Edmonton SLRT

Let the train take the strain┬áBrendan A. Smith reports on plans to extend the light rail transit system in Edmonton, Alberta. Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta, Canada, is about to complete one of the cityÔÇÖs largest infrastructure projects in recent years. The Edmonton South Light Rail Transit System (SLRT) was conceived in May 2005, when the City Council approved $595 million to fund the South LRT Extension to extend the line from Health Sciences Station to Century Park. With a completion date scheduled for April 2010, the South LRT Extension is designed to better serve the needs of EdmontonÔÇÖs growing population and economy. As part of the cityÔÇÖs Master Transportation Plan, the LRT has several goals. Chief among those are to make public transit more accessible by moving riders between major destinations, to increase integration of the LRT with the current system, and to boost daily ridership from 50,000 to 100,000. The first phases of the project were completed in January 2006, lengthening the LRTÔÇÖs run from University Station to Health Sciences Station. Construction began on the final phase, South Campus to Century Park soon after, and riders are expected to be utilizing all additional stations including Health Sciences Station, McKernan/Belgravia Station, South Campus Station, Southgate Station, and Century Park Station by early 2010. City leadership sees the SLRT as a vital project and key to a greener economy and a better community. The LRT will save citizens money, both in fuel costs and in the form of tax credits granted by the government. Commuting times are also likely to be cut in half as ridership increases, as one commuter train can replace 15 lanes of traffic during peak hours. The LRT is also a safer way to travel than the automobile. The original $595 million has stretched into a $673 million budget due to surcharges for fuel, steel, and concrete. Ranking as the biggest infrastructure project in EdmontonÔÇÖs history, it is jointly funded by the City of Edmonton, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Alberta. Due diligence from all parties involved insures that investment money is being spent in the right places. The City continuously works with the community on key issues like track alignment, station location, pedestrian access and crossings, noise barriers, landscaping decisions, and community safety issues, and all plans were approved by the City Council.The plans feature a pedestrian underpass under 114 Street at 76 Avenue, two separate LTR underpasses, and a one-way bridge connecting buses and pedestrians from the South Campus Station to Fox Drive. In addition, 26 new LRVs (light rail vehicles) were ordered, the first of which arrived in May 2008.Long-term impact from the SLRT project looks positive in all areas that Edmonton Transit System studied. Proposed roadway changes considered the impact on existing landscaping. Noise from the additional LRT travel is not expected to significantly increase, but residents will hear the new crossing bells and maintenance equipment. As a by-product of travel efficiency, impact studies show that increased public access often drives property values upwards.Concurrently, Edmonton is trying to continue improving its LRT as it seeks funding for the Downtown to NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) LRT Plan. In September 2008, City Council gave the nod to the concept plan from Churchill station to NAIT, and preliminary engineering is underway. The project involves a 600-meter-long tunnel from Churchill Station to the surface and will provide stations at MacEwan, Kingsway, and NAIT. With an $825 million price tag, the NAIT LRT Plan will offer an 18-minute shuttle from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to the Health Sciences Station. Along the way a station will be added next to the Royal Alexandra Hospital on the north side of Kingsway, while the Kingsway bus will also be relocated to the site. ÔÇô Editorial research by Joe Louis┬á