Expanded Presentation Calgarys Green Line LRT and the

Expanded Presentation: Calgary’s Green Line LRT and the LRT on the Green Foundation February, 2015 1

2 INTRODUCTION Presenting Today: Jeff Binks – President, LRT on the Green Foundation • • One of two founding members of the Foundation. Prior to the Foundation was an advocate for the Green Line and its precursors, the North Central and South East LRT. Moraig Mc. Cabe – Director, LRT on the Green Foundation • Also volunteers with the Northern Hills Community Association as the Director for the North Central Creating Space Collaboration Cllr. Shane Keating – Ward 12 Councillor, City of Calgary • Represents the communities at the southern end of the Green Line

3 INTRODUCTION Why are we here? • To provide background information about the LRT on the Green Foundation and Calgary’s Green Line LRT. • To emphasize why the Green Line LRT is a priority project that will benefit the entire city of Calgary. • To establish a flow of information between our stakeholders and the Provincial Government. • To solicit ideas to help accelerate construction of the Green Line LRT. We’re working towards changing this…. Into this….

4 THE FOUNDATION • The LRT on the Green Foundation began as a way to unite community stakeholders to accelerate the construction of Calgary’s Green Line LRT. • The launch meeting for the Foundation was in March 2014. • • • The launch meeting was attended by forty interested members of various communities, including twelve Community Association representatives. The launch meeting was also attended by four Calgary City Councillors, two MLAs and three representatives from the Mayor’s Office. During the meeting, a consensus was reached that until that point, community advocacy had been fragmented and that many benefits could be gained from a more centralized approach. • The Foundation received its official non-profit incorporation in May 2014 and the formation of the Board of Directors also occurred in May.

5 THE FOUNDATION • Our Board of Directors has a total of seven members and the Foundation’s by-laws mandate that a minimum of two Directors must represent communities from Calgary’s north central transit corridor and two directors must represent communities from Calgary’s south east transit corridor. • The main focus of the Foundation is to advocate for the need for the Green Line LRT while working with our community partners to help facilitate their efforts to see that the final design and construction of the LRT conforms to their community vision.

6 THE FOUNDATION A Partnership Between: Auburn Bay Community Association Crescent Heights Community Association Mount Pleasant Community Association

7 THE FOUNDATION Our Vision: To unite Calgarians in the desire to have LRT operating on the Green Line in both the North Central and South East corridors by the year 2021. Our Goals: 1. Unite Community Groups, Citizens and Stakeholders. 2. Raise Awareness About the Need for the Green Line. 3. Promote the Need for and Benefits of Investing in Rapid Transit. 4. Advocate for Transit Oriented Development. 5. Evolve into a Citizen Driven Authority on Transit in Calgary.

8 So what is the Green Line? Calgary Transit has established their 30 year ‘Route. Ahead’ plan which lays out future capital projects. Up until recently, there were two major projects competing for attention and funding separately. 1. The Southeast LRT (shown here in red) THE GREEN LINE

9 2. The North Central LRT (shown here in red) THE GREEN LINE

10 • In 2013, Calgary Transit began a study into the alignment of the North Central LRT. • The alignment that had been previously approved ran up the Nose Creek valley alongside Deerfoot Trail. • The study learned that the proposed alternative alignments along Centre Street and Edmonton Trail were preferred. • In January 2015, Calgary City Council approved the Centre Street alignment. • The approved South East LRT alignment terminates at 2 nd Street SW at Eau Claire Market. As a result, the potential exists for the NC LRT and SE LRT to form one continuous route. THE GREEN LINE

11 THE GREEN LINE • Calgary Transit is now studying five different options that will connect the North Central LRT from 16 th Ave N and Centre Street N to the South East LRT at 10 th Ave S and 2 nd Street SW. They will report back to the City of Calgary’s Transportation and Transit Committee with a preferred option in Q 4, 2015. • The five options are outlined in the following slides:

12 THE GREEN LINE Option A/A 1* *A 1 is similar but utilizes a new bridge structure over the Bow River.

13 Option B THE GREEN LINE

14 Option C THE GREEN LINE

15 Option D THE GREEN LINE

16 THE GREEN LINE Summary of Construction Cost Estimates (Four Centre City Options) Construction Cost Estimate for Centre City Segment (10 Ave S to 24 Ave N) Construction Cost Estimate for Full Green Line North Project (10 Ave S to North Pointe Travel Time Estimate (10 Ave S to North Pointe) Option A*: use the existing Centre Street bridge $600 Million $1. 1 Billion 33 -35 minutes Option B: new bridge west of Centre Street bridge $800 Million $1. 3 Billion 30 -32 minutes Option C: new bridge west of Centre Street bridge, remain elevated $800 Million $1. 3 Billion 30 -32 minutes Option D: tunnel from 24 Ave N to 10 Ave S $1. 3 Billion $1. 8 Billion 28 -30 minutes *Option A 1 was recently introduced by Councillors and therefore no cost estimates are available.

17 With the selection of the final alignment through the Centre City underway, the North Central and South East Transit Corridors have been combined to form one continuous project: The GREEN Line THE GREEN LINE

18 THE GREEN LINE Key Points About the Green Line: • The Green Line gets its name due to a rebranding exercise by Calgary Transit to make its rapid transit network more user friendly. The existing Tuscany to Somerset-Bridlewood LRT in Calgary is now known as the Red Line and the Saddletowne to 69 th Street LRT is now known as the Blue Line. • 270, 000 Calgarians are estimated to live along the Green Line corridor. • The Green Line will eventually bring 40 km of new LRT track to the city’s existing 53 km of track… nearly doubling the size of the network.

19 THE GREEN LINE • At 35, 000 riders per day, the average daily transit ridership in the north central corridor is already on par to that of the West LRT. • According to Calgary Transit, the completion of the Green Line is estimated to add an additional 50, 000 transit trips per day. • The Green Line will travel the same distance as Highway 2 within Calgary’s city limits (Deerfoot Trail). • The Green Line is estimated to bring a city wide reduction in peak hour road congestion of 10 -15% and a city wide reduction of total vehicle kilometers travelled of 35 -40%.

20 THE GREEN LINE • The Green Line will serve four new major employment hubs in Calgary: • Aurora Business Park (NE), Quarry Park (SE), Shepard Business Park (SE) and Seton (SE). • The growing employment centres along the line are already home to major city-wide employers… • The major focus of new residential growth and intensification in the City of Calgary is planned to occur in areas served by the Green Line. • Population of Calgary forecast to grow by 1, 000 people by 2041

21 THE GREEN LINE

22 The Green Line will serve many of the planned community development and intensification opportunities in Calgary Growth in the City Centre Major Activity Centres Community Activity Centres Forecast new job growth in the three types of centres (city wide)? 215, 000 jobs However that is not all. There also: Urban Corridors Employee Intensive Industrial Plus the residential growth to support them! THE GREEN LINE

23 THE GREEN LINE A New Approach To Transit: • Since the Green Line will be completely separate from Calgary’s existing LRT network, a new low-floor Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) technology has been selected. • The Calgary Municipal Development Plan calls for 50% of Calgary’s future population growth over the next 40 years to occur within Developed Areas of the city. • Low floor LRVs are able to integrate better into communities to help stimulate investment and redevelopment.

24 Green Line Challenges: • In the south east corridor a large initial investment is required for the line to cover the distance needed to reach communities with substantial population. • In the north central corridor a large initial investment is required for the line to climb the Bow River Escarpment. THE GREEN LINE

25 • With limited funding available, a phased approach has been adopted for the Green Line. • Phase 1 – Green Line Transitway • • 1 a – Initial Transitway (Funded) 1 b – Possible Transitway Extension • Potential Phase 2 – LRT from 4 th Street SE to Quarry Park • Future phases – Initial LRT phasing to the north will be determined over the course of 2015. Once the Green Line North has been constructed north of the Bow River escarpment, incremental LRT expansion in both north and south east corridors becomes possible. CONSTRUCTION

26 CONSTRUCTION So what is a Transitway? • A transitway is an intermediate step between the existing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LRT. • It involves the construction of a transit right-ofway that can be either separate from traffic or dedicated lanes used by transit vehicles and includes stations. • As it does not require tracks or traction power, construction is significantly cheaper than LRT. • Around 90% of infrastructure for the transitway can be reused for LRT conversion. Example of how the Green Line will transition from transitway to LRT along the southeast corridor:

27 CONSTRUCTION Why are we talking transitways? With the limited funding available, construction of the transitway will: • Allow for improved travel times and an improved customer experience along the Green Line Corridor. • Build ridership along the Green Line Corridor beyond what is possible with regular BRT service. • Allow the City of Calgary to construct LRT ready infrastructure (such as bridges and station areas) that will reduce the cost of LRT conversion in the future. • Create permanent high level transit infrastructure along the Green Line Corridor that will stimulate community investment and redevelopment.

28 FUNDING So What is the Green Line’s Funding Status? • Total price-tag for LRT construction on the Green Line from Seton to North Pointe is estimated at $5 Billion. • In 2013, the Provincial Government reduced its share of Calgary property taxes by $52 million annually. Calgary City Council made the decision to increase their share of property taxes by a proportional amount. • • In the Fall of 2013, Council dedicated the $52 million property tax increase to be spent on the Green Line Corridor over a period of ten years for a total investment of $520 million. This is the only funding that has been dedicated to the Green Line Project so far. • Council has decided to leverage this funding by applying for an additional $100 Million from the Federal ‘Build Canada Fund’. If approved, Phase 1 of the Green Line Transitway (78 th Ave N to Quarry Park) will be fully funded with construction to be complete by 2021. City Council has announced a study of 27 alternative funding options that can be used to help with Green Line LRT Construction. • Recommendations will be presented to Council Q 2, 2015.

29 PROJECT STATUS Green Line Project Status: Green Line South East: • Currently served by #302 BRT • Avg. Daily Ridership of 3, 500 / Travel Time from Seton to Downtown of 69 minutes. • Build out of the south east corridor is currently envisioned as three stages: Ø Stage 1 - Transitway: Downtown to Douglas Glen (Funded – 2021 completion) • Projected Avg. Daily Ridership of 15, 000 / Travel time from Seton to Downtown of 54 mins. Ø Stage 2 – LRT from Downtown to Quarry Park (20 year time horizon) Ø Stage 3 – LRT from Quarry Park to Seton (30 year time horizon) • Projected Avg. Daily Ridership of 70, 000 / Travel time from Seton to Downtown estimated at 35 mins. • Several “Early Works” projects have been identified to fast-track construction on some sections of the Transitway. • The majority of the right-of-way has been acquired.

30 PROJECT STATUS Green Line Project Status: Green Line North: • Currently served by #3 High Frequency Bus, #300/#301 BRT and community express buses. • • Avg. Daily Ridership of 35, 000 – higher than the West LRT / Travel time from North Pointe to Downtown of 40 minutes. Functional Planning and Centre City LRT Alignment Study are underway: • • Functional planning for the Centre Street Alignment north of 16 th Ave N will take place over the next two years. The preferred Centre City LRT Alignment will be selected by Q 4, 2015 • Project is planned to be phased in a similar fashion to the South East Corridor with Transitway construction prior to LRT. Transitway improvements are part of the functional planning study now underway. • The LRT is planned to run on the surface of Centre Street north of 16 th Ave N with grade separation at Mc. Knight Blvd and Beddington Trail.

31 FUTURE FUNDING The Foundation’s advocacy efforts to secure new funding of the Green Line: Short Term Goal: • Extend the City of Calgary’s $52 million annual property tax commitment to 30 years for a total investment of $1. 56 Billion Advantages: • Can either fund construction of the complete transitway from North Pointe to Seton, construction of LRT from 4 th Street SE to Quarry Park or be used to seed a P 3 that could fund even greater LRT construction. • Avoids further tax increases while investing in infrastructure • Brings the City of Calgary close to funding approximately one third of the total construction cost from a revenue stream within their control.

32 FUTURE FUNDING Challenges: • The preservation of the current property tax ratio by the Province • City of Calgary’s Municipal Debt Limit (2018 Limiting Factor) • Further delaying MSI payments will impact the ability to fund this project

33 FUTURE FUNDING Medium Term: • Supplementing the City of Calgary’s current Green Line investment with a matching contribution of $520 million from both the Federal and Provincial Governments. • Big City Charter or some form of predictable long term infrastructure funding arrangement between the City of Calgary and other levels of government.

34 THE GREEN LINE The challenge of securing further funding at a municipal level: Councillor Shane Keating – Ward 12 (South East Calgary)

Community Revitalization L evy (Hybrid)

CRL - Current economic uncertainties will require a broader discussion on how to fund capital projects - Province could provide the City with a hybrid CRL as a revenue tool to finance the Green Line - Typically a CRL is used to update or revitalize areas of the City that have become desolate

CRL - In this example, CRL would be used as a finance tool for the Green Line - The present taxes paid for existing development along the Transitway would remain in appropriated revenue pools - Any new taxes would go to the CRL for the Green Line

Present day South Hill

With the expansion of the Green Line South Hill could eventually look something like this. A hybrid CRL in an area like South Hill would go a long ways to finance the Green Line

$52 Million Over X Years - Council has committed $52 million for the next 10 years ($520 million total) - There is an appetite on Council to listen to suggestions about stretching this funding out over 30 years which would give a total City of Calgary contribution of $1. 560 billion

We Cannot Do This Alone City funding alone will not be enough to complete this massive project. The City has made a proposal to the Federal government for funding through the Building Canada Fund. The City will need contributions from the Provincial government and further revenue generation powers in order to bring the LRT to North-Central and South-East Calgary

The South Health Campus is the end of the line for the SETWAY component of the Green Line. With the possibility of adding a cancer centre to this facility it becomes more of a priority that this facility has access to public transit.

The Green Line will dramatically change how Calgarians move around their city. Improved transit options will take pressure off of existing transit infrastructure that is facing overstretch. The Green Line will also help reduce volume on Deerfoot and Stoney Trail

Public Engagement Calgary Transit also has three upcoming Green Line workshops in early March. These workshops run from 7 -9 pm. Tuesday, March 10 - Glenmore West Room, Glenmore Inn -This workshop focuses on communities of South Hill, Riverbend, Quarry Park, Douglas Glen, Lynwood, Ogden/Millican and Shepard Wednesday, March 11 - Cranston Century Hall -This workshop focuses on the communities of Prestwick, Mc. Kenzie Towne, Auburn Bay, Mahogany and Seton Thursday, March 12 - Large Banquet Hall, Venue 1008 -This workshop focuses on the communities of Ramsay, Inglewood, Crossroads, Highfield, Lynwood, and Ogden/Millican.

Thank you for your time. For more information on the Green Line visit my website: www. shanekeating. ca or the LRT on the Green website: www. lrtonthegreen. ca

46 DISCUSSION Questions or Comments?

47 Accreditation Slide 8: Image Source: Route. Ahead – Calgary Transit, 2012 Slide 9: Image Source: Route. Ahead – Calgary Transit, 2012 Slide 10: Image Source: North Central LRT High Level Map – Calgary Transit Slide 12 -16: Image Source: North Central LRT: Centre City Options Attachment 1 – Report to SPC on Transportation and Transit - February 2015 Slide 17: Image Source: Green Line transitway costs for Building Canada Fund Application – City of Calgary, 2014 Slide 21: Image Source: New Communities Growth Infographic – City of Calgary, 2013 Slide 22: Image Source: Calgary Snapshot – City of Calgary Land Use and Planning, 2012 Slide 23: Image Source: Metorlink Manchester Website Graphic Source: North Central LRT Open House Boards – Calgary Transit, 2014 Slide 24: Image Source: Skyscraperpage. com Image Source: Green Line transitway costs for Building Canada Fund Application – City of Calgary, 2014 Slide 25: Source of both Images: Green Line Southeast Transitway Information Session Boards – Calgary Transit, 2015 Slide 26: Image Source: Green Line transitway costs for Building Canada Fund Application – City of Calgary, 2014 Slide 32: Image Source: Action Plan – City of Calgary, 2014