West Edmonton LRT Expansion

Are We On the Right Track?

 

 

Welcome to our citizen-created forum for information and input on the proposed West End LRT Expansion.  

 

Don’t Know What’s Proposed?  You aren’t the only one!  Here’s the Coles Notes: 

 

3 options were initially considered before the recommendation was made.

 

Recommended Route:  The City of Edmonton's Transportation Department has recommended that LRT expansion take the route of a bridge to be built from University Avenue across the river, tunnel under the community of Valleyview, emerge at the traffic circle at 87th Avenue and 142nd Street and carry on down 87th Avenue to Lewis Estates.

 

The proposal is expected to cost at least $1.7 billion in today’s dollars.

 

Second Route: The second option would have had the LRT going down Fox Drive, over the Quesnell bridge, north on149th Street and west on 87th Avenue.  This option only removes 7 blocks of 87th avenue from the route - it would STILL run down 87th Avenue.

 

Third Route: A third 'north route' option would have included Stony Plain Road and 107th Avenue.  This option was dropped from consideration without the level of detail given to the public that the other two options were given.

 

City of Edmonton Information on

West  LRT Route:

 

Open House Presentation

 

WLRT Backgrounder

 

WLRT FAQs 

 

WLRT Report to Council (New)

 

Map of City's Recommended Route (New)

 

 Other Attachments  (New)

 

The Transportation Committee of City Council will vote on this proposal on May 20th at 1:30 pm. 

CHANGED:  SEPTEMBER 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am

Public pressure works!  Thanks to all of your letters, phone calls and requests to appear before the meeting, we have now been granted an extension to continue the public dialogue that we have initiated.  Keep the discussion going!

 

Questions:

Who Are You?  We are a group of concerned West End Edmontonians who think we have the right to have both more information and a public dialogue about the massive change being proposed for our communities

Aren't your concerns just NIMBY? (Not In My BackYard)  Of course we are asking questions because the proposed route literally is in our backyards.  But all Edmontonians should be asking questions too.   Here's why:

  • Cost:  The cost of the route, in today's dollars, is $1.7 billion +/- 50%.  For that kind of money, shouldn't we be sure we're on the right track?
  • Traffic Flow: The proposed route could have an LRT stopping traffic every 3-5 minutes at the intersection of 87th Avenue and 149th Street, and the intersection of 87th Avenue and 170th Street, two of the busiest intersections in Edmonton for commuting traffic.  For instance, drivers from Riverbend and Terwilliger regularly use 149th Street to get back and forth to downtown.   Shouldn't we all know how the city plans to address traffic flow in these areas?
  • University or Downtown?: The proposed route will have all West End LRT traffic running first to the University area and then on to Downtown.   Should the University be the hub for West End LRT or should the Downtown?
  • Zoning and Land Redevelopment: The LRT extension will necessitate rezoning to develop ridership.  Is 87th Avenue the best place to focus Edmonton's redevelopment efforts?
  • Local and Regional Planning: There are several other LRT extensions in the planning process at the moment.   Additionally, the Capital Region has just launched a new planning process that includes transit to areas like St Albert and Sherwood Park.  How does the West LRT route fit in with the overall plan for LRT and for transit in the Capital Region?

What are you asking for? 

  • Time:  The city first made its plans known at three Open Houses in mid April.  The Transportation and Public Works Committee was to vote on the proposal on May 20th.  We have now been given an extension to continue our efforts to ensure that Edmontonians are more aware of the proposal and have the opportunity to discuss it.  On September 9th we will be making a presentation before the Transportation and Public Works Committee of Council.
  • Information:  The proposed route comes with very little detailed information about exactly how the route will affect our communities and what the city is planning to do to manage the resulting changes.   See the Issues Page of this website.
  • What is the BEST West LRT Route?  The route recommendation was based on a limited terms of reference, both in terms of routes to be examined and criteria for evaluation.  Shouldn't we be looking for the BEST West LRT route, not just the straightest?

What Can I Do?

Please take the time to read through the issues that have been identified, both in terms of process used to formulate the recommendations and the recommendations themselves.  Plan to attend one of the upcoming Town Halls:    

WEST MEADOWLARK COMMUNITY

Wednesday June 4th

7:00 pm

West Meadowlark Community League

9311 - 165 Street

ELMWOOD COMMUNITY

Monday June 16th

7:00 pm

Elmwood Community League

16415 83 Ave

Now Use Your Voice!  Have some suggestions?  Don't  feel you have enough information? Want to register your concerns and questions?   Think it's a great proposal?  Opinions about the process?

  • Let your City Councillors know what you think
  • Contact City of Edmonton Transportation lrtplan@edmonton.ca
  • Use the media to ask questions and put forward your concerns/idea
  • Contribute to our website forum of ideas on the "YOUR INPUT" page
  • Help us put together our presentation for Council.  Have experience with transportation, engineering, land and property redevelopment, environmental issues?  Ideas about this route or others?  We want to hear from you.  westlrtconcerns@shaw.ca
  • Clearly we also need help on website design!