Quote:
Originally Posted by Danma
I went to the open house last night. Had a couple discussions with people with Calgary Transit. Based on a lot of the comments on the board there, people recognize that whatever happens, the Nose Creek alignment is stupid. Even the Calgary Transit staff agreed it doesn't reflect modern reality.
I personally think a combination of elevated/underground up center to 64th is the ideal solution. There's just so many crossings and lights on Center that would affect low floor LRT that even with traffic light overrides it would slow it down. Street cars mixed in traffic? Might as well just stick with BRT and not bother at all!
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Put me down as agreeing 100% as well. I personally think they should take that option right off the table from the get go as well, along with the Nose Creek alignment. If this line is to truely serve both the inner city and suburban populations, the majority of it is going to need an exclusive ROW.
It's encouraging to see that the average Calgarian (at least as representative as the Herald's poll may be) seems to understand that the route by no means should be up Nose Creek.
At the end of the day I believe the only realistic solution is to bore this. As the plan currently had it, the SE LRT is to terminate on 2nd st. I think it is pretty clear that instead of 2 radial lines, the whole thing "should" be one diametrical line, and the SE LRT would then continue on to the NLRT. I can't easily forsee the acceptance of having an elevated structure over Princes Island and furthermore, diaganolly over the existing homes for it to get back on Center St, and what might be the best view of downtown the structure would then impede. I see that is something many will raise arms over.
I also can't foresee a cut and cover operation over the river/Prince's Island, not that it isn't technically possible. A further problem then yet again arises as you get to the North side of the river.
Secondly, while elevating the line past 16th is probably an option, I wouldn't favour it. If part of the overall objective of the line is to improve the Center St corridor, get more people living there, etc, then an elevated line will make that a harder task.
I think the only real question that remains is where boring stops and where cut and cover begins, with maybe a slight chance that elevation could occur towards the outer part of the inner city.
I think Edmonton trail is out largely due to the excerabated problem already faced by getting the alignment from 2nd st downtown over to Edmonton trail. Although the option may become interesting if it were to then head over to Edmonton trail (from Center St) only somewhere once past 16th Ave N. A boring machine would make that an instant possibility, and Greenview (?) Industrial park has the potential to induce a greater ridership demand than the residential parallel to it on center. Furthermore, there may be a chance to slightly elevate it over the creek that flows partly along there (the space is there, but an EIA may squash that.) Either way, it would only make sense for the line to then veer back toward Center.
I'm also not too afraid of the negative impacts any cut and cover, or station pitting would have. It might actually be a stepping stone that then pushes people toward a higher eventual LRT ridership: During construction, CT could initiate a higher frequency BRT run and through some soft or relatively uncomplicated harder measures, prioritize busing through/around any construction zones. People will may then be left with the choice to either sit in mass congestion on Center, try their luck on the then more congested Deerfoot, or hop on the now seemingly more attractive bus ("BRT.") Once construction on the line is finished, modal habits may have changed and an LRT would look only more attractive. In general, we need to be less afraid to make travel more inconvenient for car drivers anyway - or is that too social engineering-y?
I'd put my money on it, that once all said and done, a boring machine will have to be involved, and that the project is going to cost more than most political will, will want to pay for. However, doing it wrong will cost even more in the end.
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LRT construction started in 1978. The system turned 30 yesterday.
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