City council to decide future of Green Line project and arena deal

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The deadline for public feedback on a new arena is quickly approaching.

The public has until the end of business on Monday as city council prepares for a busy week that will include voting on the arena deal and discussing the future of the Green Line LRT.

During Monday’s council meeting, city council will review a proposal from Coun. Evan Woolley to pause the CTrain line over budget and construction concerns.

“The Green Line will be the most important infrastructure project the city has undertaken and it’s important to ensure that we get this right,” said Woolley.

On his Facebook page, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said while council has to get the Green Line right they can’t hit pause.

“I am absolutely committed to getting the downtown right, and we will do that over the coming months,” Nenshi stated in his post. “I am absolutely committed to future phases of this project, and getting transit to people in the north in particular.”

He goes on to say that pausing the line puts the project at risk and that funding from all three levels of government is already in place.

READ MORE: To pause or not to pause? Questions loom over Green Line LRT

On the arena front, Nenshi said the deal has direct financial return to Calgarians through the collection of a facility fee and a portion of naming rights. He also believes the arena deal accomplishes the goal of using public money to benefit the public.

“Let me be totally clear, the events centre is not going to solve our economic woes, but it can act as a catalyst to speed up development,” said Nenshi. “We’ve taken a very conservative view, suggesting that it might accelerate the build out of Victoria Park by 10 per cent. It won’t lead to new development by itself, but it will help some of that development get built quicker.”

Ward 11 Coun. Jeromy Farkas has come out saying he will not support the arena project at the same time council is cutting essential services and inflicting crushing taxes on small businesses and residential households.

WATCH: City Councillor to vote no on arena deal

Council will vote on the new arena deal on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

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