CALGARY – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a lack of “political oversight” undermined Calgary’s Green Line light rail transit project.
Smith says the experience has made clear that when billion-dollar decisions are being made, all funding partners need to be included.
Earlier this week, Calgary city council voted to stop construction on the $6.2-billion Green Line after the province decided to not follow through with previously committed funding.
The province pulled the funding citing concerns the project was not serving enough commuters.
City officials say stopping construction will cost the city at least $2.1 billion while delaying it pending a new design would have cost $30 million per month.
Smith says the province has hired a firm to develop new alignments for the project and expects to receive those ideas in December.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.