Calgary Public Transit II

[You Need A Thneed]

The are borrowing on the other "tax room" from previous years to get those projects done faster.

As far as construction on this goes, I'll agree that noone really knows for sure. If the city can get matching funds from both the province and the feds, the project will look completely different than if the city can't get any matching and just has to use the $520 million. If the city could figure out some more alternative funding, and then get matching from the province and the Feds, they could get a good start on the LRT, or evn build the whole thing.

[Chadillaccc]

That would be great. So I'm not completely sure if I'm reading this correctly, but some of you are thinking there's a good chance construction will start before 2024?

[Fuzz]

To bad we don't have Rob Ford as our mayor so he could go BBQ with the Prime Minister and get us a subway!

[Chadillaccc]

Thankfully we have Nenshi to think things through sensibly and do what is best for the city. That's probably part of why they have decided to make the NC and SE just one line now.

[CorporateWhore]

I've really been out of it the last few days because of work so I havent had a chance to follow along, but with the SE BRT thing, is basically what's going to happen that they will build the BRT route (which will use up the 500M), and then at some point turn that same route into the LRT?

[fusili]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

I've really been out of it the last few days because of work so I havent had a chance to follow along, but with the SE BRT thing, is basically what's going to happen that they will build the BRT route (which will use up the 500M), and then at some point turn that same route into the LRT?

More of less, yes. Not sure about the NC portion, but the SE portion can mostly be built as a BRT and just converted to rail. Several bridges have to be built anyway. I think they will just asphalt it and then put rails into the asphalt when they are ready to convert to rail, ALA 7th avenue.

[Chadillaccc]

7th Ave is concrete.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by fusili

More of less, yes. Not sure about the NC portion, but the SE portion can mostly be built as a BRT and just converted to rail. Several bridges have to be built anyway. I think they will just asphalt it and then put rails into the asphalt when they are ready to convert to rail, ALA 7th avenue.

Might not be a bad way to go, at least they could get it going quickly. IIRC 500M is about half of what the whole SELRT would be right?

[DizzyEdge]

It would be interesting to estimate what the bus travel time difference would be on Centre street from Harvest Hills to downtown of: dedicated bus only lanes vs fully enforced rush hour bus & 2+ occupancy cars.

If Centre has a bus only lane, id be concerned about the optics of sitting in a car in rush hour traffic while only 1 bus goes by every 1, 2 or 3 minutes in the dedicated lane.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

To bad we don't have Rob Ford as our mayor so he could go BBQ with the Prime Minister and get us a subway!

It doesn't work like that. That commitment wasn't extra money.

[Chadillaccc]

Stantec proposal for the Southeast Line.


• Video Link

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by fusili

More of less, yes. Not sure about the NC portion, but the SE portion can mostly be built as a BRT and just converted to rail. Several bridges have to be built anyway. I think they will just asphalt it and then put rails into the asphalt when they are ready to convert to rail, ALA 7th avenue.

that may actually be the most expensive way to do it.

One thing we should do is learn from Ottawa's experience converting their BRT transit way into a rail service. Their transition has been quite pricey partly due to missing route infrastructure ( tunnels) in the Down town but also because they have to may a temporary transitway to maintain service with the prep for rail.

(I have a vague recollection that it is a seven year project)

[Spring2008]

If the city can get the province and feds to match the $520 million, almost makes sense to come up with some alternative funding strategy for the remainder and build this whole line - centre street/se lrt at once. Our train system would be huge and serve the city very well if this all got built.

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by fusili

More of less, yes. Not sure about the NC portion, but the SE portion can mostly be built as a BRT and just converted to rail. Several bridges have to be built anyway. I think they will just asphalt it and then put rails into the asphalt when they are ready to convert to rail, ALA 7th avenue.

Makes sense I guess, but I wonder why not just build the LRT then..even if that money only gets you halfway. Building out to Seton should be a pretty low priority at this stage...people who buy homes in that area need to start living with the consequences of that decision.

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

Makes sense I guess, but I wonder why not just build the LRT then..even if that money only gets you halfway. Building out to Seton should be a pretty low priority at this stage...people who buy homes in that area need to start living with the consequences of that decision.

I agree... The impact of having the LRT lines built out would be immense.. There's never going to be a "good" time to do it .. It'll just get more expensive

That being said maybe LRT out to Quarry Park, and BRT out to Seton? Seems kind of like a half assed approach but could be a more financially feasible way to do it that would serve the whole line

I'm in favour of the LRT lines being built out to QP and Beddington .. It's a start and would have a noticble impact in the city

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by sim

It's about building a functional, well connected network that even further down the road acts in a way that is much greater than the sum of its parts: The ability to get from near anywhere to near anywhere with 1 transfer. This piece of infrastructure would be a large piece of that puzzle.

I don't disagree with that, but if it can't realistically be funded or built, it's irrelevant. We can't get the 8th Ave Subway built, and now were planning not one, but two additional unnecessary subways and calling this a serious proposal?

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by mersar

Unlikely, and it would cost many tens of millions of dollars (possibly into the hundreds of millions) even if they were interested.

The stations would also be quite complicated, at best you'd do a side load with an elevated crossing joining the two platforms (so its at least level to downtown or the beltline for each platform), at worst centre load and force every person to go up and over either the CP and/or LRT tracks depending on the direction they are coming from, and down to the platform. Or go below ground with virtually the same pattern.

The CPR sells and leases land all the time, and this land is far more useless to them than most. The area would have to be reconfigured as it is still setup for boarding passenger trains. But it is infinitely more cost effective than building a tunnel.

The Quad track only runs between 1st Street S.E. and 11th Street S.W. The extra tracks are just a relic of the passenger stations that existed along there historically. The CPR could without any fuss settle into a double track eight feet apart with a spur for the Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by H.E.Pennypacker

I agree... The impact of having the LRT lines built out would be immense.. There's never going to be a "good" time to do it .. It'll just get more expensive

That being said maybe LRT out to Quarry Park, and BRT out to Seton? Seems kind of like a half assed approach but could be a more financially feasible way to do it that would serve the whole line

I'm in favour of the LRT lines being built out to QP and Beddington .. It's a start and would have a noticble impact in the city

LRT from Beddington to Quarry Park seems perfect! Almost sounds like a dream haha! It would definitely be a dream come true for this city. Even if they just did 16th Ave to Quarry Park.

[mellbell416]

From the Herald article, it sounds like we will be going the BRT route in the short term with the intent of having a NC SE connected route by 2018. The goal is to reduce a 80 minute SE route to 45 minute express run.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Cross+city+rapid+link+built+pieces+2018/9225624/story.html

[MalcolmTucker]

Until the project contract is signed, it isn't final.