Public transportation initiatives in Alberta
Current actions to support an effective, efficient and accessible public transportation system in and between Alberta's communities.
As Alberta’s economy and population grow, public transportation provides safe, accessible, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation options to connect Albertans to work, recreation, services and each other.
The Government of Alberta supports existing and developing public transportation systems across the province. To date, the government has largely provided municipalities with funding for capital projects through programs such as the Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP) and the Municipal Sustainability Initiative.
Edmonton Southeast Valley Line funding
The Government of Alberta is providing an additional $176-million grant to the City of Edmonton for construction of the southeast leg of the Valley Line LRT. The funding was originally provided to Edmonton in 2014 as an interest-free loan. The province is now converting this loan into a grant, with funds coming from Climate Leadership Plan revenues.
News: Alberta invests in Edmonton LRT (Sept 15, 2017)
Calgary Green Line LRT funding
$1.53 billion is being provided to help fund Stage 1 on the new Calgary Green Line LRT. The provincial support for this project, the largest single public transportation investment of any Alberta government, will come from the Climate Leadership Plan. The Green Line will help to safely and efficiently connect communities from 16th Avenue North through the downtown core to Shepard in the southeast. It will also support new, transit-oriented developments where people can live, work and play, and have access to jobs and services across Calgary.
News: Province commits to the Calgary Green Line (July 6, 2017)
Federal and provincial transit funding
On September 1, 2016, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada signed a bilateral agreement that allows Alberta to access up to $347.2 million in federal funding through Phase One of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund for transit projects in Alberta.
The federal government has also committed funding for water and wastewater infrastructure as part of the bilateral agreement with the Government of Alberta.
Combining federal investments in public transit, clean drinking water and water/wastewater projects within existing provincial budgets means more projects can move forward across the province.
On April 3, 2018, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada signed a new bilateral agreement that allows Alberta to access up to $2.1 billion in federal funding over 10 years through the Investing in Canada Plan for transit projects in Alberta. For more information, visit the Government of Alberta's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Portal.
- Projects to build prosperous communities (April 3, 2018)
- Governments fund Lakewood Transit Centre upgrades (September 14, 2017)
- Governments of Canada and Alberta invest in public transit (September 8, 2017)
- Canada and Alberta invest in public transit (July 5, 2017)
- Albertans to benefit from more than $500 million for transit (December 3, 2016)
- Canada and Alberta Reach Agreement under New Federal Infrastructure Funding Programs (September 1, 2016)
Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP)
First announced in July 2008, GreenTRIP is a one-time, $2-billion fund designed to support capital projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing reliance on private single-occupancy vehicles. The final-call approved projects were announced on December 3, 2016.
Municipal transit and rural bus service
In addition to GreenTRIP, the Government of Alberta plans to support new regional municipal transit initiatives and rural bus services in the future.
Provincial Public Transportation Strategy
The government also completed a provincial transit engagement to learn about the transportation needs of Albertans living in rural and urban communities across the province. The input received will help inform the development of a provincial public transportation strategy, and criteria for future funding in support of municipal transit initiatives and rural bus services.