Calgary Public Transit II

[Joborule]

I understand and agree that there is pros in having the LRT at or above grade, rather than below it, both for the scenery and connectivity/interaction with the surrounding environment. I think an above grade implementation (bridges) would be more detrimental to the 36 St corridor potential; having all those concrete support beams in the way when looking across from on side to the other. Having it trenched/tunneled also will be limiting the potential also; there's better gains in being able to the LRT go right by or step onto the station, plus this corridor would be approximately 4KMs long, so that'll be a long period of time of staring at walls when there's so much more to see above.

That's why it may be best to actually keep it at ground level, but move it from the median of 36 St to the west side of the road. Not only would it help with the left turn issue for vehicles in all directions, but it should connect both sides of 36 street better since there isn't such a major barrier in the middle. And it should make the stations a bit more accessible to pedestrians, at least to the west side, where most of the major attractions are on.

Sure it'll still interact with intersections, but it'll effect them less since it won't conflict with them except in one direction, (To WB, or from WB) and traffic going in that direction will be manageable. The only intersection where there may need to be level separation would be 32nd Ave N, and the train could be trenched underneath there.

I think by doing this, the potential can be fully reached for this corridor. 36 Street E can look like a true urban boulevard from Memorial Drive up to 32 Ave-McKnight. The only thing is this, would it be worth the costs to even bother doing it?