Calgary Public Transit II

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

It would be nice to have a detailed look at why it cost almost $200 million per km vs Vancouver's $100 million.

Scope creep is a lot of it. Sarcee interchange, longer trench, different Bow Trail alignment, those little churches whose expropriation values were many many times their market values, bigger park and ride at 69th, different 69th St alignment requiring two extra bridges and expropriation for a tail track, the replacement of Ernest Manning versus closing the sports field for a couple years, the not folding in property as part of the 'payment', relocation of the Sunalta station requiring much more property and CPR rights.

This is on top of the scope expansion from the $550 million dollar ~2005/06 plan, which had Westbrook as another elevated section.

Long term, a lot of the changes make a lot of sense, but some could have been avoided without reducing utility too too much.

[andasen]

Calgary Green Trip Funding In (kinda)

"Agreements signed between the Alberta government and the City of Calgary mean the city may borrow $473 million with the full backing of the provincial government to finance three approved projects: $332 million for the West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line; $8 million for Southeast Transit Way (SETWAY) predesign; and $133 million for the purchase of at least 50 Light Rail Vehicles.

“GreenTRIP is about building well connected transportation systems that get Albertans to where they need to be,” said Transportation Minister Ric McIver. “We are committed to supporting Calgarians’ mass transit needs as they build a city for the future. This agreement will help the City of Calgary maintain momentum on innovative transit projects.”

The City of Calgary’s complete application for GreenTRIP funding was received in December 2011. Two months later, the province gave approval in principle to provide funds for the municipality’s priority transit projects. The funding agreement was completed and signed by the City and the province over the last few weeks.

“Transit investments are amongst the best investments any city can make,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “They’re investments in reducing congestion, in improving air quality, and in increasing social mobility for everyone in the community. It’s great that the Alberta government also recognizes this.”

GreenTRIP provides one-time capital funding that supports new and expanded mass transit throughout Alberta, with projects determined by municipalities. The $2-billion, multi-year GreenTRIP program supports initiatives that contribute to transit accessibility and environmental benefits such as increased use of mass transit, reduction of roadway congestion, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. To date, the Alberta government has approved more than $1 billion in GreenTRIP funding for transit projects in 14 municipalities.

Through GreenTRIP, Alberta municipalities have been able to add new bus and LRT routes; buy environmentally-friendly transit vehicles; invest in technologies like GPS; build transit infrastructure; and provide transit service to other municipalities.

The Alberta government’s investment in Calgary’s West LRT totaled $1.3 billion, with funding from GreenTRIP, the Municipal Sustainability Initiative and other provincial funding sources. This investment represents 95 per cent of the total project cost for the new LRT line."

Source, Press Release

[Koolfire]

Originally Posted by Offside_Ref

Could the tunnel portal fit just east of the existing LRT at the intersection with 4th Ave? There is a parking lot on the north side and a lane on the south side, so there is the horizontal room for it. In that case, they could build the portal without interrupting the LRT for months or years, then just link it into the existing bridge. Anybody think that could work? As a bonus, they could keep the existing tracks when they're done, assuming the whole intersection at 4th doesn't need to be elevated, for route flexibility (easy transfer of trains from OBMF to the NW line).

I was thinking the same thing. This is the least disruptive solution to have the train turn east before 4th ave and tunnel under 8th St till 8th Ave then continue down 8th Ave. You could even have a station at 8th st and 7th ave for quick transfers on the west side of downtown.

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by andasen

Calgary Green Trip Funding In (kinda)
...
Source, Press Release

I think the government should announce this just a few more times. I don't think the 37,000 previous press releases have been sufficient.

[RyLucky]

As soon as I inherit Li Ka-shing's billions, here's what I'm going to do:



(it's been a boring Tuesday evening for me)

[mellbell416]

It sounds from the article that the big dollar figure that has been gained from the GreenTrip funding is mostly in the form of a loan, not in direct funds from the government? If so, how much is the government actually committing to the City for transit improvements?

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by mellbell416

It sounds from the article that the big dollar figure that has been gained from the GreenTrip funding is mostly in the form of a loan, not in direct funds from the government? If so, how much is the government actually committing to the City for transit improvements?

The commitment is for the province to pay off the borrowed funds, so all of it. $473 million. Much more firm than the provincial funds counted on to pay for the airport tunnel (non-tied grants beyond 2017).

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by RyLucky

As soon as I inherit Li Ka-shing's billions, here's what I'm going to do:



(it's been a boring Tuesday evening for me)

All those lines, and you don't even extend the NE line out to where the ROW is approved?

[Northski]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

All those lines, and you don't even extend the NE line out to where the ROW is approved?

Or the South LRT to 210 ave and Silverado.

[h0twired]

This is a bit off-topic... however I have searched and can't find what I am looking for.

I am looking for a short documentary that was made (and posted here) a couple of years ago regarding Calgary Transit.

I can't remember WHO was on the video but it was something from a larger documentary about urbanism/environmentalism. All I remember was that there was someone relatively famous riding the train while interviewing the head of CT.

Does that ring a bell with anyone?

[kw5150]

Awesome map buddy. I like the loop.

Originally Posted by RyLucky

As soon as I inherit Li Ka-shing's billions, here's what I'm going to do:



(it's been a boring Tuesday evening for me)

[RyLucky]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

All those lines, and you don't even extend the NE line out to where the ROW is approved?

challenge accepted. I'll throw in Silverado and a few others free of charge.

[Joborule]

Definitely looking forward to when the LRT loops become something close enough to establish a plan/ROW for.

[Colin]

Originally Posted by h0twired

This is a bit off-topic... however I have searched and can't find what I am looking for.

I am looking for a short documentary that was made (and posted here) a couple of years ago regarding Calgary Transit.

I can't remember WHO was on the video but it was something from a larger documentary about urbanism/environmentalism. All I remember was that there was someone relatively famous riding the train while interviewing the head of CT.

Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Are you thinking of the "Living City" that aired on the CBC?

It was a great documentary even though it didn't paint Calgary in the best light. I believe he interviewed the Calgary Transit head while taking the C-Train. Here's a link to the documentary:

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/2009/livingcity/

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenFlames

i admit, i'm not on top of this stuff nearly as much as some people here, but why does the selrt and nclrt always get discussed as 2 distinct projects? why can't they be 1?

what if both were built concurrently. lynwood station would be the south terminus, and continuing thru downtown and north up centre street to about mcknight. this would help service both sides of the debate (north vs south) and as money becomes available, extensions could be built at either end, in similar fashion to the extensions to the ne and nw lines.

i know the 8 ave subway is a lynchpin no matter what to both lines, but am i out to lunch or is this at all a feasible option? has it been discussed much before?

so i just watched live with nenshi and he mentioned that the city is looking at the nclrt and selrt project as;

"one giant leg of the lrt, 40 km long. all the way from the keystone to the new hospital in seton. my sense is they will start in the middle and radiate out. going from 16 ave to quarry park, and then extend out from there."

[5seconds]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenFlames

so i just watched live with nenshi and he mentioned that the city is looking at the nclrt and selrt project as;

"one giant leg of the lrt, 40 km long. all the way from the keystone to the new hospital in seton. my sense is they will start in the middle and radiate out. going from 16 ave to quarry park, and then extend out from there."

Sounds ambitious!

Would that mean that a Nose Creek alignment is out?

[DizzyEdge]

Can anyone estimate how what percentage more infrastructure for LRT costs than infrastructure for streetcar? Just wondering if a future LRT is necessary to the airport if a streetcar might do. If lowfloor LRT only costs a bit more than streetcar infrastructure then might as well build it as LRT.

[floobie]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenFlames

so i just watched live with nenshi and he mentioned that the city is looking at the nclrt and selrt project as;

"one giant leg of the lrt, 40 km long. all the way from the keystone to the new hospital in seton. my sense is they will start in the middle and radiate out. going from 16 ave to quarry park, and then extend out from there."

I think that's a decent way of looking at it. Having one giant line seems more efficient. The ability to go from far North to deep South on one train would be quite something. And, in terms of construction, both lines would need that downtown tunnel anyway, so it makes sense to start from there and radiate outwards, with a bit of bias towards the south line, though.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by RyLucky

As soon as I inherit Li Ka-shing's billions, here's what I'm going to do:



(it's been a boring Tuesday evening for me)

It may be a bit over the top, but I agree with a lot of the basic connections and network pattern. Good job.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by floobie

I think that's a decent way of looking at it. Having one giant line seems more efficient. The ability to go from far North to deep South on one train would be quite something. And, in terms of construction, both lines would need that downtown tunnel anyway, so it makes sense to start from there and radiate outwards, with a bit of bias towards the south line, though.

One SE portion has to come first to accommodate a maintenance facility, as Chris Jordan (the RouteAhead lead) points out. Might as well go to Quarry Park first then up north second.

My plan, and the urbanist in me hates this somewhat, would be to build a massive park'n'ride at Quarry Park (2000 stalls or something) to accommodate the demand from the SE. Once the train is extended, build offices over the park'n'ride, or most of it anyway. That way commuters can avoid the Deerfoot bottleneck at the Ivor Strong Bridge.