[FCC1982]

^I agree DL - the UCP has been trying to sabotage the Green Line since the beginning. Running on the surface on 7th with the Red & Blue lines is a non-starter, particularly after all the prep work downtown.

I thought coming out of the July 30th vote the Provincial money was secure and it was the Federal dollars that needed to be confirmed - apparently that has changed.

If they propose building a surface running line downtown and in the beltline I will explode

 

[Silence&Motion]

It is ridiculous that we cannot build infrastructure in this country unless three levels of government are able to remain in agreement across multiple election cycles. This is why Canadian cities have fallen so far behind cities in other countries in terms of infrastructure - particularly transportation. Hopefully the Ontario Government's "go it alone" approach will gain popularity. Hopefully Calgary's transportation woes won't have to get as bad as Toronto's before our provincial government finally acts.

 

[UrbanWarrior]

Yikes. I mean, I am glad it’s being put on hold, as this latest proposal for the line is essentially useless, but of course I am anxious for the thing to actually begin construction.

I am hoping that if this current iteration gets outright cancelled, they can come back with all of their already-complete detailed design work and actually propose something within the original scope (16th to Shepard) and get the money that’s *actually* needed for it. Adding McKenzie Towne as the southern terminus would make it a better business case as well, rather than it running through half its length and terminating in a population void. Request the 10 billion it’s likely going to take (for some reason?) and get friggin moving. We’re ready to go.

 

[Joborule]

With this pivot from the province, I would hope this would finally push city council (and maybe the province if they genuinely are interested in the Green Line getting built) to strongly revisit making NCLRT the first phase, so from day 1 it would have strong ridership to justify the capital costs in getting it built. North Pointe to Downtown/Ramsey area is a much stronger business case than Downtown to Sherpard, or even MacKenzie Towne. It should've been NC first, SE second from the jump.

 

[ahuch]

Yikes. I mean, I am glad it’s being put on hold, as this latest proposal for the line is essentially useless, but of course I am anxious for the thing to actually begin construction.

I am hoping that if this current iteration gets outright cancelled, they can come back with all of their already-complete detailed design work and actually propose something within the original scope (16th to Shepard) and get the money that’s *actually* needed for it. Adding McKenzie Towne as the southern terminus would make it a better business case as well, rather than it running through half its length and terminating in a population void. Request the 10 billion it’s likely going to take (for some reason?) and get friggin moving. We’re ready to go.

If we keep scrapping the project, who is going to bid on it? More delays are going to drive huge cost increase and drive away competitive bids. Do we have large consortiums here with hundreds of people potentially losing billables? Not sure I'd want to be the one letting all those folks go over bullshit politics right now.

 

[Albertasaurus]

With this pivot from the province, I would hope this would finally push city council (and maybe the province if they genuinely are interested in the Green Line getting built) to strongly revisit making NCLRT the first phase, so from day 1 it would have strong ridership to justify the capital costs in getting it built. North Pointe to Downtown/Ramsey area is a much stronger business case than Downtown to Sherpard, or even MacKenzie Towne. It should've been NC first, SE second from the jump.

Agreed. As infuriating as the Province's antics have been, and continue to be, if we can only fund a portion of the line let's try and get the portion that generates the most ridership going first. I'm a northsider, so I am biased, but the buses I see going into downtown on Centre St are always packed to the rafters.

 

[trtcttc]

Agreed. As infuriating as the Province's antics have been, and continue to be, if we can only fund a portion of the line let's try and get the portion that generates the most ridership going first. I'm a northsider, so I am biased, but the buses I see going into downtown on Centre St are always packed to the rafters.

I think the city has approached it as building the most costly section first, and then do the surface extensions North and South, which is how we built the Red and Blue line. However, I wonder with this government if it makes sense to build the cheaper, longer sections from the outskirts to the edge of downtown, then force the province to pay for the central section so they can build their "Grand Central Station" that they seem to want so much.

 

[Albertasaurus]

I think the city has approached it as building the most costly section first, and then do the surface extensions North and South, which is how we built the Red and Blue line. However, I wonder with this government if it makes sense to build the cheaper, longer sections from the outskirts to the edge of downtown, then force the province to pay for the central section so they can build their "Grand Central Station" that they seem to want so much.

I am of the same thought. They do seem obsessed with their "grand central" idea and maybe The City should indulge them. I also think we should be pushing for more specifics and funding details around their train station idea. Unfortunately, they do hold all the cards, there isn't an election for another 2 1/2 years and even then there's no guarantee of a change of government.

 

[YYCguy]

What an absolute disaster this has become. I was not happy with the “Stub Line” proposal at all. Literally a line to nowhere. While I’m not a fan of the Province having battled the City almost from Day One of this project, with the latest proposal, it was time for the Province to say “enough is enough”. What I am having trouble imagining is the alternate route that the Minister has in mind. Was there a similar alignment that was initially on the table for consideration when alignments were being considered many years ago?

 

[darwink]

Wonder what happens now, is the line dead? If the UCP wants so much input, they can pay for it like how Ford is paying for the Ontario line overruns

Province rejects revised Green Line plan, says funding to be withheld

In a scathing letter, Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen slams Calgary's Green Line plan, saying funding for it to be withheld.

calgaryherald.com

The city should let the province be the delivery agency and if the city has been smart the provincial project will be even worse.

In any case. By the time the review is done could have a new Premier.

 

[DougB]

What a complete and total farce this has become.

It was always a farce. The project was doomed out of the gate when City Council mused about building the entire north the south line and boring tunnels under the river for the original $4.5B budget. Council was either incredibly naive or intentionally misleading. If it was the later, it should have expected complete cancellation as a possible outcome. This project reeks of intentionally building a white elephant to force the Province to provide more funding to rescue the original project. Too bad much of the 2015-2017 Council is no longer around to experience the ire.

Maybe the Province would be willing to use the $1.5B to fund low risk extensions of the Red and Blue lines.

 

[YYCguy]

The city should let the province be the delivery agency and if the city has been smart the provincial project will be even worse.

In any case. By the time the review is done could have a new Premier.

How long could this review take? Are we talking months, or years?

 

[UrbanWarrior]

With this pivot from the province, I would hope this would finally push city council (and maybe the province if they genuinely are interested in the Green Line getting built) to strongly revisit making NCLRT the first phase, so from day 1 it would have strong ridership to justify the capital costs in getting it built. North Pointe to Downtown/Ramsey area is a much stronger business case than Downtown to Sherpard, or even MacKenzie Towne. It should've been NC first, SE second from the jump.

Yeah I’ll agree with that, for sure. The issue there is that the maintenance and storage yard has to be in the industrial area, because that’s the only area with enough vacant land along the line.

 

[ahuch]

How long could this review take? Are we talking months, or years?

Based on the content of the news article, it's about reviewing alternative designs so I suspect we'd be talking years.

 

[UrbanWarrior]

If we keep scrapping the project, who is going to bid on it? More delays are going to drive huge cost increase and drive away competitive bids. Do we have large consortiums here with hundreds of people potentially losing billables? Not sure I'd want to be the one letting all those folks go over bullshit politics right now.

Okay that’s very fair. I wonder what the solution is then? Cause the proposal as is is pretty much a useless dumpster fire.