Calgary kicked off a new round of public engagement on the Green Line today, asking residents to weigh in on a proposed elevated route through the Beltline and downtown. The consultation runs until March 2 and includes an online survey, virtual sessions, and drop-ins at Memorial Park Library.
On paper, it's standard civic engagement. In practice, it's landing like a lead balloon.
What they're asking about
The route would run elevated from the Event Centre area along 10 Avenue S. through the Beltline to 2 Street S.W. downtown. Think raised tracks cutting through the core instead of tunnels underground. The feedback is supposed to shape something called the Functional Plan basically nailing down the design, costs, and making sure people actually support it before shovels hit dirt.
City officials say they want details on Grand Central Station and how it might connect to future projects like airport rail or even a Calgary-Banff line. Fair enough. But judging by the reaction online, most Calgarians aren't thinking about long-term transit dreams. They're thinking about how many times they've been through this before.
The trust problem
Across social meida, the announcement got shredded. Not because people hate elevated trains though plenty do but because they don't believe this consultation actually means anything.
"We already did this once and they changed it," one user wrote. "What the hell is the point of doing it again?"
It's a reasonable question. Calgarians were consulted before. They voted on this in multiple elections. The plan was an underground route, studied for years, ready to build. Then the provincial government stepped in, yanked funding, and demanded changes. Now the city's back asking for opinions on a completely different concept.
Another commenter put it bluntly: "The public has been 'helping shape the future' of the Green Line through feedback and multiple elections now, and the Provincial government remains steadfast in not giving a crap."
Why people are pissed
The frustration isn't really about transit design. It's about being asked to participate in a process that feels like theatre. Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP made their priorities clear when they killed the underground route. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen promised full provincial funding, then backed out a month later.
So when the city asks what you think now, it comes off as going through the motions. One user compared it to Saddam Hussein holding elections. Harsh, maybe. But it captures how pointless the exercise feels to a lot of people.
"Smith is going to dictate the segment anyway," another commenter wrote. "Don't waste money for false gratification."
What happens next
The engagement period closes March 2. After that, the Functional Plan moves forward with whatever feedback gets submitted assuming anyone bothers.
The bigger question is what happens when public consultation becomes something people actively ignore because they've learned it doesn't matter. You can't blame them for tuning out. But when they do, decisions get made by whoever's left in the room and that's usually not regular Calgarians trying to get to work.
Details on how to participate are at engage.calgary.ca/greenlinedowntown. Whether it's worth your time is another matter entirely.
