Edmonton Public Transit - Page 370

Coldrsx · #**7381** Posted **Jan 19, 2016, 9:05 PM**

I asked the ERS about this, they don't have enough people... even if paid they said and liability/etc. etc. issues.

Coldrsx · #**7382** Posted **Jan 20, 2016, 2:31 PM**

Edmonton mayor wants Ottawa to foot larger bill on infrastructure

ELISE STOLTE, EDMONTON JOURNAL
More from Elise Stolte, Edmonton Journal

Mayor Don Iveson said Edmonton can move quickly on the west section of the LRT, two priority train crossings or upgrades to the Yellowhead Trail if Ottawa comes through with a suggested $1-billion stimulus package.

None of those projects are “shovel ready” but design work could be finished in 2016 and construction could start the following years, said Iveson, reacting to news out of Ottawa Tuesday.

“We could get started on that very, very quickly,” he said. “Sending those signals today helps give certainty to contractors and employers that there will be work in the pipe the next year. Even sending the signal is important from an economic confidence point of view.”

Bloomberg News quoted three unnamed government sources in its report on the suggested stimulus package. Speaking after a cabinet retreat Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would only say: “We’re looking very, very hard at what needs to be done.”

“We’ve always said that being fiscally responsible while creating growth is at the heart of what the Liberal Party is, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” said Trudeau.

Infrastructure and Communities Minister Amarjeet Sohi said the Liberals will consider paying more than their one-third share for infrastructure projects they deem worthwhile.

Iveson said that’s critical. “There are real concerns across the country that some provinces may not be in a position to top up, some municipalities as well,” he said, adding that transit projects that can cost billions.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...wa-to-foot-larger-bill-on-infrastructure

Coldrsx · #**7383** Posted **Jan 20, 2016, 3:11 PM**

David Staples: Walking: A new form of old public transit

DAVID STAPLES, EDMONTON JOURNAL
More from David Staples, Edmonton Journal

I’m here to recommend a new form of old public transportation: your feet.

Nine months ago, I made the decision to stop taking the LRT to work and start walking, even as it takes me more than an hour to make the trek, as opposed to 30 minutes by train.

Most days I’ve kept to my plan of walking at least one way, but it’s not always been easy, which I why I was heartened to hear about Erin Elizabeth Ross.

Ross also works in downtown Edmonton. She has been walking to work for four years now. At first, Ross made a 45-minute walk through a fairly tough part of town from her home in Queen Mary Park. More recently, she has moved to an east downtown apartment and has cut her walk to 15 minutes each way.

The world is full of talk these days about different ways of getting around — modes of transportation as the policy wonks call it — but most of the talk is around switching from cars to LRT, or from buses or cars to bicycles.

But what’s it like to go old school and walk wherever you need to go?

http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colum...walking-a-new-form-of-old-public-transit

Coldrsx · #**7384** Posted **Jan 21, 2016, 3:00 AM**

Bay Station's level 1 retail bays that are boarded up are going to become artist studios/workspaces... Potentially with a creative element!

canucklehead2 · #**7385** Posted **Jan 24, 2016, 10:42 PM**

I think the city should just take over the High Level line and run it as a shuttle between Jasper and Whyte. Our own version of that Grand Central shuttle in Manhattan that runs between Times Square and the venerable railway station... Also a good way of getting intoxicated youngin's from side of the valley to the next on a Friday or Saturday night!

Coldrsx · #**7386** Posted **Jan 24, 2016, 10:56 PM**

Or folks from DT/Oliver or Garneau/Old Strat to and fro as needed for work, school, play.

Makenosmallplans · #**7387** Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 1:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucklehead2

I think the city should just take over the High Level line and run it as a shuttle between Jasper and Whyte. Our own version of that Grand Central shuttle in Manhattan that runs between Times Square and the venerable railway station... Also a good way of getting intoxicated youngin's from side of the valley to the next on a Friday or Saturday night!

Really agree. Also a way to leverage (future) competition for 'happening' streets in Edmonton. If you could hop a shuttle between Whyte, Jasper, 124 st and 118 ave... could be a great direction. a visitor or resident could do a couple of trendy streets in a day - all unique, all vibrant. need to think about growing - as with most big cities, the core really isn't that large or spread out - especially if well served with transit options.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**7388** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 12:27 AM**

Koziak is back and running for Ward 12. Oh Don, don't ever change:
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...s-running-in-edmonton-council-byelection

Quote:

this is the eighth time around for Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Centre general manager Don Koziak, who said he wants a referendum on whether to build the $1.8-billion southeast LRT, slated to start construction this spring. “I would rather they spend it on interchanges in the city.”

Coldrsx · #**7389** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 1:41 AM**

Oh lord...

Spliff · #**7390** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 1:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Oh lord...

Not sure why you are mocking him. People are fed up with wasteful boondoggles that result in substandard infrastructure like the Metro Line. Every year Canadian society gets more expensive - property taxes go up every year, new carbon taxes, loss of trust by the public in the effective use of tax dollars. A bloated and ineffective beauocracy.

These concerns are real, and I think a lot of people probably agree with Koziak and that doesn't mean they are suburban, no density, anti urban hicks who love fossil fuels.

Edmonton could have saved billions by having an effective BRT with dedicated lanes. Why must we have LRT?

GoTrans · #**7391** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 2:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spliff

Edmonton could have saved billions by having an effective BRT with dedicated lanes. Why must we have LRT?

Because you would end up like Ottawa with traffic jams caused by buses preventing them from moving on major streets in the core.

canucklehead2 · #**7392** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 3:31 AM**

BRT is great in theory but really it's just a poor-man's transit system with little draw to get people out of their cars. Yes it's cheaper to build in the short term, but in the end? Not so much.

Having said that, I hope planners in this city learn from the Metro line debacle so that this complete and utter sh*t-show doesn't sour people on LRT or rapid transit in the decades to come, which as I see from here and on Facebook that it has...

Hallsy's Toupee · #**7393** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 3:38 AM**

The bigger issue here is Koziak wanting to go back to archaic 1950s thinking and build more interchanges instead of bettering our transit. And remember, this dinosaur also fought to keep the city centre airport open.

Black Star · #**7394** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

Koziak is back and running for Ward 12. Oh Don, don't ever change:
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...s-running-in-edmonton-council-byelection

This guy is so out to lunch...its almost unreal.

My prediction.....he gets 800 or less votes lol.

SHOFEAR · #**7395** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 2:47 PM**

I think Koziak would be good for council. Certainly more of a voice for taxpayers and businesses who are frustrated with high taxes brought on by feel good social social engineering policies that have become all to common lately.

Coldrsx · #**7396** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 2:59 PM**

High taxes? Edmonton has some of the lowest corporate and residential taxes of any major city in the country.

I can appreciate the frustration of Citizens from certain capital projects and a variety of viewpoints is important, nay critical, on an effective Council, but do you honestly think he is 1/12?

adam-machiavelli · #**7397** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 4:17 PM**

Like the rest of you should, I'm just going to pretend Koziak doesn't exist. But man, when did this forum fill up with so many people who've jumped on the far-right crazy train?

Airboy · #**7398** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 4:38 PM**

One issue with Koziak entering this race. A race of this size He has name recognition. If people actually get out and vote they will natural go for the name they recognize. However civic by-elections are never taken seriously. If there is 30% turnout I will be surprised.

Jasper and one o nin · #**7399** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Star

This guy is so out to lunch...its almost unreal.

My prediction.....he gets 800 or less votes lol.

There are 32 candidates. He could win with 800 votes.

SHOFEAR · #**7400** Posted **Jan 26, 2016, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

but do you honestly think he is 1/12?

Who of the 32 Candidates is a 1/12.

Another career public sector worker, or worse career politician, student, or career community leader etc that tend to dominate AB politics these days?

I'll take a guy who operates a business that struggles and shares in the same economic climate that the rest of us do. Maybe that's Koziak, maybe it's another guy from the list.

Yeah, it might mean no bike lanes, feel good social justice issues get pushed back to their rightful place at the bottom of the concern pile, not automatically picking the most environmentally option, not feeling guilted into picking up the tabs for provincial responsibilities that have been offloaded to the city...etc....no big loss.