Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek believes its potential metropolis council might decide on the way forward for the Inexperienced Line LRT venture later this month.
It follows a Monday assembly of the joint working group between the Metropolis of Calgary and Authorities of Alberta on the Inexperienced Line, by which the mayor described as “extremely productive.”
“Once I can share any of the main points we’re working by means of I’ll undoubtedly try this,” Gondek advised reporters. “For now, we stay engaged with working group members and we’re looking for a optimistic technique to ship a north south transit line to our metropolis.”
Gondek mentioned a call from metropolis council on whether or not to maneuver forward with the province’s revised alignment by the top of the month is “completely potential,” however relies on the suggestions which can be introduced ahead from metropolis administration.
A choice by the top of January is one thing Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen had known as for when the province’s desired alignment for the Inexperienced Line was launched late final yr.
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The revised alignment proposes an elevated monitor above 10 Avenue S.E., which might journey west then flip north up 2 Road S.W. and cease above the Purple and Blue LRT strains on 7 Avenue, as an alternative of tunnelling beneath the downtown core.
The province claimed the transfer would save $1 billion from the price range, which might enable the LRT line to increase additional south to Shepard.
However the metropolis has mentioned the province’s figures fail to include $1.3 billion in recognized prices and dangers.
Based on Gondek, this week’s working group assembly offered “just a little little bit of readability.”
“Among the questions we posed on the finish of final yr have been answered by means of that working group assembly and thru the liaison between each administrations,” Gondek mentioned Tuesday. “We’re working very properly collectively to attempt to provide you with an answer.”
Nonetheless, consultants say time is of the essence for a call because the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the mechanism by which the federal authorities is funding its portion of the venture, is coming to an finish of March 31.
“If this dialog carries on past March, it might be right into a dialog across the Canada Public Transit Fund, and people funds don’t begin rolling till 2026, and we have now an election,” mentioned David Cooper, principal at Main Mobility. “We have to work out what the scope of this venture is earlier than the top of March.”
Gondek mentioned Dreeshen has been in dialog with the federal authorities, and confirmed a brand new enterprise case would should be submitted to the federal authorities that displays the brand new alignment.
“I might think about our administrations are already piecing collectively what must be in such a enterprise case so I believe we’ll be in fine condition,” Gondek mentioned.
The mayor additionally famous the prorogation of Parliament isn’t anticipated to have as a lot of an affect on the method, because the treasury board continues to fulfill and cupboard ministers are working, however the timeline stays tight.
Final September, council voted to wind down the venture after the province introduced it was pulling its funding, as a consequence of council shortening the primary part of the road over value overruns.
The venture’s price range was expanded to $6.2 billion.
After negotiations with the province, a number of contracts could be preserved and design work would proceed on the at-grade part of the Inexperienced Line between Victoria Park and Shepard.
Late Tuesday night, Calgary metropolis council obtained a confidential briefing on the newest working group assembly, however didn’t publicly disclose any data.
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