Mayor Jyoti Gondek Directs $65 Million for Calgary Green Line LRT Underground Utility Works

CALGARY — Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary City Council approved a $65 million municipal capital funding agreement on Monday, authorizing the Green Line LRT Project Board and City of Calgary Water Resources to execute critical advance deep utility relocations, high-voltage electrical duct bank construction, and pedestrian station plaza civil works along the 18-kilometer Phase 1 alignment between 4th Street SE in Downtown Calgary and Shepard in the southeast.

The advance construction contracts, awarded to local civil construction consortia, prepare high-density corridors along 11th Avenue, Ogden Road, and 52nd Street SE ahead of heavy rail track laying and passenger station construction.

Delivering the Largest Infrastructure Project in Calgary's History The Green Line LRT represents the single largest infrastructure investment in Calgary's history, connecting over 200,000 southeast residents to downtown, major healthcare facilities, and industrial employment hubs while removing an estimated 30,000 vehicle trips daily from congested roadways like Deerfoot Trail.

"The Green Line LRT is a transformative, multi-generational investment that will connect Calgarians across our city for decades to come," Mayor Jyoti Gondek said at Calgary City Hall. "By approving this $65 million allocation for advance utility relocations and station civil works, we are maintaining construction momentum, derisking major civil works, and ensuring that this vital transit project stays on schedule to deliver fast, reliable rapid transit for our growing city."

Advance Works Infrastructure Packages The $65 million allocation finances:

• High-Capacity Water and Sanitary Sewer Relocations: Moving 14 miles of century-old underground watermains and storm sewers away from future rail guideways.
• Electrical Substation Conduit Duct Banks: Constructing underground concrete conduits for ENMAX high-voltage power feeds supplying electric light rail vehicles.
• Ogden & Highfield Passenger Station Plazas: Engineering heated pedestrian transit plazas, kiss-and-ride loops, and secure bike parking hubs.

Transit rider federations, business improvement districts, and construction trade unions commended the municipal council action, emphasizing that advance utility work prevents costly delays during mainline track construction.