With Calgary Transit’s Green Line construction being planned, Calgarians have discussed how the new line will be impacting them in the days and years to come.
“When construction is actually going on, it’s going to be tough for restaurants such as mine,” predicted Carolina Lopez, owner of Minas Brazilian Steakhouse on Second Street SW.
Lopez’s restaurant is immediately beside the location of the prospective Second Avenue station along the Green Line, and while nothing is affecting them at the moment, they anticipate difficulty when more testing and construction begins.
“The traffic signs tell you that there’s construction ahead and you have to take another route. That affects us, probably way more than the fact that there’s construction going on.”
Lopez said that the testing the city did in the past along their road deterred customers from getting to the restaurant. The restaurant, which started up in March of 2015, is located on a dead-end crescent street and is the only business in that area.
Lopez said that when construction and detour signs go up, people tend to avoid going in their area, as they want to avoid getting trapped or stuck in a traffic jam.
“They also block us during the weekend, which doesn’t make sense because they don’t work on the weekends.”
The restaurant, along with a group of other businesses, has signed up to be consulted about any major decisions the city makes regarding construction. This initiative was put into place by Councillor Druh Farrell in an attempt to consider the impact the construction will have on the businesses.
“I think the city needs to grow, and the fact that there is transportation right in front of you is always good for any business,” agrees Lopez.
“Depending on the final decision on where the station goes, my business may be benefited by it, but it also may be isolated by it.”
While a station close by will be good for bringing in more people, it might also cause there to be less people during the evening. Lopez said train stations can offer a place for people to gather, and at night, there can be some “strange or dangerous” people gathering that may keep customers away.
Green line forces residents from homes
Tanya Pittis, in her final year of SAIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, said her aunt and uncle, both in their 80s, were forced to move out of their homes, leaving behind their home businesses.
“It was a little bit emotional because they’ve been in that house since they moved to Canada – since they’re from Italy,” said Pittis.
Two months ago, the elderly couple had to move from Centre Street, near 16th Ave., out to the Huntington Hills Area.
Their old house was attached to the uncle’s business, Gino’s Shoe Repair Shop. And Pittis’s aunt had an in-home sewing business.
Being octogenarians, the transition was not easy.
However, aside from that situation, Pittis is looking forward to having the new line.
It will make it much easier for her to get where she is going, as opposed to taking buses, a process which is not straightforward and can vary depending on the weather.
“I think it’s a great idea. It’s better for the environment,” said Pittis, explaining that Transit will help reduce fuel.
Green line to increase access to the south
Another Calgarian, Michael Penner, also is excited about the new transit line that will begin to be built in 2020.
Penner’s wife, Julie, is currently a nurse working on an internship at the Rockyview General Hospital, and she hopes to get a position at the South Health Campus.
When the Green Line is built, she will be able to take it to work each day.
Penner said he and his wife would then be able to get rid of one of their vehicles, which would save a few thousand dollars a year. His wife’s commute would also be more direct and straightforward.
“A lot of nurses, herself included, have difficulty getting to the hospitals, especially when there’s mass casualty events, because there really is no good way to get there besides driving,” explains Penner.
The Green Line will help Calgarians get where they need to go.
“And when the roads are blocked up, there’s actually been times when we’ve been waiting on the other side of an accident, and we’re going the same place as them. But there’s no way to get around it because the transit system is so bad in Calgary.”
Penner was, however, a bit concerned about the negative effect of an expensive major project on Calgary’s shaky economy.
However, according to Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s website, the Green Line will be bringing in 20,000 direct and indirect jobs for the construction taking place from 2020 to 2026, and 400 of those jobs will be permanent to operate and maintain the line.
The jobs available will include construction coordinators, engineers, and planners, with available job listings kept up to date on the city’s website.