Transportation infrastructure: Calgary ponders how to raise $1.4B

A Calgary council committee is trying to come up with innovative ways of raising money for city transportation projects.

• Naheed Nenshi wants federal funds to stimulate Calgary
• North-central LRT routes through downtown up for debate

Property taxes are the biggest source of city funds. But a report suggests more cash could be available if the province allows the city to enact new measures such as a fuel tax, car rental levies and toll roads.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says council asked for a menu of options in a bid to establishthe most effective wayto pay for new LRT lines and future roads.

But with the election of a new provincial NDP government and changes coming from Ottawa there could be less urgency to impose new fees and taxes, Nenshi says.

"We have a new provincial government that has suggested that they're going to put a lot of the carbon money into transit. We have a federal government that has now announced for the first time ever a new national federal transit strategy," he said.

"And so one of our big questions islooking at those two thingshow big is that shortfall now? It may be less than it was before but it's still an awful lot of money."

The city needs $1.4 billionin additional revenue to complete its transportation infrastructure needs over the next 10 years.