West LRT | 7 Stations | 8.0 KM | In Service

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Mike Wilhelm

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/...es+burying+part+route/2041254/story.html

"The communities had a higher level of expectation" Nonsense. Major overruns are likely due to the addition of a Bow Trail expansion project, which we didn't ask for, and erosion of the Manning land values. Yes, the 45 St tunnel is a "higher level of expectation", and appropriate, but is not in the budget yet. The single largest capital expenditure is the Westbrook station and tunnel.

The article says that there won't be any cost overruns - it says that all the bids came in under budget, even with the upgrades.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Original text edited to appease future parsers. Hopefully our planning department employs more planners than editors.

"Overruns within the project are likely due ..."

So what upgrades? Expectations higher than what? Why the spin?

[You Need A Thneed]

The article mentions the upgrades that have already been included in the project.

Upgraded stations, upgraded pedestrian connections, etc.

The community expected a little bit more from the stations, and stuff like that, which they got.

The tunnel/trench extension under 45th Avenue is still on the table.

[MalcolmTucker]

Yeah, if a bidder really wants to win they will bid the exact budget amount and include the 45th St tunnel. All the TOD land the bidder gets might make winning the contract worth it big time in the long run, even if they spend more on the project than they receive from the city (which was the entire goal of this weird MTR style P3 attempt)

[Mike Wilhelm]

It's like he's doing us a favor by giving us a little bit then, and perhaps wants to convey the idea that they were not little. Sorry - I don't drink that koolaid.

Who is the LRT being built to serve? Consultation is required to ensure the success of the project.

[MalcolmTucker]

There has been lots of consultation, but city council's job is to look at the needs of the entire city, and the extra money could go to many other places. Consultation is not the same as rolling over and letting someone (or some group) have their way with the project.

If for a nominal amount more lets say a $20 million increase in the budget a bidder comes back and says they can do it with keeping 45th open, then I say do it. That is why council has decided to review bids that offer different things for different costs, and why the lowest price might not win this one.

I would also say if city council had the will to seriously upzone around 45th, they should put it underground. Then residents get a choice, either allow a mass upzoning that will allow a slow transformation into an apartment neighborhood around an underground transit stop, or reject upzoning and get an appropriate station.

[Mike Wilhelm]

I once totally agreed with you on including the trench in the bid - but am seeing an almost pathological resistance to the idea. A smart bidder will always include bells and whistles - especially with capacity in a recession.

Maybe it doesn't work for the AMA, and like any adjoining private interest this should be considered.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Development scaled back at various TOD sites, Race City Lease extended, TOD diluted in Plan-It, LRT on budget.

All announced within a day.

Hmm - other potential land deals diluting Manning land value perhaps. If vend-in happens, they've gotta maintain that land value to keep the project on budget.

[MalcolmTucker]

If other zoning for TOD elsewhere is scaled back, then the Manning land becomes more valuable if the zoning is maintained as projected right now.

The bids are already in (I think), nothing they can do about it now!

[Wooster]

Brentwood TOD was not scaled back. It's full steam ahead.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Wooster -fixed.

The bids may be in, but the contractors may want some protection.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Interesting Council Agenda for Monday - "secret" (for now) trench proposal and reintroduction of some sort of developer sponsored park and ride at Westbrook Mall.

Park and Ride at a TOD Site - is Westbrook going to be a private pay for parking lot with a grand TOD plan that is never implemented? That would be our worst case scenario.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Mike Wilhelm

Interesting Council Agenda for Monday - "secret" (for now) trench proposal and reintroduction of some sort of developer sponsored park and ride at Westbrook Mall.

Park and Ride at a TOD Site - is Westbrook going to be a private pay for parking lot with a grand TOD plan that is never implemented? That would be our worst case scenario.

I could agree to a park-n-ride only on the condition that it is underground. Then it won't hurt any TOD potential and would be able to act as destination parking for the area in the evenings and weekends. Actually could be a decent idea. But only if underground.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Not gonna happen. Wording is:

“However, Administration is open to the possibility of amending the Westbrook Village ARP to specifically allow for surplus parking. The approved land use districts for the Westbrook Village area allow for the provision of commercial parking facilities not related to a specific use. In such cases, the parking is owned and managed by the private developer. This would include determining the parking rates for such stalls. The ARP could be amended to specifically allow the provision of surplus parking stalls over and above the bylaw minimums for the purpose of public parking, including park and ride. Since commercial parking of this type is a discretionary use in the relevant Direct Control Districts, such an ARP amendment would clarify the role of surplus parking during any development permit reviews.“

So if a developer want to set up a private park and ride, why would he build a parkade? I've been saying this all along - if there is no money to develop, the land owner will want to sit on a revenue producing parking lot for as long as possible. We pushed for a transitional zoning plan on this issue and it never happened. So we have a private pay parking lot. What happens when we need to take it away later for the development?

I wonder if renting out Manning would generate more revenue than a parking lot on the same site?

Grand plans are great, but many of them become pay parking lots for a lot of years. Some of us won't live to see these utopian communities.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ You can permit all the parking you want and still ban surface parking. The city can take away parking with one hand, and give it with another.

Surplus parking refers to parking above the mandatory parking required when building a new building, not the use of surplus land as parking. (at least in my reading)

[Mike Wilhelm]

Alas - I've checked around and your reading is correct.

This provision applies to new development only, therefore any park and ride would be evaluated on the merit of the overall development proposal. The park and ride is one of many non specific parking purposes available.

[fusili]

You would have to look into the land use district rules. AFAIK, there is no restriction to surface parking for land use districts. I suggest you either write your alderman or contact the planning department directly. PM me if you need contacts.

[Mike Wilhelm]

Alderman, planning department and transportation department are in the loop.

Based on that, I'm pretty sure the ARP locks that down. You might want to take a look at the ARP revisions in the council agenda with a more critical eye than mine.

The big risk on Monday is a council mandated park and ride resulting from our continuing suburban/urban turf war. Whatever comes of that would not be good.

[You Need A Thneed]

West Calgary LRT could get subway section with low-cost option

Low tenders makes option possible

BY KIM GUTTORMSON, CALGARY HERALD
OCTOBER 5, 2009 7:17 AM

CALGARY - A lower than estimated bid to build the west leg of the LRT means there could be enough money to run the line below ground at 17th Avenue and 45th Street S.W. -- a change the neighbouring communities have been pushing for.

Council will be asked today to add sinking that section of track to the new LRT line's budget, and it is also expected to come at a price significantly lower than the original $85-million estimate.

The exact number will be released to aldermen behind closed doors today.

"If city council chooses to trench that portion of 45th Street and 17th Avenue, as requested by the community, as an additional item, the tenders at this point have came in very favourable, which would allow enough capacity in the program funding to do it," Mayor Dave Bronconnier said.

"But that would be a decision of council."

Residents living near the intersection have been lobbying the mayor and aldermen for months to find the money to trench the line, which essentially means running it through a tunnel that is open on top, with a bridge across for the road.

"All the aldermen have been flooded with a number of e-mails and letters making our request known," said Wendy Harinck, president of the West Gate community association. "We've encouraged people to maintain the campaign and e-mail (this weekend)."

Flyers have been distributed to the four communities near the intersection, asking homeowners to keep the pressure on.

At a public hearing about the alignment of the 8.4 kilometres of track last year, residents said they were concerned about the line running at ground level because of safety--there are police and fire stations near the intersection--and traffic concerns.

Grant MacArthur, who has been leading the fight for the Glendale community association, said there are worries about the response time for emergency services with trains blocking the intersection.

MacArthur said it's a busy intersection, especially considering 45th Street is only one lane each way.

"It puts more cars through it than Southland at 14th (Street) and Macleod(Trail)," MacArthur said.

Ald. John Mar, who represents residents at the east end of the tracks, said he supports putting the line below ground at 45th Street.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority," he said.

"It's something the citizens are demanding."

The west LRT project has already added a number of items to its overall budget including upgrades to some stations, running the tracks down the median of Bow Trail, better pedestrian connections and an interchange at 17th Avenue and Sarcee Trail.

Council approved $700 million for the construction of the line itself two years ago.

A number of items relating to the construction of the west LRT, the city's first new line in more than 20 years, come to council today.

Along with the in-camera update of cost -- the city is negotiating a contract with a consortium selected following the tender process -- there will be debate on running the line below ground at 45th Street, a decision on whether to add a 200-stall park and ride at the Westbrook site and a land swap to accommodate a parkade at the end of the line.

A report going to council today says the Westbrook area redevelopment plan will allow parking only behind buildings or underground.

Constructing a 200-stall parkade underground would cost $20 million, it states. Staff recommends allowing those who develop the site the ability to provide public parking as part of their plans.

There is also some opposition from neighbours to putting a parkade near the Westside Rec Centre and new Ernest Manning High School, according to letters the city has received.

The city hopes to award a design-build contract for the west leg of the LRT by the end of the month. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

link

[MalcolmTucker]

Seems all is going as planned. Let the market work!

This will set a very good precedence for the SE Line. Hopefully it will be fully modeled on the Canada Line procurement strategy (whereas the West Line due to being tied in with the existing network could not be an exact copy).