I have been putting some thought into what kind transit expansions could be useful after the three major planned expansions have been completed. These three are of course the SE LRT, N LRT (Centre Street Subway), and 8 Ave Subway. I have come up with six new conceptual C-Train lines. In my opinion these range all over the map, from currently viable to way out there. I have some maps and diagrams but they are on paper so they cannot be posted at present. Hopefully the descriptions are enough to help people visualize what I mean. So, in the interests of promoting some debate about Calgary Transit's future, here is part one of a six part series:
South Crosstown LRT
Phase 1: The East
This phase would function much like the primary six radial lines. It would serve the International Avenue area, stretching from Erlton to 68 Street SE. It would include roughly nine kilometers of track, the purchase of twenty five LRVs, nine stations, a new maintenance and storage facility, and extensive street scape improvements to 17 Ave SE. The projects estimated budget would be roughly one billion 2011 dollars. To function properly it would require capacity to be available on the S LRT and SE LRT at the transfer stations so that passengers could carry on to downtown Calgary. It would provide rapid transit to the eastern area of the city. While the SE LRT, N LRT, and 8 Ave Subway are more important aspects of the C-Train system (not to mention that some of that work would be required for this line to function) this line could likely be justifiable with current population and traffic figures.
Track Routing
The roughly nine kilometers of track would include subway, elevated, and at grade portions. On the west end it begins as a subway below 25 Ave SE just east of Macleod Trail. It will then move east underneath the 25 Ave SE until just after Spiller Road. From there it rises to become elevated and continues straight east following 26 Ave SE. It then continues east crossing overtop of Blackfoot Trail and then it turns so as to follow along the side of that Highway. It then continues alongside Blackfoot Trail/17 Ave SE, crossing over Deerfoot Trail, until roughly 28 St SE at which point the tracks will move on top of 17 Ave SE and function as elevated rail in the middle of that road’s ROW. It continues like this until east of 52 St SE at which point it transitions to at grade operation within the median of 17 Ave SE. It remains within the median until the line ends at roughly 70 St SE.
LRV Purchase
Twenty five LRVs, likely SD-160s, would be purchased to operate on this line. They would function in five five car consists. This would allow for estimated headways of around seven minutes.
Stations
Erlton Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under the south end of the current Erlton Station. It would allow passengers to easily transfer to the S LRT and then access the rest of the city, especially downtown Calgary.
Crossroads Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located on top of the future Crossroads station. It would allow passengers to easily transfer to the SE LRT.
9 Avenue Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located on top of 9 Ave SE. If ACAD were to relocate to the old brewery site, the station may be renamed ACAD Station.
26 Street SE Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located just south of 17 Ave SE directly east of 26 St SE. This would be a future transfer station.
36 Street SE Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located on top of the 17 Ave-36 St intersection. Four sets of stairs would lead up from the widened sidewalks to the ends of the two platforms on either side of the tracks.
44 Street SE Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located on top of the 17 Ave-44 St intersection. Four sets of stairs would lead up from the widened sidewalks to the ends of the two platforms on either side of the tracks.
52 Street SE Station
This would be an elevated station. It would be located on top of the 17 Ave-52 St intersection. Four sets of stairs would lead up from the widened sidewalks to the ends of the two platforms on either side of the tracks.
60 Street SE Station
This would be an at grade station. It would be located within the median of 17 Ave SE directly east of 60 St SE.
68 Street SE Station
This would be an at grade station. It would be located within the median of 17 Ave SE directly east of 68 St SE. There would be a large Park and Ride lot located at the SE corner of 17 Ave and 68 St SE meant to accommodate 1200 cars. This would be a future transfer station.
Maintenance and Storage Facility
The Maintenance and Storage Facility would include a repair bay and indoor storage for thirty LRVs initially with the ability to expand to accommodate a total of sixty LRVs. It would be located on the greenfield south of 26 Ave SE, north of Blackfoot Trail SE, and east of Highfield Road SE.
Street Scape Improvements
This portion of the project would primarily involve extensive work to improve the pedestrian realm along 17 Ave SE and some related road work. The ROW of 17 Ave SE would be widened significantly from 28 St SE to 54 St SE. The new cross section would include a median just wide enough for the track supports, two driving lanes in each direction, a parking lane on each side, and wide sidewalks of twenty five feet on each side. This would allow room for light to penetrate to the sidewalks despite the elevated rail. There would also be a new bridge for 17 Ave SE over the railway tracks just east of Hubalta Road SE.
Phase 2: The West
This phase would function differently from the six radial lines. It would act to promote local travel and transfers to other lines more than as a commuter line. As the C-Train network is expanded with more non-radial lines it would allow riders to bypass downtown. It would require significant densification along the route and expansion of Mount Royal University to justify its construction. There would be no Park and Rides along the entire route. Cost is difficult to estimate since Calgary has yet to build much in the way of subways to compare it to. That said, a figure upwards of one and a half billion dollars would make sense. There would need to be very little in the way of property acquisition, just the odd lot for a station entrance, as compared to Phase 1 since the route will follow existing ROWs with no expansion. This will save some costs but the huge amount of digging required will still make it expensive. Other expansions would likely be justified in receiving funding prior to this phase.
Track Routing
The roughly six kilometers of track would all be in below grade grade subways. From the end of the Phase 1 tracks it would continue west under 25 Ave SW until the Elbow River where it would veer south west so as to continue west under 26 Ave SW. It would then continue under Elbow Drive, or the park immediately east of it, until 32 Ave SW. It would then turn west under 32 Ave SW and continue until the park. At that point it would turn south west until the 34 Ave SW ROW where it would continue west. It would follow 34 Ave SW until 20 St SW where it would veer south. It would continue until between 41 and 42 Ave where it would head west under the park and Flanders Ave. It would continue, traveling under Crowchild Trail, until Richard Road which it would follow south west. It would then finally head west for the end of the line somewhere around Richard Road, Mount Royal Gate, and Mount Royal Circle.
LRV Purchase
Twenty LRVs, of the same type purchased for Phase 1, would be added to service the expanded line. They would again operate in five car groups. The addition of four new consists should be able to maintain, or slightly shorten, the existing headway times from Phase 1.
Stations
Mission-Cliff Bungalow Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under Elbow Drive between 4 and 5 Streets.
Elbow Park Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under the park between 32 Ave at 7 St SW and 34 Ave at 8 St SW.
14 St SW Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under the 34 Ave and 14 St SW intersection. This would be a future transfer Station
Marda Loop Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under 34 Ave just east of 20 St SW.
Flanders Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under the 20 St SW and 41 Ave SW intersection.
Currie Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located under Richard Road just south of Flanders Ave.
Mount Royal University Station
This would be a subway station. It would be located just along the south side of Mount Royal Circle spanning either side of Mount Royal Gate. This would be a future transfer station.
Maintenance and Storage Facility Expansion
The facility built for the first phase of the line would be expanded to accommodate sixty LRVs. While the new total would only be forty five, future expansions or service improvements may require more capacity.
Phase 3: Expansions
The line could eventually be expanded west along Glenmore Trail and east along 17 Ave SE/Highway 1A. It could then service places like West Hills and Chestermere.
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