Alberta aids Edmonton LRT extension

Plans to extend Edmonton’s light rail transit system 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) have received a C$497 million provincial funding boost from Alberta, according to Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. The funding comes from Alberta’s Green Transit Incentives Program, also known as GreenTRIP.

The commitment is “tremendous; we’ve dreamed about building this line up to NAIT,” or the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Mandel said to local media. The extension, running north from Churchill Station, is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Mandel said the 3.3 km line from Churchill Station should be complete by 2014.

The long sought-after injection of $497 million is coming through Alberta’s Green Transit Incentives Program, also known as GreenTRIP. Alberta earlier gave the city C$70 million to put toward the line, expected to cost C$745 million.

Edmonton was the first North American city to add modern light rail transit to its transportation system, opening its first segment in 1978, three years before provincial rival Calgary and U.S. frontrunner San Diego did likewise.