Calgary councillors press to revive Green Line LRT downtown tunnel as southeast work advances
Calgary councillors explore reviving the Green Line LRT downtown tunnel rejected by Alberta as southeast construction continues to Event Centre, Shepard.
The future of the Green Line LRT downtown alignment has returned to City Hall politics, with municipal politicians seeking options to resurrect a deep-tunnel plan previously set aside by the provincial government. Construction crews, meanwhile, are continuing work on the southeast segment between the future Event Centre/Grand Central area and the terminus at Shepard. (engage.calgary.ca)
City councillors reopen debate over tunnel option
A group of councillors and municipal officials are examining whether the deep-bore tunnel through Calgary’s core — once the preferred city alignment — can be reconsidered through new funding strategies or phased partnerships. The move comes after months of public debate and council direction to revisit downtown planning and seek alternatives to an elevated alignment. (livewirecalgary.com)
Proponents argue a tunnel would preserve downtown streetscape and long-term capacity, while opponents point to higher near-term costs and engineering complexity. Council discussions have emphasized exploring federal, provincial and private contributions should a renewed tunnel case be advanced.
Province reiterates preference for elevated downtown route
Alberta officials have maintained a preference for an elevated alignment through the Beltline and downtown, citing cost and delivery risks associated with an extended tunnel. The province’s stance led to withdrawal of funding for the previous deep-tunnel proposal and ultimately shaped the city’s revised downtown planning last year. (engage.calgary.ca)
Municipal leaders say any effort to revive the tunnel will require detailed financial models and clear commitments from all funding partners, since provincial approval remains central to any change in the downtown design.
Southeast construction progressing between Event Centre and Shepard
Work on the southeast segment of the Green Line LRT is underway and advancing across multiple construction sites as crews relocate utilities, build stations and prepare trackbed alignments. The SE Segment, which will run from Shepard to the future Event Centre/Grand Central Station, is the first phase currently under construction. (calgary.ca)
Project teams report active bridge and earthworks, with localized road impacts and staged closures in areas such as Victoria Park and the Beltline as part of the enabling works. City project pages say the southeast work aims to create the dedicated corridor that will eventually link into the downtown segment.
Costs, prior studies and the funding picture
The Green Line remains one of Calgary’s largest infrastructure projects, funded jointly by the city, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada. Funding shares and the overall budget have shaped discussions about alignment choices and phasing for the downtown segment. (globalnews.ca)
Officials have also pointed to millions already spent on assessing a downtown tunnel, with city briefings indicating significant investigation and study costs to date. Those historical expenditures are being cited in council debates as evidence both of the tunnel’s feasibility and of the fiscal questions any revival would need to answer. (globalnews.ca)
Timeline, next steps and decision points
City staff have outlined a process of further functional planning, stakeholder engagement and cost-estimating before any formal change to the downtown alignment can be adopted. Municipal reports suggest the functional plan and supporting studies will guide decisions later this year and into 2027 about whether to proceed with an underground approach or finalize an elevated alignment. (livewirecalgary.com)
Councillors have signalled that any decision will weigh construction disruption, long-term capacity, lifecycle costs and the availability of provincial or federal contributions. Meanwhile, southeast construction will continue on its current schedule, keeping the broader project’s momentum moving forward.
Public and business groups in affected corridors have been asked to provide feedback as city staff refine technical options and cost estimates. Officials have scheduled further briefings to outline the financial scenarios and potential timelines for downtown works.
The Green Line LRT remains a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year undertaking whose downtown alignment will shape Calgary’s transit network for decades. As southeast construction progresses on the ground, the political and fiscal debate over a downtown tunnel is likely to persist until funding partners and council reach a clear decision about the city’s preferred path forward.
