City seeks $845 million from Ottawa for infrastructure projects
Council's intergovernmental affairs committee unanimously backed federal funding requests for the fieldhouse, Blue Line extension, and bus facility in Bonnybrook-Alyth-Manchester.
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Calgary city council's intergovernmental affairs committee unanimously endorsed a request for more than $845 million in federal infrastructure funding Thursday, backing six advocacy priorities including long-sought projects.
Top asks include $150 million for a multisport fieldhouse in Foothills Athletic Park, $80 million to extend the Blue Line LRT toward Calgary International Airport, and $255 million for a new bus maintenance and storage facility in the Bonnybrook-Alyth-Manchester Industrial area.
Other requests include $190 million for the Bearspaw South feeder main replacement project and $170 million for "system stabilization" of five recreation centres. The city is also seeking federal support for Prairie Economic Gateway, a future inland port on Calgary's southeast border with Rocky View County along the CPKC rail line.
The Blue Line's northeast terminus is currently at Saddletowne Circle. The proposed extension would run approximately eight blocks north to 88th Avenue N.E. in Savanna.
Ward 4 Councillor DJ Kelly noted that new federal leadership has signalled appetite for major infrastructure investments. "The federal government's been really clear that they're looking to invest in Canadian infrastructure in some major projects," he told reporters.
A recent city report indicated Calgary has a nearly $50-billion infrastructure deficit, with 11 per cent of city-owned assets in poor or very poor condition.