Recent public engagement on Calgary’s Blue Line extension shows strong support, but many respondents say the project scope is just too short.

The most recent What We Heard report for the northeast Calgary light rail transit expansion showed that nearly 90 per cent of 724 respondents were either very supportive or somewhat supportive of the project.

(Editor’s note: The survey respondents were largely from the area, and should not be considered generalized, cross-Calgary support.)

While support for the one-kilometre extension from the Saddletowne Station to 88 Avenue and 60 Street NE was strong, the report shows considerable feedback that it’s not long enough and doesn’t reach the population centres in northeast Calgary.

“I am very supportive of the Blue Line extension, but I don’t think the station should be at 88 Ave,” one respondent said, and was recorded in the report.

“It should instead be extended to Country Hills so that it can serve (a) majority of the NE population that live in Cityscape, Skyview, Redstone and Savanna.”

Other comments were similar.

“I am a bit disappointed that it’s only adding 1 km and a station after a long wait,” another respondent said.

“It should at least extend until Country Hills Blvd for a better connection for communities like Cornerstone, Redstone and Cityscape.”

According to the report, the Blue Line extension will serve the community of Savanna, provide more bus connections for the northeast and also be the launching point for a connection to the Calgary International Airport.

Danny Panday, leader of transit systems in Infrastructure Services, said that right now the Blue Line extension project is in 30 per cent detailed design stage. Panday said that would likely be complete sometime in Q4 of 2026.

“What that basically means is we look at stuff from when the last function was done in 2019-2020-ish,” he said.

“We’re progressing that now to the detailed design where we’re saying, ‘OK, let’s fix these elements.’”

Engagement incorporated into the new design

Panday said that they’ve already begun to review potential changes to the 88 Avenue design in response to some of the feedback they received from citizens.

He said the report breaks down some of the thematic areas that citizens provided commentary on.

“For example, one of them is the station amenities, where people have the desire for certain elements,” he said.

“Those comments, for example, are being incorporated into the station design elements.”

Comments covered pedestrian safety, crossing elements, safety gates, and heated shelters. They also talked about accessibility, signage in different languages and even toilets.

The one big concern for the site was parking. Of the 1,702 responses to the question of how citizens would access the new station, nearly 25 per cent said it would be through the Park and Ride.

Parking is something that Panday said might be difficult to accommodate. There’s limited space at the site for parking.

“It’s always our approach to try and get people to use the buses, take them to the station,” he said.

Overall, the report showed that quality bus connectivity and the potential impact to traffic outweighed concerns about keeping costs on the project low. Right now, the cost is estimated at roughly $160 million.

Safety and social disorder comments were common across all of the themes, with some respondents wanting turnstiles, better lighting, and visible security.

Further Blue Line extension is cash dependent

Panday said the first step is to get the project to 88 Avenue, largely so work can move ahead on an airport connection.  A further jump to Country Hills Blvd is in the 10-year capital plan, but entirely dependent on where the current and future councils want to deploy cash.

Panday said the consultant they’re working with now has a further extension within its scope of work, should funding become available. He said if that happens, they will just continue with preparations for that extension.

While a lot of the future Blue Line requires a funding commitment, Panday said this added 88 Avenue station will serve more Calgarians in the northeast and become an interim terminus station for many of the area’s bus routes.  The project page shows that the station will have 11,000 Calgarians living within 800 metres by 2048.

“Would we like to do more? Yes, of course,” he said.

“It all depends on funding.”

The province assisted with funds for the detailed design portion, but the project still requires construction funding – potentially in the City of Calgary’s next four-year capital budget.

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said he’s going to be pushing hard to make sure the construction funding is secured — along with higher priority for the Country Hills extension.

The area councillor said the 88 Avenue station was an important link to the northeast and to the airport.

“But if I’m a businessman and I want to do something to get return on investment, I’m going all the way to Country Hills, because that’s where the biggest catchment is: Cityscape, Skyview, Redstone, Cornerstone,” he said.

“That is in itself about 100,000 people in the next couple, three years. So, it’s a no-brainer that going 88 (Avenue) and then moving on to Country Hills as one project is critical.”

According to 2021 Statistics Canada federal census data, which is the latest available, northeast Calgary communities saw population growth of 95 per cent when compared with 2016. Since that data, Calgary has experienced a massive population boom, with some years seeing up to 100,000 new citizens arrive in the city.

Panday said the 88 Avenue project has a tentative construction start for 2028, though immediate funding from other orders of government could accelerate that to next year. The project has had some challenges reaching that stage in the past.

“But currently, the plan is to complete the design, have all the package and everything ready for a construction RFP targeting construction in the spring of (20)28,” he said.