Southeast transit route debate delayed

City council won't be making a decision until later this month on building a $2.6-billion southeast transit route. 

City officials want to build a buses-only road from downtown to southeast Calgary, which could eventually be converted to a C-Train line.

The Southeast Transitway would be unlike any of Calgary's other LRT lines because it would start as a dedicated bus road in places, connecting the east end of downtown with the southeast community of Seton.

Over time, the busway would be converted to a C-Train line at a total cost of $2.6 billion by 2039.

Ward 12 Ald. Shane Keating wants to remove that timeframe so the city is free to build it sooner if  money becomes available.

"I think it's desperately needed much, much sooner. We realize we don't have the funds today but what can we do in the meantime and how fast can we actually get it developed? So I would really like it if actually this report removed the time frame," he said.

However, the issue was bumped from Monday's council agenda to the next council meeting, Sept. 24, because some documents didn't reach every council member in time for the discussion.

Council members were also expected to consider low-floor LRT vehicles for the southeast line, which means future stations won't need to be nearly as big or expensive as current stations.