Calgary's $8 BILLION Transit Plan - The RouteAhead

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by MasterG

Man I could use some sweet swing / opposition riding infrastructure funds right now. How you doing Scarborough Subway, Evergreen Line and Montreal bridges?

It would have been wicked if the Green party had won in the Calgary city centre by-election in 2012. It would have sent shock waves through the country that a truck driving, racist, homophobic city like us could elect Greens. It could have put the conservatives on red alert.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Centre

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

It would have been wicked if the Green party had won in the Calgary city centre by-election in 2012. It would have sent shock waves through the country that a truck driving, racist, homophobic city like us could elect Greens. It could have put the conservatives on red alert.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Centre

With the drop in the public subsidy, unless the Greens really up their game fundraising wise, this coming election will be the last hurrah. Beyond some regional pockets, of which Calgary might be one.

Originally Posted by MasterG

Man I could use some sweet swing / opposition riding infrastructure funds right now. How you doing Scarborough Subway, Evergreen Line and Montreal bridges?

Except, that is not how it works. You look at Calgary's rough grant amounts, raise it proportionally for the population of other regions, dedicate it for years and then you have a funded SkyTrain/subway.

As for the Montreal bridges, there is a federal canal going under them. So a bit of a special case.

[MasterG]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

With the drop in the public subsidy, unless the Greens really up their game fundraising wise, this coming election will be the last hurrah. Beyond some regional pockets, of which Calgary might be one.


Except, that is not how it works. You look at Calgary's rough grant amounts, raise it proportionally for the population of other regions, dedicate it for years and then you have a funded SkyTrain/subway.

As for the Montreal bridges, there is a federal canal going under them. So a bit of a special case.

Fair. It would be nice for the Feds to show some leadership on cities every once in a while. I know we technically aren't constitutionally "existing" in their eyes but come on. Increasing the urban infrastructure dollars available would be a very good thing.

[Spring2008]

Interesting graph, I bet the percentage of people walking and biking to work has already gone up since then:


https://twitter.com/DruhFarrell

[Spring2008]

Interesting:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/lr...calgary-aim-of-new-lobby-group-1.2560488

[Chadillaccc]

Is there any chance that the city may re-evaluate their stance on the 8th Avenue Subway? In the route ahead, they say the subway won't be built until the city (I'm assuming the municipality, not metro) reaches 1.6 million people... at just under 1.2 million, that could be another 30+ years without any movement on this badly needed infrastructure project.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Is there any chance that the city may re-evaluate their stance on the 8th Avenue Subway? In the route ahead, they say the subway won't be built until the city (I'm assuming the municipality, not metro) reaches 1.6 million people... at just under 1.2 million, that could be another 30+ years without any movement on this badly needed infrastructure project.

I am sure a few extra billion dollars that aren't expected would have them re-evaluating their stance. But until that money appears, it is likely to be behind the SE LRT (and maybe even the NC LRT).

[RyLucky]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Is there any chance that the city may re-evaluate their stance on the 8th Avenue Subway? In the route ahead, they say the subway won't be built until the city (I'm assuming the municipality, not metro) reaches 1.6 million people... at just under 1.2 million, that could be another 30+ years without any movement on this badly needed infrastructure project.

My stance is that there is already a "need". In the 10+ years it will take for consultation, planning, utility work, and construction, I'm sure Calgary's population will be closing in on 1.6M. I guess the question is whether or not a subway is a priority for the city relative to other transit projects. Unfortunately, I don't see either leading provincial party stepping up to cover these projects in the near future. Write letters.

[SubwayRev]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Is there any chance that the city may re-evaluate their stance on the 8th Avenue Subway? In the route ahead, they say the subway won't be built until the city (I'm assuming the municipality, not metro) reaches 1.6 million people... at just under 1.2 million, that could be another 30+ years without any movement on this badly needed infrastructure project.

I think Calgary will be at 1.6 in much less than 30+ years...30 years ago we we're under 600,000. Should be done sooner either way because as you said, it's badly needed; but we'll likely go past 1.6 in the next 15 years.

[milomilo]

Even though it is really needed now, I can see why politically the SE/NCLRT line would be built first. Once that's in, then all corners of the city will have LRT and the subway will be an easier sell.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Even though it is really needed now, I can see why politically the SE/NCLRT line would be built first. Once that's in, then all corners of the city will have LRT and the subway will be an easier sell.

Once the revenue is identified, I bet the city goes all it - one huge P3 project for two tunnels and the entire Green Line at once. It might not all open on the same day, but it would be a rather interesting project for companies to bid on.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Once the revenue is identified, I bet the city goes all it - one huge P3 project for two tunnels and the entire Green Line at once. It might not all open on the same day, but it would be a rather interesting project for companies to bid on.

I was thinking along the same lines ... Hopefully it happens

[ClaytonA]

Update of funded BRTs along with Green Line federal announcement;

• Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln5GMS6aeRY

[ClaytonA]

Interesting comments just above...

If there is a lot of underground work, is there much synergy doing the 8th Ave subway concurrently? Would they do them cut-and-cover or tunnel bore?

Are there still unfunded LRV's to build the trains all up to 4-car trains?

Are the BRTs approx BRTs with enhanced stations/stops and traffic signal priority with queue jumper lanes or just limited stop buses with higher frequency than 15 minutes?

[DavidKuitunen]

• Video Link

I found this video that shows a rendering of the route from an aerial perspective. The South portion of the track is real footage and the north portion is Google maps. It's great to see this project coming through, although I imagined communities like Ogden/Lynwood would be a little more developed by the time the track would be considered. This project is slated for completion in 2024, and as of now most of the southern portion just doesn't seem feasible for an LRT line. 9 years is a good chunk of time to develop, I wonder if the city has plans to densify places like Ogden/Lynwood. All the stations further from downtown then Lynwood I wouldn't expect densification, but rather park and rides.

Good to see the ball rolling on this project.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Interesting graph, I bet the percentage of people walking and biking to work has already gone up since then:


https://twitter.com/DruhFarrell

Noting this is only for transport termed "share travel", how does this normalize out for all transport?

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by joe498

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgar...ven+rapid+routes+2021/9454443/story.html

'Stars have aligned:' City approves plan to build rapid bus routes to suburbs

Are these transitways still all being built (minus the NC and SE lines now obv). If so that Route Ahead plan was really implemented well. Most of Calgary would be served by rail/rapid transit within a decade.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Noting this is only for transport termed "share travel", how does this normalize out for all transport?

Nah. Mode share is the term. Share travel is not. I guess they could have added a comma or em dash to make it more clear.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Are these transitways still all being built (minus the NC and SE lines now obv). If so that Route Ahead plan was really implemented well. Most of Calgary would be served by rail/rapid transit within a decade.

If they were funded they are still going ahead. Timelines are mostly set and should follow whats in the Investing in Mobility report from 2014.

For instance the SW BRT to Woodbine should be underway this year according to what I was told the last time I asked the city about it, and the changes they are doing at Anderson/14th are partially prep work in advance of the main body of work for that to handle the anticipated traffic pattern changes due to that construction.

[RicoLance21]

I wonder when construction will start on the North Central leg. At this stage, it looks like there is going to be at least another 3 years before shovels can hit the ground. Personally, I was hoping to buy a property in that area within that period.

As for the SW BRT, in my opinion, I like to see the outer lane on Glenmore Trail from Crowchild to 14 Street to become a dedicated bus lane once SW Stoney is complete.