‘More bang for your buck’

LRT, not Terwillegar work, the best way to ease congestion: consultant

Getting LRT to Heritage Valley is more important than upgrading interchanges on Terwillegar Drive, according to a new report the city released Thursday.

The best way to stave off gridlock in Edmonton’s fast-growing south is by giving people alternatives — including direct LRT access to downtown and priority buses on Terwillegar, said Watt Consulting Group, a local transportation planning and engineering firm hired to analyze growing congestion issues.

These options are safer, more energy efficient and ultimately faster for commuters, the report said.

The recommendation comes amid planning Edmonton’s LRT options — pitting south, north and central expansions against each other.

Ward 10 Coun. Michael Walters said it demonstrates why investment in Edmonton’s fast-growing southwest is critical. That area is expected to attract another 85,000 residents before 2030 and traffic on that portion of Anthony Henday Drive has doubled since 2010.

Terwillegar Drive now carries up to 44,000 vehicles per day, above the city ’s threshold for a four-lane road.

“Some things need to change and change quickly,” said Walters, whose ward stretches to the south city border. “Unless you drive down there regularly, you don’t realize how congested it’s becoming. (Driving ) takes a long time and it’s slow-moving.”

To set priorities, the Watt report looked at three scenarios.

Scenario 1 calls for the city to improve Terwillegar Drive interchanges and associated on-off ramps at Whitemud Drive, 40 Avenue and Riverbend Road.

Scenario 2 calls for the LRT to be extended south on 111 Street, past the new Heritage Valley park-andride and south to the new provincial hospital site at 127 Street and Ellerslie Road.

Scenario 3 envisions bus rapid transit from a new park-and-ride in Ambleside. It would run on a separate lane down Terwillegar Drive, stop at the Leger Transit Centre, then run straight to South Campus.

Engineers calculated the LRT option would save people living in the area roughly 550 hours per morning commute, nearly three times as many hours saved as from Terwillegar Drive traffic upgrades. The LRT option saves about 18 times as many hours as the bus rapid transit option. Fewer hours in the car means more time at home with family and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

In a related report to committee, city officials argue all three options have benefits. Upgrading the Terwillegar Drive/40 Avenue interchange is important to reduce vehicles queues that back up to Whitemud Drive.

The best option, they say, would be to run bus rapid transit down Terwillegar Drive as soon as possible, giving interim relief while the Capital LRT line extension is completed.

“(The south) needs to be given priority,” said Walters.

It likely needs an express bus to the university area anyway to relieve congestion on the Capital line, he said. With new development and the park-and-ride, trains will soon be full before they leave Century Park station.

Terwillegar Drive improvements are going to be important for safety, he said.

But he’s not surprised about how LRT fared in the analysis. “You get more bang for your buck with welldesigned transit.”