Imagine St. Albert Trail with more than just cars whizzing along the road.
In this vision, there’s an LRT right alongside St. Albert’s main thoroughfare.
The line would originate with a stop technically in Edmonton at the long-desired Campbell Park and Ride transit centre.
Then there would be three stops along the trail – a downtown station, a Hebert station and a Boudreau station – before the line would end at a park and ride station in northern St. Albert.
That was the vision available for viewing and comment at a recent open house that combined the LRT proposals, some draft information on the transportation master plan update and concepts for the “Employment Lands” at the west of the city at an open house on June 16.
LRT cars aren’t likely to be zooming down St. Albert in the near future though. Right now they’re thinking it’s a couple decades in the future, said transit manager Bob McDonald.
Why plan for it now?
“We’ll know where we need land,” McDonald said. By knowing where the stations are going, that can help with future land use planning to encourage development as well, he said.
The LRT plans also will have an impact on the transportation master plan – a revamp of that plan is currently under way – and the municipal development plan next time it is updated.
City council has already approved the corridor, but the city and the project consultants are looking for feedback on the alignment of the racks and the potential stops.
Some of the “sticky note” feedback left on a map on Tuesday evening highlighted concerns about the traffic capacity of St. Albert Trail being impacted.
A report to council is slated for later this year.
Draft items from transportation master plan were also on display for public comment and consumption.
That included draft guiding principles that highlight such concepts as prioritizing “accommodation for accessible and affordable transit and active transportation,” having a “strategic approach to sustainable transportation to serve our diverse population,” protecting environmental health by having opportunities for alternative forms of transport, and the transportation system supporting economic prosperity.
Dean Schick, the transportation manager for the City of St. Albert, said the information on display at the open house was a preliminary reflection of what’s been received so far from public feedback.
The guiding principles for the transportation master plan are trying to address more than just vehicular movement.
“How do we want to move people?” Schick asked. He also said the transportation master plan needs to take into account the impacts the rest of the capital region will have on St. Albert.
Another open house on the transportation master plan will take place in September.
The third topic of Tuesday’s open house was a look at the proposed concepts for the Employment Lands, undeveloped area to the west of St. Albert that the city envisions as a future hub of non-residential development.
The three preliminary concepts, a light industrial and office park, a business commercial area with entertainment uses and a knowledge-based industries and research park have previously been presented to the business public.
Initial sticky note feedback noted people were pleased with the idea of entertainment options in St. Albert but noted concerns about traffic on Ray Gibbon Drive.
The concepts are coming back to council in the fall.
