Will Calgary's C-Train extend north or south 1st?

It's been assumed for years that southeast Calgary will be where the next LRT line will be built, but there are some thinking a north-central line is needed first.

There are still tens of thousands of Calgarians in the northern half of the city who live nowhere near the C-Train, many of whom ride buses down a busy Centre Street corridor.

Marc Herrel, who has been taking the bus downtown for 30 years to get to work from his home in Cambrian Heights, would like to see the train replace that bus.

Centre Street and Edmonton Trail are being looked at as potential paths for the C-Train to reach northern communities like Huntington, Panorama and Coventry Hills.

Herrel says such a train line would be heavily used.

"The line should go where the people are, so I think the Centre Street line is better than the Edmonton Trail line," he said.

A north-side alderman, Druh Farrell, has said the issue of which line is next shouldn't be based on politics but on merit: community need, reducing congestion and potential usage.

A city report on Calgary's future LRT priorities is expected to be made public later this month.