A potential future map of Regional Rail lines in Edmonton
There was a bit of an interesting article in yesterday's Journal about expanded regional transit, and the possibility of a commuter rail system for the Edmonton area. Leaving aside the media's confusion between the seperate modes of Light Rail and Commuter Rail, it was good to see that there is some genuine interest in improving regional transportation in the capital region. While there are rail corridors out to Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, St Albert/Morinville, Leduc/Nisku/Westaskiwin that could be used for commuter rail lines, there is one major problem that has to be overcome before any commuter rail system can be constructed in Edmonton; namely the fact that there are no longer any rail lines into downtown Edmonton.
Toronto, as cited in the example, still has a large amount of rail lines running right into their
downtown, and Calgary has a rail line right on the south side of their downtown core.
For Edmonton, it wouldn't take much to build a heavy rail line for commuter rail right into downtown, paralleling the existing LRT right of way from the north east. From the north west, a line could be built down the old CNR right of way paralleling 120 St, though it would have issues when it reaches Oliver, where condos, a power centre and MacEwan college stand in the way. The line here could be tunneled, and could surface after 104 St.
The southside lines would be sent to downtown via the existing right of way used for the High Level Bridge streetcar, and across the High Level Bridge. The existing summertime streetcar could still be accommodated on the right of way along this portion, and over the bridge. North of the bridge, the line could terminated at Grandin LRT station, or could continue, either elevated or tunneled, under 109 St to MacEwan where it could be hooked up to the other lines. If all the lines were fed into the corridor north of 104 Ave, Edmonton could build its own "Union Station" at the CN Tower, with a connection to the LRT at Churchill Station, as well as pedway links to City Hall, Edmonton City Centre, the Art Gallery, the new EPCOR tower, and the new arena (it's going to be built there and we know it).
This project has the potential to greatly improve transit service in the Edmonton region, and to improve the integration of the region as
a whole.
As long as the project is done right, and doesn't get bogged down by the bickering egos of the politicians of the various communities it could be a great thing. Hopefully, we will see some real action on this soon.
The text of the Journal Article:
GO trains touted for capital region
LRT links to Spruce Grove, Leduc would offer sustainable, affordable lifestyles, says expert
Trish Audette
The Edmonton Journal with files from the Calgary Herald
Monday, July 14, 2008
EDMONTON - Tentative plans to speed up transportation between Alberta's major cities and their bedroom communities -- perhaps by stretching light rail train tracks to places like Spruce Grove or Leduc -- are key to striking a balance between sustainable lifestyles and affordable ones, a Toronto-based expert says.
"If you do commuter transit like GO Transit, you can have the best of both worlds," said Baher Abdulhai, the Canada Research Chair in Intelligent Transportation Systems.
GO trains wind through an 8,000-square kilometre area and move more than five million people every day between Toronto's downtown core and nearby cities such as Hamilton, Guelph and Oshawa.
On Tuesday, Premier Ed Stelmach announced $2 billion will go to the province's transit systems as part of the government's bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal, he said, is to take the equivalent of one million cars off the road.
Since then, the premier has made clear a Calgary-Edmonton rail link is "further down the road." The priority is moving people around the two metro areas with more ease.
"Without developing a good transit system within the areas of Calgary and Edmonton, the commuter rail between the two communities won't be as successful," he said. "Our focus will be co-operation. I want to see communities working with each other so that we can reach out to the growth areas."
Stelmach said he plans to see commuter train service expand beyond Calgary, for sure. "It will work because we will make it work."
Edmonton politicians expect the new transportation funding to be shared equitably.
"I don't think we need to make it more sexy, more innovative," Mayor Stephen Mandel said earlier this week. "We shouldn't need to be worried about what Calgary does."
But Jim Lightbody, an University of Alberta professor and expert in urban politics, called plans to expand light rail transit in the Edmonton area infeasible.
"The reality is very simple. Light rail transit requires passenger volume," he said Thursday.
"The wisest option would not be to reinvent public transit. We do not need grandiose blue-sky dreaming."
Instead of light rail, Lightbody said, the city needs better bus routes between Edmonton and its bedroom communities. "What you have in the Toronto metropolitan area is people who are happy to live in Mississauga," and work in the downtown core's financial area, he said.
The mayor of Leduc, however, said his community would provide those commuters. The international airport is expected to be a hub for LRT service at some point. "We have quite a bit of trouble getting workers out to the airport specifically," Mayor Greg Krischke said. "Light rail eventually might be an option (although) I think it might be a little premature." In the next few years, though, Krischke anticipates more and more people will want to leave their vehicles behind.
Edmonton city councillor Don Iveson said Thursday he anticipates Edmonton's transit system will look different than Toronto's. Rather than an express system taking people from outlying areas into the centre and back again, he sees a system that looks like a "spider web" and connects smaller communities, too.
with files from the Calgary Herald
taudette@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2008
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