Alberta government's Green Line report raises feasibility questions: Gondek

A report on the Alberta government's proposed alignment for Calgary's Green Line light-rail transit project raises questions about the feasibility of an above-ground track, says Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

A report on the Alberta government's proposed alignment for Calgary's Green Line light-rail transit project raises questions about the feasibility of an above-ground track, says Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

The government-commissioned report, partially released Wednesday after initially being kept confidential by Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen over concerns about bidding integrity, says noise concerns, ease of construction and impact to existing properties need to be studied further if the city moves forward.

The report, produced by engineering firm AECOM, also notes that a "structural analysis" and a "detailed constructability review" were not completed as part of the undertaking.

"This omission raises serious questions about the feasibility of constructing an elevated Green Line through Calgary’s downtown core," reads a joint statement from Gondek and city councillors Andre Chabot and Peter Demong on Thursday.

"Additionally, the report indicates that the potential noise impact and the effects of an above-ground train through our downtown have only been superficially considered."

The province commissioned the report in September after it pulled its $1.53-billion funding commitment over cost and because the existing plan involved having trains tunnel through downtown.

When Dreeshen announced the new alignment Friday, he said it would have the same price tag as the city's existing plan, but city administration said Tuesday that the new alignment would carry with it an additional $1.3 billion in costs.