North Calgary residents concerned Green Line dropping down priorities list
Posted Mar 6, 2019 9:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Residents living in the city’s far north are worried a major redevelopment that includes a new NHL arena could derail badly needed transportation projects such as the green line.
On Monday, council approved a plan that could see up to $1.5-billion go towards a new NHL arena, BMO Centre expansion, Arts Commons and a field house.
READ MORE: Council approves plan on new events centre
Some councillors fear the decision would ‘kneecap’ future council’s ability to spend money.
And that has some wondering what it means for the LRT Green Line.
Northern Hills Community Association VP David Hartman has been a strong advocate of extending rail to the far north.
He fears the project is falling down the priority list.
“All the numbers support the north leg being done,” Hartwick said. “(For) 50-years this north leg of LRT has been on the city’s books. How long has the arena or the field house or the convention centre been on the books.”
The line was originally funded to extend from 126 Ave. S.E. to to Panorama Hills in the N.E. Council eventually approved a plan that will see the first phase stop at Centre Street North and 16 Ave.
“We know that Centre Street is already at capacity with transit,” Hartwick said. “You can’t get onto a 301 (BRT) and there’s no more space to accommodate more. We desperately need the train coming up here.”
READ MORE: City and province sign agreement guaranteeing green line funding
Hartwick added it’s not the first time communities in that area have been overlooked by various levels of government.
“It’s frustrating to us that north-central Calgary continues to get pushed onto the back burner,” Hartwick said. “There’s always something more important than the people in north-central Calgary, and this just seems to continue for us.”
Work is supposed to begin on the Green Line in 2020, with the first phase slated for completion in 2026.
