Edmonton Public Transit - Page 482

Black Star · #**9621** Posted **May 21, 2020, 3:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

I think it's a strategy to get media attention and higher government aid.

Very well could be

Black Star · #**9622** Posted **May 21, 2020, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

I think Iveson is playing the same doom/gloom scenario that got Vancouver's mayor laughed out of the room by his NDP compatriots in power in Victoria. He took scorched earth worst case numbers to the province, cap in hand, and they saw right though the craziness of his assertions and didn't give him a dime. Crazy days.

Mmmmm That also. Fack...who knows.

s211 · #**9623** Posted **May 21, 2020, 4:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Star

Mmmmm That also. Fack...who knows.

It's a dangerous game for Iveson to be playing. Kennedy got kicked to the curb pretty hard, when I would have thought the province would be all over helping a card-carrying member.

Don't yell fire unless there is one, a big one.

CanadianCentaur · #**9624** Posted **May 22, 2020, 3:41 PM**

I wonder if the COVID-19 pandemic is going to give ETS a good kick in the seat of the pants in getting a cashless fare system with fare cards, etc. sooner rather than later? I wouldn't be surprised.

I doubt that Iveson would be able to shut down ETS service entirely. Sounds like a scare tactic, as others here have said. There's too many people depending on it to do stuff like go to work and stuff.

Coldrsx · #**9625** Posted **May 22, 2020, 3:57 PM**

It is positioning to get Fed dollars.

As for touchless, this actually is postponing the system... 2021... yup.

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headhorse · #**9626** Posted **May 22, 2020, 5:59 PM**

just make transit free instead of wasting money on fare systems

kcantor · #**9627** Posted **May 22, 2020, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianCentaur

I wonder if the COVID-19 pandemic is going to give ETS a good kick in the seat of the pants in getting a cashless fare system with fare cards, etc. sooner rather than later? I wouldn't be surprised.

I doubt that Iveson would be able to shut down ETS service entirely. Sounds like a scare tactic, as others here have said. There's too many people depending on it to do stuff like go to work and stuff.

it might well have been just "a scare tactic".

but it probably wasn't without reason. unlike the federal government and the provincial government edmonton by law cannot budget for an operating deficit. period.

and any unbudgeted deficit that is incurred must be repaid before the end of the next fiscal year. just think about what that would do for taxes for 2021 for a minute...

while we can argue or disagree about priorities all we want, at the end of the day if the city's expenses start to look they are going to go over budget by $100 million, it's got to be cut from somewhere. they can't go out and raise $100 million out of thin air and they can't borrow it (it's operating, not capital). so if it's not transit being cut, it will have to come from road maintenance or snow removal or permits and inspections or fire fighting or police services...

lubicon · #**9628** Posted **May 22, 2020, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headhorse

just make transit free instead of wasting money on fare systems

You can make it no charge but you cannot make it free. Someone is paying regardless.

CMD UW · #**9629** Posted **May 23, 2020, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

It's a dangerous game for Iveson to be playing. Kennedy got kicked to the curb pretty hard, when I would have thought the province would be all over helping a card-carrying member.

Don't yell fire unless there is one, a big one.

Thing is, there is a big 'financial' fire that's about to erupt and there is not much our municipalities can do other than make dramatic cuts. I think we'll see some type of package for municipalities that will come from the Federal and Provincial governments. This alarm bell is being rang in all municipalities, particularly the big ones.

s211 · #**9630** Posted **May 23, 2020, 5:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMD UW

Thing is, there is a big 'financial' fire that's about to erupt and there is not much our municipalities can do other than make dramatic cuts. I think we'll see some type of package for municipalities that will come from the Federal and Provincial governments. This alarm bell is being rang in all municipalities, particularly the big ones.

I agree with you. The problem is that Kennedy applied every possible worst scenario to the city's financial status, and reportedly beyond worst, and then went public with his numbers and then used them to try and leverage the province. It blew up in his face. It would be helpful for Iveson to avoid that risk.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**9631** Posted **May 23, 2020, 11:04 PM**

The pedestrian bridge across Connors Road has been taken down. New bridge is forthcoming.

foolworm · #**9632** Posted **May 23, 2020, 11:05 PM**

Iveson is the incumbent Chair of the Canadian Big City Mayors’ Caucus, so when he makes these sorts of bombastic statements it's partly in that capacity as well. The federal government has made it clear that they regard transit as a provincial/municipal concern.

In any case, it's not just Smartfare that's been delayed to 2021, the bus network redesign and Valley line Southeast have all been pushed off the 2020 calendar. Covid may not be to blame for all of this, but it's clear there will be no ribbon cuttings of any sort this year.

Coldrsx · #**9633** Posted **May 25, 2020, 2:07 AM**

https://twitter.com/IanOyeg/status/1264713391140028416
@IanOyeg

s211 · #**9634** Posted **May 25, 2020, 2:52 PM**

Any bets on whether it'll actually join up when they go to connect it?

Black Star · #**9635** Posted **May 25, 2020, 3:37 PM**

They say sometime in my life....This bridge and line will be completed.

Coldrsx · #**9636** Posted **May 26, 2020, 4:28 PM**

Just an update for you on the Valley Line West LRT Utility Relocations along 102 Avenue.

Construction in Work Area #3: 102 Avenue from 103 Street to 105 Street will begin either Tuesday, May 26 or Wednesday, May 27. This is slightly ahead of the early June start that was communicated in the original notice – please see attached.

Work in this area is expected to be completed by mid-July.

During construction:
Eastbound lanes on 102 Avenue will remain closed.
Access in/out of the alleys on the south side of 102 Avenue between 103 Street and 105 Street will be restricted.
The bike lane and sidewalk on the south side of 102 Avenue will be closed.
The northbound curb lane on 105 Street will closed for approximately 16 days.
Partial road closure on 104 Street, south of 102 Avenue will occur in mid-June for approximately 12 days.
Westbound lanes on 102 Avenue will be closed starting in mid-July for approximately 4 days. A portion of sidewalk will also be closed in this area during this time.

Coldrsx · #**9637** Posted **May 28, 2020, 10:18 PM**

E-scooters are coming back

The City will issue licenses to two e-scooter vendors after working with Alberta Health Services and the e-scooter companies on contract terms. The plan is a phased reintroduction, effective June 1, 2020, that is structured to evolve into full operation. If essential criteria are met, the companies can expand operations.

Additional safety measures are being put in place to ensure public safety including enhanced daily cleaning of e-scooters, the addition of public health messaging on the vendor’s app and on the e-scooters. The e-scooters will also now be corralled in designated areas to facilitate daily cleaning.

The License Agreement will be cancelled if e-scooters are found to be a source of COVID-19 transmission, if users or the company are not adhering to cleaning protocols, or if use of e-scooters is judged to be a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles.

The staged introduction approach will begin with a modest number of e-scooters followed by a stepped increase in numbers if the criteria is met. The number of e-scooters could be as many as 2,400 e-scooters at peak times.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**9638** Posted **May 30, 2020, 6:37 PM**

Report snubs LRT extension into northwest Edmonton
https://globalnews.ca/news/7004298/edmonton-northwest-lrt-extension/

Quote:

A new report heading to a special city council meeting on Monday says Edmonton should put extending the south LRT to Ellerslie Road as a priority, over and above extending the Metro Line from Blatchford up to Castle Downs and eventually St. Albert.

That’s frustrated Councillor Bev Esslinger because the last report on this, four years ago, had the two projects as equals.

A couple of years ago, it would have been a firm NO from me because the Metro line expansion should be a top priority over merely further extending the old line from the 1970s. Now I'm not so sure. The article has some good points for prioritizing the Capital line.

What you guys think?

Coldrsx · #**9639** Posted **May 30, 2020, 6:39 PM**

Always a difficult choice, but I'd say the south has the edge due to growth, a new hospital/health cluster, massive park and ride and the potential to push closer to YEG...

s211 · #**9640** Posted **May 30, 2020, 9:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Always a difficult choice, but I'd say the south has the edge due to growth, a new hospital/health cluster, massive park and ride and the potential to push closer to YEG...

If St. Albert wants it, it can pony up for it. Little benefit for Edmonton to go NW?