The City of Edmonton has unveiled a $1.1-billion plan to bring LRT to St. Albert's doorstep.
Officials announced today an alignment that would extend the northwest LRT from NAIT to a future park and ride located just south of St. Albert next to Anthony Henday Drive. The route was the preferred choice of three that were displayed to the public earlier this year.
"This proposed LRT extension will change the way people use the transportation system," said Adam Laughlin, with Edmonton's transportation department. "The route is designed to accommodate a potential future expansion into the City of St. Albert which is consistent with St. Albert's transportation plans and the Capital Region Board's transit plans."
Estimates project the new nine-kilometre LRT line would accommodate to 42,000 to 45,000 daily riders, Laughlin said.
It would extend northwest from NAIT through the City Centre Airport lands, over or under Yellowhead Trail and the CN rail yard, before heading north on 113A Street and turning west on 153 Avenue, ending at the park and ride south of St. Albert's Superstore.
The park and ride is currently being planned by the City of St. Albert but would be jointly used with Edmonton, Laughlin said.
He said the alignment would be built in the new urban style, meaning street-level cars and shorter distances between stops. Stations are planned at 130 Avenue, 137 Avenue, 145 Avenue and 153 Avenue.
Two other alignments were considered — one running along St. Albert Trail and the other along 127 Street — but the 113A Street/153 Avenue route better meets the city and region's needs by providing access to major activity areas like Griesbach, Grand Trunk, Castledowns and St. Albert, Laughlin said.
The City of St. Albert participated in Edmonton's LRT planning, though where it would extend north from the park and ride was not part of the study, Laughlin said. St. Albert's transportation master plan calls for an LRT corridor through the city along St. Albert Trail.
Public hearing
Determining the LRT alignment is just the first phase of what could be a lengthy process. The public will be asked to provide input during two open houses on June 9 and 10, while Edmonton city council will decide whether to support the proposal during a June 22 public hearing.
If the route is approved, a concept plan will be developed likely in early 2011, Laughlin said, where more details will be developed, including whether to use tunnels or an overpass to cross Yellowhead Trail and the CN rail yard.
Laughlin could not provide any details on when construction might take place, pointing out Edmonton city council has made LRT lines to NAIT, the southwest and east its priorities.
"We just don't have a good date for when it would start."
Laughlin also cautioned the $1.1-billion estimate is preliminary and could change as plans develop. There are no funding plans currently in place, including whether Edmonton would seek assistance from St. Albert.
"That's something we'd need to figure out in the future."
More to come.
