Green Line transitway plans excite Calgary Transit riders

Many Calgarians say construction can't start soon enough on the newly-approved Green Line.

The city's next bus-only transitwaywill run from the citys far north to the new hospital in the far southandis expected to shorten the commute for about 400,000people.

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ShaunaGinnsays her husband buses into the core everydayfromnorth Calgary, but the Green Line would benefit both of them and their newborn child.

"The impact on my life would be daddy would be home sooner, so that would be a good thing," she laughed.

Council voted Wednesday to use$52 millionfrom 2015-2024 to fund the project.

It's being touted asthe next best thing to an LRT line.

"But with rubber tires, so to speak, where they can move a lot quicker through the city without delay in a more reliable manner," said Calgary Transit director Doug Morgan.

He says the Green Line is unlike anything Calgary has seen before.

Buses could avoid usual traffic congestion

The first stage would allow abus-only lane that would avoid the usual traffic congestion.

It runs from Harvest Hills in north central Calgarythrough the coreout to the southeast community of Seton.

The city says it could eventually be converted into an LRT line.

The new transit line is expected to cost the city $764 million, but costs would escalate even moreif the LRT conversion happens.

Because the project wasn't the toppriority in the 30-yearRouteAhead plan set out by the city, it means other transitprojects can go ahead in the near future.

Transportation planners are already moving ahead with mapping out the new line and work could begin as early as next year.

Here is a map of the three proposed stages for thetransitway: