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Common questions about the Green Line LRT project

Is Green Line going ahead?


Yes! Phase 1 of the Green Line LRT, from Shepard to Eau Claire, is approved and moving forward. The project was reviewed, approved, and funded by the City of Calgary, Province of Alberta and the Federal Government in 2021.

When will construction start?


Construction is already underway with  projects in the Downtown, Beltline and Ogden – click the links below for details. Construction of stations, tracks and tunnels is expected to begin in 2024.

More on Green Line's construction and development:

Where will construction begin first?

The construction schedule will be determined through our Development Phase, which began in May 2023. During this time, we are working with our Development Partner, Bow Transit Connectors, to develop the project schedule, advance the design, and negotiate risks and price. Once the Project Agreement is signed in 2024, the schedule will be shared.

When will the Green Line LRT open?

Main construction of Phase 1, Shepard to Eau Claire, is on track to begin in 2024. Based on other projects of similar size and scale, it should take approximately five to six years to complete construction. The schedule will be confirmed during the Development Phase, prior to us signing the Project Agreement.

Why does construction take so long?

Phase 1 of the Green Line LRT is the largest infrastructure investment in our city’s history. This is a megaproject and requires the construction of stations, tracks, a tunnel under downtown Calgary, multiple bridges and elevated guideways, a maintenance and storage facility for Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), Park and Ride facilities and much more.

It is helpful to compare the scale and timeline to other LRT projects in Calgary:

  • The first leg of Calgary’s LRT system spanned 12.5 km from Anderson to Downtown with 16 stations and took four years to construct.
  • The West LRT expansion from Downtown to 69 Street Station included 8.2 km of track, six stations, and took three years to construct.

Who is building the Green Line?

Bow Transit Connectors (BTC) was announced as Green Line’s Development Partner in May 2023.  BTC brings together Barnard Constructors of Canada, LP, Flatiron Constructors Canada Ltd, and WSP Canada Inc, along with their financial advisor EllisDon Capital Inc. Collectively they bring shared expertise in underground, above-ground structures, and LRT design and construction to deliver Phase 1 of the Green Line LRT Project.

During the Development Phase, BTC is advancing design while the project cost, schedule and risk allocation are negotiated, prior to signing the Project Agreement in 2024 and beginning main construction. Their teams will be supported with local contractors, suppliers, and trades.

Our early works program, currently underway, is being performed by PCL Construction, the third-party utilities (ENMAX, Telus, etc.) and Graham Construction. 

When will the north extension (16 Avenue to 160 Avenue N) and south extension (Shepard to Seton) be built?


The full 46km vision for Green Line extends from Seton to 160 Avenue N. As funding becomes available, City Council will make the determination on north and south extensions. 

Stations from south to north include:

  • Seton
  • Hospital
  • Auburn Bay/Mahogany
  • McKenzie Towne
  • Prestwick
  • Shepard
  • Douglas Glen
  • Quarry Park
  • South Hill
  • Ogden
  • Lynnwood/Millican
  • Highfield
  • 26 Avenue S.E.
  • Ramsay/Inglewood
  • 4 Street S.E.
  • Centre Street S.
  • 7 Avenue S.W.
  • Eau Claire
  • 9 Avenue N.
  • 16 Avenue N.
  • 28 Avenue N.
  • 40 Avenue N.
  • McKnight Boulevard
  • 64 Avenue N.
  • Beddington
  • 96 Avenue N.
  • North Pointe
  • 144 Avenue N.
  • 160 Avenue N.

More on Green Line's future plans:

Will Green Line connect to the airport?

There are plans for an Airport Transit Connector that would connect both the Green Line and Blue Line to the airport. Visit our Future Stages page for more information.

In July 2023, the City of Calgary announced that a study will be conducted to identify the optimal rail connection and alignment between downtown Calgary and the airport. The study will also include a ridership review, and development and evaluation of different alignment scenarios. For more information, visit the Airport Transit Study page.

Will the Green Line cross the Bow River via bridge or tunnel?

In 2020, City Council approved the alignment for Stage 1, from Shepard to 16 Avenue N., which includes a bridge over the Bow River, connecting the Eau Claire station to Crescent Heights. This work will be advanced once Phase 2, from Eau Claire to 16 Avenue N is approved by the Green Line Board. More information about the preliminary planning and design of the Bow River Bridge is here.

How are you supporting businesses during Green Line construction?


Green Line has developed a Business Support Program with a team on-the-ground to keep businesses informed and help them prepare for the impacts of nearby construction. The best way business owners can connect with us and stay informed is to register your business with us.

Some examples of how we support businesses include:

  • Direct communication to provide updates on construction and planned disruptions.
  • Ensuring safe access to businesses is maintained as regularly as possible, throughout construction.
  • Developing specific initiatives to promote and encourage Calgarians to support businesses, including coordinating with other City programs such as the Seasonal Public Patio program and developing Green Line wayfinding, detour and “businesses open during construction” signage.
  • Featuring local businesses on our social media channels and website.
  • Meeting regularly with our Business Insights Panel to understand current challenges and concerns, and to share plans and ideas in support of businesses.
  • Encouraging our staff, contractors and the public to support local businesses – for example, our Ogden Local Business Guide

What's being done to ensure Green Line will be a safe transit system?


Building safe transit infrastructure and providing safe Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) are our top priorities. Visit these pages for more information on the safety features of our stations and vehicles:

Once Green Line is open it will be operated by Calgary Transit. The City of Calgary is committed to improving safety and security on Calgary’s transit system. The Transit Public Safety page outlines steps being taken to improve transit safety and weekly snapshots of transit safety incidents.

The City is focused on increasing staff, including Peace Officers, outreach teams and security guards, and making improvements to station lighting and surveillance. In May 2023,  they also released a report on the potential of implementing a “closed system.” 

More on Green Line's LRVs:

Why did the Green Line choose a low-floor Light Rail Vehicle (LRV)?

Low-floor LRVs are now the preferred choice for new LRT systems across North America because they offer improved accessibility, enhanced vehicle and pedestrian safety, and the ability to integrate seamlessly into existing urban transportation networks.  

With low-floor LRVs, train stations at street-level don’t need long ramps, stairs, or large platform structures. The low platforms are curb height (33 cm compared to 98 cm for high-floor trains), which allow for simpler station designs, resulting in cost savings when building the stations.

Can the Green Line LRVs share tracks with the Red and Blue lines?

The Urbos 100 low-floor LRVs for Green Line are intended to operate exclusively on this line. Due to their low-floor design, they will not be compatible with the existing transit infrastructure on the Red and Blue Lines as station platforms are too high. There are also fundamental differences with the existing electrical network that would prevent the Green Line LRVs from running on the Red and Blue Lines.

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