Transit
Barnard-Flatiron-WSP Team Picked for Calgary Light Rail Development
Plans for the Calgary Green Line light rail route include several bridges and a tunneled section.
Rendering courtesy of City of Calgary
The board leading the Green Line light rail project in Calgary, Alberta, has picked Bow Transit Connectors as its development partner for the 11-mile-long Phase 1.
BTC is a joint venture of Barnard Constructors of Canada LP, Flatiron Constructors Canada Ltd. and WSP Canada Inc. with financial advisors EllisDon Capital Inc. The contractor is working with the Green Line Board on the 16-month development phase for the progressive design-build-finance project, which is set to include design and work on project costs, risk balance and a construction schedule. Local officials then plan to execute a separate project agreement with the contractor for construction.
The governments of Calgary, Alberta and Canada have together committed the equivalent of about $4 billion for the project, which local officials say is the city’s longest light rail project and its largest-ever infrastructure investment.
Phase 1 of the Green Line project is planned to include construction of 13 passenger stations along the 11-mile dual light rail track. The plans call for more than 1 mile of underground tunneling, nine bridges and a 72-acre maintenance and storage facility.
Construction is scheduled to start next year.
Ken Tanner, vice president of Flatiron’s Canada operations, said in a statement that the project would “significantly improve the mobility of the local communities by delivering a reliable, fast transit service while contributing to sustainability by reducing traffic congestion and related emissions.”
Calgary already has more than 37 miles of light rail track on its northwest-south Red Line and northeast-west Blue Line. The planned north-south Green Line would intersect both existing lines downtown, and would also connect to four bus services.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
Future plans for a Phase 2 and beyond would extend the Green Line about to 28.5 miles with 29 stations.
BTC was one of two joint venture teams shortlisted for the Green Line project. Don Fairbairn, chair of the Green Line Board, called the development partner selection “an important milestone.”
“The Green Line Board has confidence in BTC and their ability to work collaboratively as we collectively ensure we balance costs and risks with the long-term city shaping benefits of Green Line,” Fairbairn said in a statement.
BTC has proposed hiring subcontractors Delve Underground, Platinum Engineering Ltd., Egis, IBI, GEC Architecture and Architecture 49 for the development phase, according to Calgary officials.
Calgary has already begun work on some related early works. Improvements to enhance safety and accessibility at a park and ride lot were completed last year. Other projects are scheduled to start this summer.
The Green Line Board has also issued a request for proposals for a grade separation and pedestrian tunnel project, which would replace an at-grade crossing with vehicle access below Canadian Pacific Rail tracks and add a pedestrian tunnel connecting to a future station. The board says it plans to award a contract for that project within the next few months.
Additional bid opportunities will be advertised via Calgary’s Ariba Discovery page and the Alberta Purchasing Connection, according to the Green Line Board.
