(Dreamstime)

By Jayson Taylor

Improving Calgary Transit

City of Calgary, province moving closer toward downtown train connection to airport

Jul 10, 2023 | 2:02 PM

The Government of Alberta released a statement on Monday saying that the government was partnering with the City of Calgary to study optimal rail alignment between downtown Calgary and Calgary International Airport.

The government says that the partnership will help ensure that the province is on track to deliver on a future of world-class transportation infrastructure. The government says that a new rail line will connect more people to Calgary’s downtown centre and revolutionize Alberta’s infrastructure for business and tourism.

The Calgary Airport Rail Connection Study will include a ridership review, development and evaluation of different alignment scenarios and will identify the best connection from Calgary International Airport to downtown.

“As Calgary continues to grow, it’s vital to have a road map to build out a transit network that increases capacity and supports transportation needs now and into the future. This project is an important step forward in providing direction on affordable transit infrastructure that will best serve Calgary while respecting taxpayer investment,” Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen said in a statement Monday.

As part of the 2023 budge, t$3 million in funding was allocated to the City of Calgary to lead the study. An engineering consultant will be recruited to assist with technical study, which will include engagement with Canada Infrastructure Bank, Calgary International Airport, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and various private rail developers who are developing plans to connect downtown with the airport and the surrounding region.

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“It’s important for us to take a comprehensive look at all factors in this technically and physically constrained corridor to establish an optimal functional alignment that will best serve Calgarians, visitors, and employees of the airport and surrounding lands. The study will consider existing rail plans, past City of Calgary transit studies, and other opportunities to help guide future transit planning,” general manager of infrastructure services Michael Thompson said on Monday.

A request for proposals is currently in the market for an engineering consultant to assist with the study and once selected, the study is expected to begin in October 2023 and conclude by August 2024.

Recommendations from the study will be provided to the city council to help guide the city’s short and long-term transportation and land-use planning.

Full details can be found here.