Alberta transportation minister says passenger rail plan coming within weeks | CBC News


Alberta transportation minister says passenger rail plan coming within weeks | CBC News

Listen to this article

Estimated 1 minute

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

Alberta’s government says a long-awaited passenger rail master plan is expected to be made public within weeks.

Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says with the plan complete, he’s hoping to announce it next month.

Dreeshen says it aims to include proponents for a high-speed rail line between Edmonton and Calgary, and to connect the two cities and their international airports.

Dreeshen says 80 per cent of the province’s population lives in the corridor connecting Edmonton and Calgary, and adds that private sector investment will be “very important.”

The rail connections have been talked about for more than a decade and could take even longer to develop.

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government first announced its intention to create a new Crown corporation to oversee rail development almost two years ago, citing record population growth and congested highways.