 

[trtcttc]

So your just listing attributes of a high floor LRV slapped onto a low floor, if low floor is so superior you'd think they wouldn't have to modify it?

They should've just done high floor without trying to be so progressive like were running a train line through a dense European capital walking street.

Low floor has the added advantage of smaller, cheaper stations. I agree low floor has some disadvantages, mainly around circulation, but it's not a deal breaker.

 

[Urban_Views]

New 2025 aerial imagery looks like they are prepping to divert the rail lines. Maybe the underpass work is starting soon.

Or is this the base for the Greenline station?