St. Albert’s mayor might have changed his mind and his vote about the city conducting a study of LRT, but he still wants to see more details before any work begins.
A $500,000 functional alignment study for a future LRT line through St. Albert will be officially approved Monday when council gives its final blessing to the 2013 budget. Approval of the study, championed by Coun. Len Bracko, came after council rejected the proposal on two previous occasions.
For Crouse, who voted no twice previously, he said he voted yes this time because the study will take place further in the future than had previously been proposed. Though approved for the 2013 budget, the motion indicates the study will carry on into 2014.
But the mayor said he still has questions.
“I want to see the terms of reference,” said Crouse, adding he will make a motion to that effect soon. “What is this about? Is it engineering? Are we looking at the north or south? I want to know. I’m OK with approving it in principle, but the devil’s in the details.”
Crouse also said the study is important as it pertains to St. Albert’s future south park and ride. How Edmonton designs the LRT station at the site as part of its proposed northwest line will influence how it runs into St. Albert.
“What we need to do is have the design of the LRT station at the new park and ride facing in the right direction and aligned properly,” Crouse said.
Coun. Roger Lemieux also voted for the study this time after voting against it before, but said his vote was influenced only by the amount of money in the LRT reserve.
Since 2009 the city has collected $1 per $100,000 of assessed value from each building in St. Albert. Council voted to increase that to $1.50 for the 2013 budget. The accumulated funds will pay for the study.
“The money finally has accumulated in the reserve,” Lemieux said. “I never would have voted for it had it been a tax increase.”
Lemieux agrees doing the study is prudent on the city’s part.
“Let’s get it done and find out what we’re doing here,” Lemieux said. “It’s one thing off our to-do list. I think I’m confident in my vote.”
Coun. Cathy Heron voted against the study in 2011, but then voted in favour when it came up again over the summer and once more this month when it was approved. She said she simply believes in planning ahead.
“Let’s put some dots on the map. When you hear about issues with noise from the Henday, well that alignment study was done 40 years ago. In reality it’s not that expensive to do the study,” Heron said.
Coun. Wes Brodhead voted in support of the motion during budget, saying he’s seen the benefits of LRT firsthand through his work at Edmonton Transit. Coun. Malcolm Parker and Coun. Cam MacKay were opposed, saying it was too early for such a study.
When St. Albert might actually start building an LRT line is unknown. Heron’s best guess is 2025 while Lemieux indicated 2027. Mayor Nolan Crouse went as far as 2060.
“I don’t see it coming across the Henday for 50 years,” Crouse said. “That puts it in 2060.”
