Edmonton Public Transit

[Coldrsx]

Let me help you out.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by kcantor

congratulations!

noting that, for perspective, if Coldrsx stopped posting as of right now, it would only take you another 739.44 years to reach his post count so you might have to step things up. i would add an emoticon but i'm not sure which one is the most fitting...

Considering I started posting when I was 13, I may get a solid 10% of his post count before I kick the bucket. I can't think of anyone on SSP that comes close to him.

[foolworm]

So the Twin Brooks station is back on the plan now? I thought it got cut at one point since the community didn't want it.

For a billion clams, I hope the final design safeguards a grade separated crossing of Ellerslie Road. Otherwise there's no reason the cost would almost double from the previous estimate of 600 million.

I'm also hoping this extension is entirely funded by senior governments, because Edmonton is in no position to kick in any more cash. Iveson seems very confident though given the lack of official stimulus announcements at this point.

[Black Star]

Congrats Harrison

@ Ken K You actually did the math hahaha.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by foolworm

So the Twin Brooks station is back on the plan now? I thought it got cut at one point since the community didn't want it.

For a billion clams, I hope the final design safeguards a grade separated crossing of Ellerslie Road. Otherwise there's no reason the cost would almost double from the previous estimate of 600 million.

I'm also hoping this extension is entirely funded by senior governments, because Edmonton is in no position to kick in any more cash. Iveson seems very confident though given the lack of official stimulus announcements at this point.

In the name of all that is holly it better......

[s211]

Originally Posted by foolworm

So the Twin Brooks station is back on the plan now? I thought it got cut at one point since the community didn't want it.

For a billion clams, I hope the final design safeguards a grade separated crossing of Ellerslie Road. Otherwise there's no reason the cost would almost double from the previous estimate of 600 million.

I'm also hoping this extension is entirely funded by senior governments, because Edmonton is in no position to kick in any more cash. Iveson seems very confident though given the lack of official stimulus announcements at this point.

I'm no scientician, but $1B for this leg seems oddly high. Unless the TUC is an engineering landmine field, I have trouble buying the price tag.

[foolworm]

Another piece of encouraging news: An addendum to the Regional Transit Services Commission report has been released, accounting for the revised membership - Strathcona County voted no, Leduc County voted yes but opted out, Sturgeon County voted yes but then opted to be an observer instead. Notably, all three are rural municipalities (although Strathcona does include Sherwood Park); therefore all members are towns/cities with the exception of Parkland County, reflecting a clear rural/urban split.

In any case, the conclusion remains the same: An RTSC remains viable and would benefit the region if implemented.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Capital Line extension - flythru

• Video Link

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by s211

I'm no scientician, but $1B for this leg seems oddly high. Unless the TUC is an engineering landmine field, I have trouble buying the price tag.

They are building another maintenance facility, which I suspect is a large part of the price. But $1B seems a tad high imo.

[Harrison]

Given that video, I can't see there being grade separation under/over Ellerslie Road, since the Heritage Valley Station is so close to the road, unless they are proposing to grade separate Ellerslie Road over the LRT line instead.

[Slide]

I will admit, I am completely ignorant on this - but goodness, how many maintenance facilities does such a small LRT system require? Every expansion seems to come with one. Are these the garages where they store the trains?

I understand the mill woods line does not tie in and requires it, but on the original line? Why?

I know that on the NW line in Calgary, they park many of the trains just north of Tuscany station, outside, overnight. All it has for security is a fence and likely video surveillance: https://goo.gl/maps/HWK4boFmzwdmfHtw5

[s211]

Originally Posted by Slide

I will admit, I am completely ignorant on this - but goodness, how many maintenance facilities does such a small LRT system require? Every expansion seems to come with one. Are these the garages where they store the trains?

I understand the mill woods line does not tie in and requires it, but on the original line? Why?

I was about to ask the same question! Seems odd to go whole hog on a large facility when capacity is only being expanded marginally.

I wonder if the city knows the difference between need to have and nice to have.

[TimB09]

^Unless their plan is to eventually replace an older maintenance facility with one of these newer ones.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by s211

I'm no scientician, but $1B for this leg seems oddly high. Unless the TUC is an engineering landmine field, I have trouble buying the price tag.

That Henday corridor is going to be horrendous to build through now. with TMX and other pipelines in the space.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Airboy

That Henday corridor is going to be horrendous to build through now. with TMX and other pipelines in the space.

Makes me wonder if the TUC portions should be elevated, rather than at grade. But, as mentioned, I'm no scientician.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by s211

Makes me wonder if the TUC portions should be elevated, rather than at grade. But, as mentioned, I'm no scientician.

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.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Slide

I will admit, I am completely ignorant on this - but goodness, how many maintenance facilities does such a small LRT system require? Every expansion seems to come with one. Are these the garages where they store the trains?

I understand the mill woods line does not tie in and requires it, but on the original line? Why?

I know that on the NW line in Calgary, they park many of the trains just north of Tuscany station, outside, overnight. All it has for security is a fence and likely video surveillance: https://goo.gl/maps/HWK4boFmzwdmfHtw5

Calgary stores trains at the ends of the lines so they are staged for the next morning rush.

I don't have any info to answer why the Capital line extension would require another maintenance facility other than to say Calgary did add a second facility to our LRT system when the Red Line was pushed further northeast a few years ago. So we now have two facilities as well. Not sure how that compares to Edmonton.

[foolworm]

I don't see the issue with the number of storage / maintenance facilities? In the first place, the current yard at Kennedale has probably hit capacity - it was already expanded once when the line was extended to Century Park and is now completely surrounded by developments, unless you want an LRT parkade.

Another important point is that the line is now long enough that a train cannot be towed easily without major disruptions. Basically if you had a breakdown at Southgate, you'd have to shut down the entire line while it was dragged back to Belvedere. If it was at NAIT, you'd have to go to Churchill and switch tracks to head Northeast instead.

Rather than thinking in terms of lines, perhaps it's more appropriate to think of LRT 'legs' which radiate outward from downtown. Logically, it makes sense for each leg to have its own shop so that effects on movements through downtown - the chokepoint of the system - are minimized.

[CMD UW]

Calgary has three LRT maintenance facilities - Oliver Bowen, Anderson Garage and Haysboro (storage).

Edmonton currently has one maintenance facility (DL MacDonald) serving the entire LRT network with the newest one being completed for the Valley Line SE just off the Whitemud and 75 Street. With this expansion another maintenance facility is required.

[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.