The Green Line Will Open the City for Southeast Calgarians 

Source: City of Calgary

I am one of the 24,085 young professionals building our future in the southeast of Calgary. It is no surprise that the southeast is one of the fastest-growing areas of the city. With beautiful communities, extensive pathways and shopping close at hand the quadrant has become a place to build a future. However, to build a future that is accessible to all residents the Green Line project must go forward.

I often tell my friends that I am “leaving the city” at the end of the workday and it is a common theme among my neighbours. Once you get to the southeast you don’t “head back into the city”. This separation is driven by the reliance on personal vehicles and the utter lack of reliable and fast transit in this quadrant. The lack of options forces a round of mental math at every invitation. Will the three drinks with friends be worth the $120 in round trip cab fare?

The proposal for the Green Line currently put forward opens up the city to the residents of the southeast. Connecting the communities south of Glenmore to the inner city allows residents to engage with world-class amenities in the city center. From the Central Library and Prince's Island Park to the restaurants, clubs and concerts that make Calgary the 5th livable city in the world.

Calgary Transit network map showing the full build out of the Green Line (Source: City of Calgary) 

Personally the largest impact of the Green Line is the ability to plan for a future in the community I love without foregoing the culture and amenities of the inner city. The Green Line will instantly become one of the backbones of our livable city, moving 65,000 people per day from the suburbs into the city. 

The Green Line provides the choice for young families to build in quiet communities while continuing to work downtown and provides the opportunity to drastically reduce individual emissions from personal transportation. It is these benefits that make the Green Line necessary to attract and retain young families in the South East. Without reliable transit connecting the quadrant, young professionals will have to decide if the environmental impact, lack of cultural amenities, and isolation are worth a newly built backyard.

Green Line updated Stage 1 alignment. (Source: City of Calgary)

Stage one is the right step towards the full vision, connecting two of Calgary’s most underserved areas. Connecting from Seton in the south to 16th ave in the north sets the stage for this city shaping project. Crossing the Bow River is crucial in allowing for the easy expansion of the network over the coming years. Calgary has already shown the success in setting the stage for incremental expansion with both the South West and North East segments built out over time.

Crossing the Bow River is crucial in allowing for the easy expansion of the network over the coming years.

The planning and debate surrounding the north-central and southeast LRT routes that make up the Green Line have been going on for decades. Throughout this time one fact has remained the same, building LRT connectivity throughout the city is key to the growth and resilience of Calgary.

About the author

Jorden Dye is the Program Administrator for the Insititute for Environmental Sustainability at Mount Royal University. A graduate of MRU with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Jorden has focused on the implementation of sustainable strategy in business. Passionate about local transit and urban development, Jorden is engaged in various projects around the city focused on developing a more sustainable future for Calgary. 

For more info on the Green Line visit the City of Calgary's Green Line engagement page>>.