Edmonton Transit announcement a good omen for Calgary
Posted Mar 11, 2014 5:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary’s mayor is excited about a new transit line funding announcement in Edmonton.
Naheed Nenshi said similar commitments could be coming to Calgary in the future.
He said interest-free loans are the first thing that caught his eye and if Calgary could get in on that commitment, it wouldn’t have to touch property taxes to fund projects.
He said the city already had a call from the province this week.
“We did get a call late yesterday, from the minister’s office, suggesting that this announcement was coming and that the minister of Municipal Affairs would be very happy to have similar conversations with Calgary at the time that we’re ready for them. I’m looking forward to having those discussion,” he said.
Nenshi said, now that they have a timeline to apply for Build Canada Funding, it is good news for everyone, and means they can get the shovels ready for Calgary projects.
The province is committing up to $600 million to extend Edmonton’s light rapid transit line.
Premier Alison Redford says with a million newcomers expected to move there in the coming years, it is important to fund the transit line, which will link up the city’s southeast.
She says the province will provide 250 million in grants and up to 150 million in funding contingent on matching money from the federal government, and there will be an interest-free loan to the city for 200 million.
