Let's begin with an update. The Green Line project as been mismanaged for a long time. I made suggestions 3 years ago to simplify the project, increase its effective impact, and reduce costs (https://www.mikelavalley.ca/post/the-green-line). These went unheeded and I hate to say I told you so but here we are today with project which has very much reduced benefit and rapidly increasing costs.
The map above illustrates the Blue Line train, the Red Line train, popular bus/BRT routes (in yellow), and the new proposed Green Line (notice how short it is). The green circle represents one of the fastest growing areas of the city, with some of the most populous neighborhoods of the over 200 in Calgary (Cranston for example). This area is expanding fast with new neighborhoods of affordably priced new homes, but is now left even further out of the city transit plan.
What I'm suggesting is drop the current Green Line plan. No new style special trains that don't run on the rest of the system, and no tunneling under down town. Instead, replace it with this:
Extend the existing Red Line east across the river into the green zone. This would require no tunnels, can use the same style of rail cars we have now, and ties nicely into downtown without any further construction.
Here is a closer look:
The suggestion includes four stations:
Lake Chaparral
Cranston
Auburn Bay/Mahogany
Hospital/YMCA
Not only is this deep southeast area growing, it is home to the South Health Campus hospital and the Seton YMCA, the largest in the world (shown on this map). In addition, a plan such as this could enhance regional transportation options as traffic and possible bus/shuttle services enter the city in the south from Okotoks, High River, and Diamond Valley. (The route shown in yellow) This could assist in moving traffic off of Deerfoot Trail moving north toward downtown.
It's simple, provides greater benefit to the city, and should cost less. It's a common sense solution but I fear that it's too late.
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