‘We’re going to lose businesses’
Residents voice concerns over proposed closure of 95 Avenue for faster LRT work
A proposal to temporarily close 95 Avenue to speed up construction of the Valley Line LRT shows a lack of respect for the community, residents and business owners said at an often tense public meeting Saturday.
TransEd, the group building the line, held the meeting to get feedback on the plan to shut down 95 Avenue between Connors Road and 85 Street for seven months beginning in late April or early May.
During the closure there would still be pedestrian access and there would be some north-south crossings for cars and people.
“I think there’s been an incredible lack of respect for the community and community engagement, and they show this as an engagement but it’s not. They’re telling us what they’re going to be doing,” Kathryn Oviatt, who lives just south of 95 Avenue, said after the meeting.
During a raucous question-and-answer session there was constant shouting and interruptions, making it difficult to hear questions being asked.
People were particularly upset about how construction may impact businesses, schools and transit, and whether work will be completed on time.
TransEd staff appeared flustered as they tried to address concerns that were being shouted.
Oviatt says she is worried about limited access to her kids’ school and the potential loss of small businesses in the area.
“We’re going to lose businesses along 95 Avenue. The Juniper, the Wired Cup, those are our treasures and they’re the heart of our community,” she said.
“If (TransEd) goes faster, we’ve lost that, and (TransEd) moves on and we’ve lost a core part of our community.”
Peggy Adams, co-owner of Juniper Cafe and Bistro, is concerned how the cafe, which has been open for 3½ years, will fair with the road closure.
“I have 20 employees that love us and have been with us forever that live and work in the neighbourhood and I’d hate to let people go,” said Adams.
Dean Heuman, stakeholder relations manager for the Valley Line LRT, said TransEd expected to experience some animosity from residents and business owners.
“When you change the schedule when you’re going into any community and there’s this much disruption, despite the fact they generally want the LRT and are going to be happy to have it, this is a major project,” said Heuman.
There are many factors that TransEd will consider in making its decision, including money, time and the concerns of residents and business owners.
Heuman said they want to do what they can to make sure customers can reach businesses, but subsidizing businesses is not being considered.
“At the end of the day, there is no compensation package. There hasn’t been on any capital projects of City of Edmonton. That’s not a factor in our decision making,” he said.
Those who want to provide feedback may visit the website at transedlrt.ca/resources to fill out a questionnaire.
The online feedback is open until Feb. 18.
If the proposal goes ahead, TransEd would host another public meeting to discuss what they heard, what adjustments were made to accommodate concerns and how they will help businesses.