Green Line LRT | ?m | ?s | Calgary Transit

[kora]

The difference is that in BC and Ontario the governments are swallowing the increased costs and going with the same project. Here in Calgary we cut back to stay within previous budgets

 

[darwink]

The difference is that in BC and Ontario the governments are swallowing the increased costs and going with the same project. Here in Calgary we cut back to stay within previous budgets

And it looks even worse as the original projections were ambitious and not based on even line drawings.

 

[badc0ffee]

Recently the Surrey-Langley Skytrain extension increased by 50% in cost ($4 to $6 billion). And the Ontario Line new subway in Toronto increased by 43% to $27.2 billion. The Green Line cost escalations are just part of a trend across Canada (and beyond?), not bad management.

Why not both?

The difference is that in BC and Ontario the governments are swallowing the increased costs and going with the same project. Here in Calgary we cut back to stay within previous budgets

I don't think this is true. We did cut back the line to the bare minimum, but we also increased the share the city is paying. Originally we had $4.5 billion set aside, $1.5 billion from each level of government. This new first phase is around $6 billion now.

Honestly the Surrey-Langley skytrain still seems like a good deal, all things considered.

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

So basically the TLDR is that the 2021 provincial review is what messed this entire project up?

 

[Ramsayite]

So basically the TLDR is that the 2021 provincial review is what messed this entire project up?

As was the intent by the UCP

 

[accord1999]

So basically the TLDR is that the 2021 provincial review is what messed this entire project up?

There's plenty of blame to go around, but I don't think the claim that the UCP review resulted in a 2-year delay holds up to scrutiny. Calgary Council only approved the new plan in June 2020, the UCP approved it in July 2021. But at that same time, the Green Line board was being setup and the new CEO didn't get hired until August 2021 (the previous managing director left in September 2020). I see no evidence that the Green Line was anywhere ready for construction in 2021 or 2022. As it was, even when the constructor was selected in April 2023, they requested another 16 months for design work.

If there's one big cause of the Green Line debacle, it's the overly optimistic estimate of the project cost in 2015 which led to massively inflated expectations, and caused the project to initially go with the most expensive options because there was plenty of money. And when costs started to escalate, it was always just one funding agreement away from getting back on track and leading the city to fall into the sunk cost trap.

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

The delays are unfortunate, but if it gives people time to reconsider the wisdom of a crosstown streetcar, it's likely worth it.

As predicted, Edmonton is already having problems with theirs..

 

[trtcttc]

Wonder what happens now, is the line dead? If the UCP wants so much input, they can pay for it like how Ford is paying for the Ontario line overruns

Province rejects revised Green Line plan, says funding to be withheld

In a scathing letter, Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen slams Calgary's Green Line plan, saying funding for it to be withheld.

calgaryherald.com

 

[outoftheice]

Exactly. In the GTA the province of Ontario calls the shots... but they also share the costs 50/50 with the Feds. If the UCP wants to wear the big boy pants they can open up their big boy wallet

 

[ahuch]

What a shitshow, the actual reasons stated are even worse.

He went on to say the province is willing to contract with an independent third party to supply the province and city with an alternative costed proposal to integrate the Green Line with the Red and Blue Lines running along downtown 7th Avenue and to a future Grand Central Station in the east end entertainment district, to be anchored by a new events centre.

 

[CBBarnett]

What a shitshow, the actual reasons stated are even worse.

This "independent third party" plan sounds an awful lot like the UCP party's resident engineer Steve Allan and his crew that have been ragging on the Green Line the past decade.

 

[outoftheice]

André Chabot has been a long time critic of Green Line on City Council and yet he absolutely nails the stupidity of the UCP's moves with his quotes in this article.

Minister’s letter says they won’t fund Calgary’s new Green Line

Calgary city councillors will review a letter from the province that was received Tuesday indicating that the Government of Alberta would no longer fund its portion of the $6.25 billion Green Line,…

livewirecalgary.com

 

[lemongrab]

I'm curious whether or not the feds would have approved this revised plan, too.

The reasoning on this is beyond stupid, but I'm slightly hopeful that maybe this will prompt a somewhat more sensible outcome. IMO it couldn't get much worse than the latest approved stub. Nothing would be slightly worse; the plan from the saggy balls guys would just be a different kind of stupid, but maybe, just maybe, back to the drawing board will get us better bang for our buck in the near/mid-term.

Not a fan of Chabot, but he was very measured and reasonable on this in the council meeting where they approved it.

 

[Mountain Man]

What a complete and total farce this has become.

 

[Roaring Flames]

At this point just shelve the project. Wait until a new provincial government is in place that will actually work with the city instead of fight them at every turn.