Green Line LRT Project Update

Reminder - Get a sneak peek of updated plans for segment 2 projects at an upcoming virtual event

Since October 2020, we’ve hosted virtual public engagement on key project areas in segment 2 of the Green Line LRT project, including Planning in Crescent Heights, Bow River LRT bridge and the North Central Mobility & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Studies.

The feedback we received from you during the first two phases of engagement was used by the project teams to help shape and refine functional plans for each of these project areas. Now, during the final “Inform” phase of engagement from April 15 to 22, 2021, we’ll be giving you the first look at the plans and recommendations that will be presented to the Green Line Committee this spring.

There's still time to register for a virtual presentation or drop-in session

From April 15– 22, 2021, join us at a virtual presentation to learn more about updated project plans & recommendations and connect with members of the Green Line team.

For accessibility assistance with engagement participation, please call 311. For TTY services: 403-268-4TTY

Information session details

1. Downtown/Beltline (segment 2A functional planning) 

Learn about updates to the functional plan, including recommendations for the Green Line LRT tunnel alignment from the Elbow River to the 2 Avenue S.W. station. Updated concepts and recommendations will be presented.

• Thursday, April 15, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – Sign up here

• Session will include a presentation and opportunity to ask questions

2. Planning in Crescent Heights 
Learn about the updated Streetscape Master Plan for Centre Street North as well as final recommendations from the Crescent Heights Mobility Study. Updated plans and visual renderings will be shown.

• Monday, April 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – Sign up here

• Session will include a presentation and opportunity to ask questions

3. Bow River LRT bridge 

Learn about progress on the Bow River LRT bridge and area pathways, as the project team presents refined plans. Information regarding how the bridge will integrate into the Eau Claire area will also be presented at this session.

• Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – Sign up here

• Session will include a presentation and opportunity to ask questions

4. North Central Mobility & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Studies 

Learn about final recommendations for mobility and BRT improvements in north central Calgary. Updated plans will be presented.

• Wednesday, April 21, 6 – 7:15 p.m. – Sign up here

• Session will include a presentation and opportunity to ask questions

Drop-in session details

Connect with members of the Green Line project team to learn about updated plans and ask questions. These are identical drop-in events with no formal schedule, participants may join at any time during the session.

• Friday, April 16, 2021, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Sign up here

• Thursday, April 22, 2021, 6 – 8 p.m. – Sign up here

• No formal presentation; join at any time to ask questions

9 PM Routine Safety/Security Checklist

Have you started your 9 pm Routine? 

Vehicle theft and car prowling prevention:

• Garage openers should not be left in vehicles, or should be disengaged, as thieves can use them to gain entry into a home.

• Avoid parking in unlit areas at night

• Lock your doors and close all windows at all times, even while you are in your yard.

• Hide your valuables out of sight, or better yet, take them with you.

• Don’t keep extra keys in your vehicle.

• If you park your vehicle in a parkade, be sure that you do not let anyone else in who doesn’t belong when you are entering and exiting.

• Report any suspicious activity or behaviour, such as someone trying door handles on parked vehicles.

Home and garage break-in prevention:

• Offenders will often break into a residence as a way to steal a vehicle parked outside the residence. When you’re at home, store your vehicle keys away from the entrance to your house.

• Consider installing home and vehicle alarm systems and vehicle anti-theft devices.

• Ensure that all doors and windows are secured at all times, even when you’re home. Culprits need mere moments to commit a theft or break in. If you do open any windows or doors, make sure you only open them for rooms that someone is present in.

• Report any suspicious people or activity in your community by calling 403-266-1234 or 9-1-1 if there is a crime in progress.

Our letter to city councillor Sean Chu regarding Green Line LRT Project

Support For The Green Line Stage One Plan

Mayor and Councillors,

We, the Board of Directors of the Highland Park Community Association, would like to voice our support for the Green Line Stage One plan. This plan is the first step to address the mobility and community development needs for Highland Park and North Central Calgary.

Our residents, our seniors, our students, and our workers need the reliable, far-ranging transportation that only a well-connected train can bring. High-quality transit is a critical component to the equitable, sustainable, environmentally responsible community we cherish in Highland Park.

Highland Park has watched for years as Centre Street has fallen into decline and become overwhelmed by vehicular traffic. The Green Line and its high-capacity, accessible and dependable trains will take vehicles off Centre Street and provide true mobility choice for our residents.

We understand that BRT and bus service alone will not keep pace with growth in North Calgary. Even today Highland Park residents experience firsthand the frustration of full buses, or buses that drive by, or those that don’t arrive at all. We need the capacity and reliability that only the Green Line will provide.

We need a well-connected train running downtown and beyond to get to the services and destinations we depend upon in our day-to-day lives. Stage One does not deliver this to us just yet, however, we know it will cement the commitment to our train by crossing the Bow River now. This critical bridge must be built while billions in provincial and federal funds are available. In these uncertain times, to delay the Bow River bridge means we may lose it, and our train, possibly forever.

Highland Park recently participated in the North Hill Growth Plan. This plan builds on a long-term vision for all of Calgary that encourages walkable, liveable, complete communities. We believe in this vision. A key support for the North Hill plan and this vision are the Green Line stations along Centre Street and in

particular the TOD site at 40th Avenue. Without the Green Line, we fear this long-overdue blueprint for North Central communities like Highland Park will be hobbled.

We understand a group of councillors have proposed a kind of lower-cost, undefined BRT option to deliver transit to the far north. We are not in favour of this alternative, for the following reasons:

1. Centre Street is already the most active bus corridor in the city. More buses will not address long-term capacity needs. Significant investment in this new BRT will be lost as the line inevitably will need to be replaced by an LRT.

2. Building transit infrastructure on Centre Street will be disruptive. We do not want to see our businesses disrupted twice – once to build a BRT, only to rebuild it later with an LRT.

3. We have no assurances that anticipated savings by removing the Bow River bridge will be applied to this new BRT. We may end up with no bridge, and no new BRT.

4. The Green Line plan is ready to go. This BRT idea is not. Highland Park residents have contributed to Green Line charrettes, Mainstreet workshops, North Hill Plan sessions and more, for years and years. It is time the city made clear its commitment and its contribution to our community now.

Finally, we would like to add that Highland Park residents along with thousands and thousands of Calgarians have willingly participated and contributed countless hours in many, many Green Line engagement sessions and workshops, as well as online. The result of our contributions is before you. We hope that council will not disrespect these citizen contributions by giving undue consideration to a small group of well-funded Calgarians with a particular agenda. We participated in the Green Line consultation process in good faith, and we trust council will do the same.

We live in extraordinary times. Calgary faces uncertainty. But Highland Park is a community that believes in Calgary and believes in our future. We ask that you demonstrate your belief in our future and approve, unamended, the Stage One Green Line plan.

Thank you,
Highland Park Community Association Board of Directors