Proposed Whyte Avenue LRT route would include new bridge
A leaked copy of a proposed new route for the central LRT would see a low-floor train run down Whyte Avenue and across a new bridge to downtown.
But it could be built in stages, with a first phase making a direct connection from Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre down Whyte Avenue to the hospital and university.
It would replace buses that are already crammed to capacity during peak hours, said the city’s project manager Satya Gadidasu. “The intent is to access events and business all along Whyte Avenue.”
The map was leaked on Reddit and Connect2Edmonton but city officials confirm it’s accurate. The proposed route is going to several open houses for public comment Feb. 15, 27 and 28.
It’s currently in the route selection phase, which would preserve the right-of-way on streets and avenues for future construction. If city council supports this route, the project moves to the concept design phase with initial cost estimates.
That information will help council determine how to prioritize between the north extension, south extension and central LRT for construction after the west LRT and north extension into Blatchford are built.
The proposed route calls for a low-floor LRT to run from Bonnie Doon mall west to 112 Street, then north to connect with the existing high-floor capital line at the University of Alberta station.
Passengers would have to disembark and take an escalator or elevator down.
NEW PARALLEL BRIDGE
The new central line then cuts east on 89 Avenue toward the High Level Bridge. Gadidasu said they considered running the train on top of the High Level Bridge, but the renovation and strengthening required for the 100-year-old structure makes that difficult.
“It has historic designation. It can be restored up to a certain extent but it cannot be taken apart and put back together as brand new,” he said, adding a new parallel bridge would likely be at a lower height to preserve sight lines.
NO COST ESTIMATE YET
On the north side of the river, the line follows 109 Street to 99 Avenue, cutting east to give access to the legislature grounds. Then it runs north to connect to the west leg of the Valley Line LRT at 104 Avenue.
The team has not yet decided if or how the two lines will connect, but it’s possible some trains from Lewis Farms, for example, could one day divert south to the university rather than running downtown.
The team wants to create at least the possibility of a connection with the Valley Line downtown because council’s 2009 principles for LRT development call for as few transfers as possible.
This route goes to council for approval in April. In the next phase — concept design — the team will come up with initial cost estimates and look at where the track needs to be elevated or tunnelled to separate it from vehicle traffic.
‘CREATES WALKABILITY’
Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, said her members recognize this is a long-term project and support running the train down Whyte Avenue.
“It creates walkability,” she said, and research elsewhere suggests people who walk or cycle through an area are more likely to spend money locally. But the city will
need to watch the short-term impact of construction on business.
Council will prioritize between this route, the north extension toward St. Albert and the south extension to Heritage Valley after the concept plans and initial cost estimates are complete.
It makes sense to look at this line in phases, said Ben Henderson, councillor for the area.
The Bonnie Doon-University connection is expected to have high ridership but council has to make a decision that is based on data.