Calgary’s Green Line business case is with the feds, and Alberta’s transportation minister is hoping for a quick answer so construction tenders can be issued.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen told media Friday that he’s been speaking with his federal counterpart about the Green Line, and he’s hoping the business case can be done by ministerial approval.

Minister Dreeshen was in Calgary to promote the province’s $8.5 billion in infrastructure funding, which includes several city projects, including the Blue Line extension, Green Line funding and ongoing cash for Deerfoot Trail upgrades.

The Green Line business case was forwarded to the federal government in mid-February with a funding envelope deadline at the end of March.  The City of Calgary approved the province’s proposed Green Line alignment changes late in 2024.

Now, they await federal government approval on the project changes.

“We’re hoping to get that final ministerial approval of the business case very soon,” Minister Dreeshen said.

“So, obviously, construction tenders can go out, and we can finally see construction on the Green Line as soon as possible.”

Dreeshen said that he’s still confident that they can begin construction on the project this year.

“Calgarians will finally see tracks getting laid on the Green Line since it was first promised back in 2015,” he said.

“Then we can see major construction on the Green Line happening this year, which I think a lot of Calgarians, from a lot of radio shows that I have done, are kind of in disbelief that the Green Line will ever be built.”

Dreeshen also noted that they are contributing to the Blue Line extension, and then beyond that they will work with the City of Calgary on the airport connector.

Ruhee Ismail-Teja with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce said the connection was an important one.

“One of the projects that will have a transformative impact is the connection of Calgary’s Blue Line LRT to the airport. Transit infrastructure is critical, connecting people to each other, to employment, to social services, to local businesses, and the case of the airport, to the world as a major economic hub,” she said.  

“Having direct transit links supports easier access for travelers, for employees, and it supports tourism, strengthens our role in global trade and investment.”

Pay on progress changes for the Green Line

Minister Dreeshen said they’re aware of the potential impact that US tariffs could have on infrastructure projects like the Green Line. He said one of the changes they’ve made in Budget 2025 is to “pay on progress.”

“With this change of pay on progress, we’re hoping that kind of incentivizes the construction to get underway as soon as possible,” he said.

He said that means they could put more money into projects if the construction happens sooner.

Minister Dreeshen said they are working with the construction industry to get a better handle on potential US imports for the Green Line construction.

“With the looming tariffs, and it’s seeming like it changes by the day or by the hour, that’s just something that we’ll have to address as it comes,” he said.

“But we are working closely with the construction industry to really have a good understanding of whatever, whatever new list of tariffs come, and how that affects our construction industry.”

The province has said that they won’t be adding any additional funding to this portion of the Green Line project. It is also the responsibility of the City of Calgary to cover any cost overruns on the $6.25 billion transportation project.

Despite being asked, Minister Dreeshen didn’t directly say if the province would be more flexible in handling some of the cost overruns if they were due to the unforeseen nature of tariffs.