Green Line LRT board recommends cutting 6 stations from Phase 1 of project

The board overseeing Calgary's new Green Line LRT is recommending to cut six stations from Phase 1 of the megaproject, making it much shorter. 

The proposed new line would run from Eau Claire to Lynnwood/Millican instead of Eau Claire to Shepard, with a new maintenance and storage facility built at Highfield station. The board says the rest of the line would be built out when more funding becomes available. 

The board is also proposing that the Fourth Street S.E. station be moved to an above ground stop as opposed to a below ground station, and that the full buildout of the Centre Street underground station be deferred. 

The recommendation to scale back the first phase of the project came after a day of closed door meetings between members of the board, city council and administration.

Council members are expected to vote today on the recommendations.

The current budget for the project is $5.5 billion.