North LRT back on track planning about to start
The long-awaited LRT extension from downtown to NAIT could be the first leg in a line to Griesbach that might include a tunnel under Yellowhead Trail and the CN yards.
With LRT construction south to Century Park well underway, staff are gearing for detailed planning of a proposed northern route, put on the backburner since it was accepted by councillors more than two years ago.
The idea is to go from Churchill Station to Grant MacEwan College, then north to the Victoria school, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Kingsway Garden Mall and NAIT.
"Now, with a lot of interest in transit projects, what we want to do is be better prepared with planning should funding become available and that becomes a priority," transit projects manager Wayne Mandryk said.
"The theory is, the further along you are with the planning, if and when (federal) grants come along, we will have a better chance to access them."
Councillors are likely to be asked in June to approve consultants who will spend about a year completing a concept plan, doing preliminary engineering and figuring out precise rail alignments and station locations.
There will be extensive discussions with the public, Mandryk said.
For example, it may be better to move one of the three proposed stations closer to the Royal Alex from the mall, and there are several possible locations for a station near NAIT.
Two years ago, the cost of the project was estimated at $300 million; given the current economic boom, the cost would likely be much higher now.
No construction schedule has been suggested, but Coun. Kim Krushell wants to fast-track the project so work can start in 2010, after the southern line is finished.
"We need to implement a much better transit system than we already have.
"Anyone who goes to Calgary can see the advantages they have with a much bigger LRT system."
Officials at NAIT are thrilled at the possibility they'll finally be on the LRT. The main campus, with 11,000 staff and students, set aside land for a future station on 106th Street when the HP Centre was built in 2002, spokeswoman Rayne Kuntz said.
"It's definitely important," she said, adding that a proposed expansion could see the main campus population double over the next decade.
"There's no question it makes sense. It makes environmental sense, it makes sense for staff and students in terms of commuting options."
But Coun. Karen Leibovici said the first requirement is a long-term plan for expanding LRT, bus rapid transit and other bus services across Edmonton.
"We can have the work going on throughout the city in a planned process ... I just hope we don't have to get into a fight over whose area is most important," she said.
"We have to do it strategically so that no area is left out."
Edmonton's north high-speed transit plan suggests eventually extending service to 137th Avenue to serve the large Griesbach redevelopment, something planners doing the upcoming study will keep in mind, Mandryk said.
One potential route is under the Yellowhead and the Calder rail yards before heading up 113A Street, he said.
"Tunnelling under the tracks would probably be the cheapest way ... you would have to build a pretty high bridge because the clearance over those rail cars is pretty high. It would be a massive structure."
However, there hasn't been a feasibility study of the options for going that far north, which also include using 97th Street, Mandryk said.
Some high-speed transportation needs might also be met with bus rapid transit, which can be implemented more easily than LRT and would run mainly on existing roads, he said.
gkent@thejournal.canwest.com
LRT FUTURE
- Beyond NAIT, consultants will look at ways to extend the northeast LRT past Clareview to a new station between 153rd Avenue and 167th Avenue, probably continuing along the CN right-of-way.
- As well, the 10- to 12-month study will examine the best route for LRT to follow south of the station planned for Century Park to the city boundary.
- Space is available along 111th Street south of Anthony Henday Drive, but they'll examine whether using 127th Street makes more sense.
- There's no indication when either leg might be built; a master plan now being updated will set directions and create a framework for Edmonton's transportation.
© The Edmonton Journal 2007
--30--
Prev
Linear Mode
