Edmonton Public Transit

[foolworm]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Would make sense to go elevated through the TUK. Code for pipeline crossing rail lines is pretty specific about the depth. If they did not take the line into account that will surly add expense. I did notice though that the TMX line in that area had some directional drilling equipment.

Elevated track still requires piers which would require foundation designs. I imagine it's easier to just build up an earth ramp for a Henday flyover with maybe a bridging portion for pipelines. There are also height restrictions with the 330kV overhead power line.

Originally Posted by Airboy

There will also be a maintenance facility when the Northwest line gets built. It is supposed to be just east of 142st after the lrt crosses the train tracks.

You're talking about the full build-out to city limits? I know as part of the current Blatchford extension there's supposed to be a small yard constructed to the south of the Yellowhead / 75 St intersection (next to the baseball diamond), although I think it's only for storage.

[Rogie]

Originally Posted by foolworm

You're talking about the full build-out to city limits? I know as part of the current Blatchford extension there's supposed to be a small yard constructed to the south of the Yellowhead / 75 St intersection (next to the baseball diamond), although I think it's only for storage.

Yes, if you look at the information on the final NW build-out, there's a yard in the plans at 153 Ave and 142 St.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Construction of the Metro Line extension to Blatchford starts this summer!

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/nw-lrt.aspx

https://transforming.edmonton.ca/sustainable-transportation-bringing-lrt-to-blatchford/

https://blatchfordedmonton.ca/lrt/

[mcc16]

I still think a VERY long term plan for a cross town line the full length of 118ave through the city connecting to other line at blatchford would be a good idea. Would connect huge employment centre in the west end, residential/commercial main streets at 127-Kingsway, 97th-Gretzky, and Beverly. OR at least a full circle the length of jasper ave west to 124st, North to 118ave and then backEast to 82, the south to Connect back to jasper.

[foolworm]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

Construction of the Metro Line extension to Blatchford starts this summer!

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/nw-lrt.aspx

https://transforming.edmonton.ca/sustainable-transportation-bringing-lrt-to-blatchford/

https://blatchfordedmonton.ca/lrt/

One of the takeaways from the recent Council meeting was to re-evaluate the need for the Montrose yard if the Capital line extension were to be given the green light, so it's interesting that they're still planning to go ahead with construction. The City will have to make a decision quickly though, before they get too far along and lock themselves into having to complete it.

Originally Posted by mcc16

I still think a VERY long term plan for a cross town line the full length of 118ave through the city connecting to other line at blatchford would be a good idea. Would connect huge employment centre in the west end, residential/commercial main streets at 127-Kingsway, 97th-Gretzky, and Beverly. OR at least a full circle the length of jasper ave west to 124st, North to 118ave and then backEast to 82, the south to Connect back to jasper.

The City has designated 137 Ave as the northern crosstown corridor instead, which is arguably better suited for that purpose. I think the 118 Ave east of NAIT actually would do really well with something like a heritage streetcar given the small town feel of Alberta Avenue and Beverly, like a north side counterpart to the Whyte Avenue streetcars people keep proposing. Businesses probably won't survive the hit from construction and loss of traffic though...

[foolworm]

An update:

- A formal application has been made to the Province to form a Regional Transit Services Commission. All 4 counties in the Edmonton region have now opted out.

- The City blog has a post on the new Connors road footbridge, including a timelapse video. The old bridge is going to be reused for Blackmud Creek.

- The City website for Capital Line South has been updated, including a new rendering showing an elevated station and flyover at Ellerslie plus a buildout to 41 Ave SW. The cost increase seems a lot more reasonable now.

- Work on the Blatchford extension has kicked off with works at 109 St.

[Coldrsx]

Regional Transit Services Commission reaches major milestone with application to the Province
June 12, 2020

On June 11, nine municipalities in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region submitted a joint application to the Province of Alberta formally seeking the establishment of a Regional Transit Services Commission (RTSC):
City of Beaumont, Town of Devon, City of Edmonton, City of Fort Saskatchewan, City of Leduc, Town of Morinville, City of Spruce Grove, City of St. Albert and Town of Stony Plain.

Municipalities began examining the possibility of delivering integrated regional transit services in 2017 with the support of a grant from the Province of Alberta. The work was led by a Transition Team of elected representatives from municipalities in the Region.

“The submission of the application to the Province for the creation of a Regional Transit Services Commission is an important milestone in the development of how the metro Edmonton region works together for the benefit of all,” said City of St. Albert Councillor Wes Brodhead, Chair of the RTSC Transition Team. “It is the culmination of the hard work, dedication and collaborative focus of all participating municipalities, and I look forward to continuing the work of creating a regional transit system that serves the mobility needs of citizens of the region.”

Regional transit services can provide convenient, cost-effective and improved connections to more destinations for transit users.

“I'm proud of our work done as a Region to get to this application submission. A better connected Region will increase our collective economic competitiveness and provide more affordable and accessible transportation choices for citizens," said City of Edmonton Councillor Michael Walters, Co-chair of the Transition Team. "With recent impacts felt throughout the Region, the Commission is key to supporting our recovery and as we collectively reimagine a new Metro Edmonton Region for the future."

The application comes after the “Accelerating Transit in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region: Building a Regional Transit Services Commission” report released in January 2020 and a report addendum made available last week that demonstrated the value of a regional transit system. Since January, nine of thirteen municipalities voted in support of becoming a member of the Commission. The updated business case contemplated 10 members, but remains viable with nine. Based on the updated business case, the Commission is estimated to save over 600 service hours per week and $2.2 million per year once the regional system is fully operational.

The RTSC Transition Team is monitoring the streamlined application process proposed in the newly introduced Bill 22: Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020. Member municipalities will continue to work with Alberta Municipal Affairs to fulfill any new requirements if the Bill passes.

In the meantime, an interim Board of elected representatives from the nine municipalities will meet to begin preparing for the implementation of the RTSC. This work will include an executive search for a CEO and planning a smooth transition to the Commission.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by foolworm

An update:

- A formal application has been made to the Province to form a Regional Transit Services Commission. All 4 counties in the Edmonton region have now opted out.

- The City blog has a post on the new Connors road footbridge, including a timelapse video. The old bridge is going to be reused for Blackmud Creek.

- The City website for Capital Line South has been updated, including a new rendering showing an elevated station and flyover at Ellerslie plus a buildout to 41 Ave SW. The cost increase seems a lot more reasonable now.

- Work on the Blatchford extension has kicked off with works at 109 St.

Glad to see the track elevated over Ellerslie - the COE has learned from past mistakes and seems to be making more reasonable decisions now. I wonder if the track would be elevated over 41st as well...that extension is far off, however.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Harrison

Glad to see the track elevated over Ellerslie - the COE has learned from past mistakes and seems to be making more reasonable decisions now. I wonder if the track would be elevated over 41st as well...that extension is far off, however.

Likely, that's a major arterial and will carry more traffic than Ellerslie.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

5th set of cable supports now up on the Tawatina Bridge. Two more sets to go!

[kcantor]

^

from this afternoon:

[Coldrsx]

TLC for LRT: Stadium Station Redevelopment continues, nearby track renewal set to begin
June 22, 2020

This summer, as part of the City of Edmonton’s TLC for LRT initiative, crews will complete demolition work at Stadium Station, as well as track renewal work near Stadium Station. This work will result in some LRT service changes.

From June 28 until August 1, Capital and Metro Line trains will run every 20 minutes while crews work on the southbound track near Stadium. This will result in 20-minute frequency between Churchill and Clareview, and between Churchill and NAIT. Frequency will be every 10 minutes from Churchill to Century Park.

From August 2 until late-August, Capital and Metro Line trains will run every 15 minutes while crews work on the northbound track near Stadium. This will result in 15-minute frequency between Churchill and Clareview, and between Churchill and NAIT. Frequency will average every 7.5 minutes from Churchill to Century Park.

Metro Line trains will run between Century Park and NAIT all day for the entire duration of this project - except on June 28 and July 4-5 (weather dependent) when additional work requires Metro Line trains to only run between Grandin and NAIT.

“We understand that these frequency changes may inconvenience some transit riders this summer, but this work is an important step forward in the Stadium LRT Station Redevelopment,” said Craig McKeown, Director of LRT Operations and Maintenance. “This track renewal work will also allow our trains to run more efficiently in northeast Edmonton and provide a better customer experience.”

Current TLC for LRT projects are also making progress. Starting on or around June 28 (weather permitting), overnight construction between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. will take place at McKernan/Belgravia Station for approximately 1-2 weeks as crews complete platform renewal work. The station is scheduled to re-open to the public in mid-July.

This work is part of an ongoing effort to upgrade and maintain our LRT network to ensure it keeps serving Edmontonians for another 40 years and beyond. Future projects and schedules will be added to edmonton.ca/tlcforlrt, as well as announced on ETS social media and through onsite signage as they are finalized.

During COVID-19, we are continuing to maintain and improve our city through infrastructure renewal. We are closely following the most recent guidelines and recommendations set by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health, and are taking extra steps to ensure the places where we work are safe, sanitary, and provide proper physical distancing.


For more information:
edmonton.ca/tlcforlrt

[adam-machiavelli]

Now that Bill 22 would transfer regional board appointments from the local jurisdictions directly to the Municipal Affairs Minister's office, should the Edmonton region put a pause on the regional transit commission until a more Edmonton-friendly government comes to power? I just don't trust Madu. He may represent a district in Edmonton. But I feel that after he defended a racist and anti-semite, I honestly don't know where his loyalties lie.

[foolworm]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

Now that Bill 22 would transfer regional board appointments from the local jurisdictions directly to the Municipal Affairs Minister's office, should the Edmonton region put a pause on the regional transit commission until a more Edmonton-friendly government comes to power? I just don't trust Madu. He may represent a district in Edmonton. But I feel that after he defended a racist and anti-semite, I honestly don't know where his loyalties lie.

The answer is no. Waiting 3 years for a potential change in government amounts to shelving the initiative, and there's no guarantee that municipalities will still support it then.

Either way I feel like this simply puts in writing what the Province has always been able to do. Since Alberta only has single tier municipalities, regional issues exist in a grey area which folks have kludged through, even now. I'm not really worried about Edmonton being affected, given the extremely limited scope of the Commission and lack of Provincial involvement to date. Rather, I think this is more about laying the groundwork for the Calgary-Banff train that's currently being studied.

[Coldrsx]

Compass tap on/off experience again today from YVR-49th-UBC... has nothing on our 'please put your paper transfer into the duct taped cardboard box in front of the fare box' experience.

Seriously...

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Compass tap on/off experience again today from YVR-49th-UBC... has nothing on our 'please put your paper transfer into the duct taped cardboard box in front of the fare box' experience.

Seriously...

That's our future as well, though who knows when implementation will be at this point

[Coldrsx]

Delayed till 2021 at the earliest... but my lord, only 10-20yrs behind.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Delayed till 2021 at the earliest... but my lord, only 10-20yrs behind.

Seriously — pathetic.

[mcc16]

At least we don’t use ridiculously tiny little tokens for transit. I thought it was a joke when I saw that in Toronto lol. Not sure if they still have it...lived there 5ish years ago...

[Hallsy's Toupee]

6th set of support cables is going up on the Tawatina Bridge. Just one more left to go!