No. H050/10
For release - May 7, 2010
CALGARY, ALBERTA — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre-North, the Honourable Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, and His Worship David Bronconnier, Mayor of Calgary, participated in a groundbreaking event today to celebrate the start of construction on nine Calgary Transit projects.
“The Government of Canada is investing in increased efficiency and expanded capacity of the transit system while creating jobs in Calgary,” said Minister Prentice. “This project is providing job opportunities for Albertans and building transit infrastructure that will promote long-term economic growth.”
“These nine projects will continue to foster the hard-working spirit we know and love in Calgary,” said Minister Denis. “When I first moved to Calgary, the LRT was not only a means of transportation for me, but the best way to get to know this city. Expanding the transit lines not only promotes economic growth but is also a way to help Calgarians meet their community and environmental goals.”
“The past 10 years have seen significant growth in transit ridership and have required investments in the city’s public transportation system. These improvements would not have been possible without strong partnerships among the City of Calgary, the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada. The developments currently underway are the direct result of continued cooperation and shared vision,” said Mayor Bronconnier.
The transit projects include new construction and rehabilitation of stations and related track work; increased capacity for transit station platforms to handle longer trains; electronic fare collection capability; a passenger information system; transit signal projects; and a bus rapid transit system for southeast Calgary.
This investment will provide community-wide benefits such as improving overall mobility; reducing congestion; ensuring that the region can accommodate future growth; and helping to reduce greenhouse gas and other air pollutant emissions.
The total cost of these projects is approximately $270 million. The Government of Canada is contributing up to one-third of the total eligible costs, to a maximum of $90 million through the Building Canada Fund and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Province of Alberta is also contributing up to $90 million toward the project, with the remaining funding coming from the City of Calgary.
The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund projects must be completed by March 2011, while the Building Canada Fund projects are expected to be complete by spring 2015.
The Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth in Alberta and across Canada. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides for almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years and accelerates the $33-billion Building Canada Plan, which will help address needs in communities across Canada and contribute to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit.
The Government of Alberta has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and ensuring that the province’s industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.
Rapid population growth has led to transit ridership outpacing the supply of new transit infrastructure. By enhancing the transit network, the city can expand on its strong public transit system and continue to encourage more Calgarians to reduce their use of private vehicles. To respond to demand and to meet the strategic goals of its transportation plan, the City of Calgary has identified improvements to the transit system. The funding partnerships entered into with the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta will ensure major infrastructure investments increase capacity and attract new riders; increase public safety, cleanliness and maintenance; enhance the reliability and competitiveness of transit service; enhance the overall transit customer experience by making the service more attractive; and support a sustainable and socially responsible travel option for all Calgarians.
A backgrounder with further information about the Calgary Transit projects is attached.
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Contacts:
Alyson Robb
Special Assistant, Communications
Minister’s Regional Office, Calgary
The Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of the Environment
403-292-5444
403-808-7550 (cell)
Donna Babchishin
Director, Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
Government of Alberta
780-415-4758
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Marc Henry
Chief of Staff to
Mayor Bronconnier
403-268-5622 (office)
marc.henry@calgary.ca (Blackberry)
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.
Overview
Public transit in Calgary has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. New LRT extensions, system improvements, additional LRT vehicles, Bus Rapid Transit services and station upgrades have all advanced Calgary’s transit system.
These improvements will allow the city to meet the growing transportation needs of Calgarians and create a vision of future success. The ability to implement this vision would not have been possible without strong partnerships among the City of Calgary, the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada.
Responding to Need
Rapid population growth has led to transit ridership outpacing the supply of new transit infrastructure. By enhancing the transit network, the city can expand on its strong public transit system and continue to encourage more Calgarians to reduce their use of private vehicles. To respond to demand and to meet the strategic goals of its transportation plan, the City of Calgary has identified improvements to the transit system, including:
- adding major infrastructure investment to increase capacity and attract new riders;
- increasing public safety, cleanliness and maintenance;
- improving infrastructure to enhance the reliability and competitiveness of transit service;
- enhancing the overall transit customer experience by making the service more attractive;
- maintaining or upgrading existing assets; and
- supporting a sustainable and socially responsible travel option for all Calgarians.
Vision Becomes Reality — 7th Avenue Refurbishment Project
The 7th Avenue Transit Corridor is located in the heart of downtown Calgary and spans from 3rd Street S.E. to 11th Street S.W. It has functioned for more than 30 years as the main corridor for all transit lines through the city. Meanwhile, 7th Avenue has become the most heavily used pedestrian area downtown, and the existing stations and sidewalks have reached the end of their lifespan with respect to size and capacity, functionality, appearance and ability to absorb further growth.
Inviting, Safe and Clean
Refurbishing the CTrain stations on 7th Avenue is an essential step towards accommodating ridership growth and introducing future four-car trains to Calgary’s LRT system.
The 7th Avenue Corridor upgrades will create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, with wider sidewalks integrated directly into each platform, improved lighting and enhanced streetscapes between stations.
To date, five stations have been completed: 1st Street S.W.; 7th Street S.W.; 6th Street S.W.; 8th Street S.W.; and 3rd Street S.W. 4th Street S.W. Station is underway and will be completed in early 2011.
The final phase of this project is beginning with the construction of two “gateway” stations on the east and west ends of downtown (City Hall and 11th Street S.W.). These twinned stations will have platforms on both sides of 7th Avenue directly across from one another.
The work on the 7th Avenue Transit Corridor is planned for the entire system, and implementation of this vision has benefited greatly from the support of the federal and provincial governments.
Partnerships Get Results
Both the federal and provincial governments have made long-term commitments to enhance Calgary’s transit infrastructure. Partnerships among governments led the McKnight-Westwinds Station in 2007 and Crowfoot Station in 2009. Likewise, the extensions currently underway in the northeast to Martindale and Saddle Ridge, in the northwest to Rocky Ridge / Tuscany and, the largest infrastructure project in Calgary’s history, the new West LRT line, would not have been possible without cooperation and a shared vision.
While LRT extensions are the largest of these projects, they are not the only elements that are important to the functioning of a modern, friendly and usable transit system. The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta are setting aside up to $90 million each to support a number of transit improvements identified as priorities in Calgary. These include:
- 7th Avenue refurbishment — four-car stations and track work;
- four-car LRT station platforms;
- 11th Street Station;
- Southeast BRT park and ride lots;
- LRT traction power upgrades;
- the Calgary Transit Advanced Passenger Information System;
- transit priority projects;
- electronic fare collection; and
- upgrades to the LRT CCTV security system.
The total cost of these projects is approximately $270 million. Each level of government will invest up to one-third, or $90 million. Many of these projects are underway and expected to be complete by 2014.
Project Descriptions
The following provides a description of each project and of partnership contributions.
7th Avenue Refurbishment — Four-car Stations and Track Work — $80 million
Refurbish downtown station platforms to accommodate future four-car trains, improve sidewalk access and overall pedestrian environment, and upgrade track work along the 7th Avenue downtown transit corridor.
Four-car LRT Station Platforms — $60 million
To increase CTrain capacity, suburban station platforms will be lengthened to accommodate future four-car trains along the south and northwest LRT. The scope involves station upgrading in the south at Fish Creek, Canyon Meadows, Anderson, Southland, Heritage, Chinook,39th Avenue, Erlton and Stampede, and along the northwest at Brentwood, University, Banff Trail, Lions Park, SAIT and Sunnyside.
11th Street Station — $30 million
Extension of the downtown 7th Avenue operation for West LRT and construction of the four-car 11th Street West Station.
Southeast BRT Park and Ride Lots — $30 million
Introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to southeast Calgary. This project includes two park and ride lots (1,000 stalls total) in the communities of Douglas Glenn and Mackenzie Towne, new bus zones, bus zone upgrades, larger bus shelters and transit priority at most signalized intersections.
LRT Traction Power Upgrades — $30 million
Upgraded electrical substations, overhead wiring and associated facilities are required to accommodate four-car trains and conduct lifecycle maintenance.
Calgary Transit Advanced Passenger Information System — $17 million
Provide real-time arrival information to CTrain and bus customers through the use of information technology systems. New technology will provide information on transfers and boarding time alerts to customers.
Transit Priority Projects — $10 million
Implement signal priority and build transit lanes to improve bus and train travel time and reduce delays to support a “primary transit” network.
Electronic Fare Collection — $7 million
Invest in electronic fare payment media, such as smart cards, to provide transit customers with more flexible payment options.
Upgrade LRT CCTV Security System — $6 million
Upgrade the LRT surveillance cameras and associated monitoring systems to improve customer safety and security.
May 2010