[TAS]

The west valley line wasn’t expected to be funded until the 2030s. That’s why the transit centre refurb and then tear down just years later. Feds came through with huge transit funding way sooner than expected.

In some ways, wasteful (also see SPR being redone just years before the LRT too). In other ways, tough to predict funding from other orders of government.

A good example today is what to do with the High Level Bridge. What if the province decides to drop a billion dollars to help rebuild it as a massive HSR connector in the next 5 years? Or what if nothing happens for the next 20? What does the city do in the meantime?

I read that 60% of the infrastructure in Canada is in cities like Edmonton and yet cities have only 10% of the taxing capacity and apparently this country is very different than the rest of the western world in this regard.

It's tough for cities to plan when it relies primarily on grants and ad hoc spending from the other orders of government and doesn't know when money is always coming or going to be there.

 

[thommyjo]

I read that 60% of the infrastructure in Canada is in cities like Edmonton and yet cities have only 10% of the taxing capacity and apparently this country is very different than the rest of the western world in this regard.

It's tough for cities to plan when it relies primarily on grants and ad hoc spending from the other orders of government and doesn't know when money is always coming or going to be there.

Yeah, our city governments really don’t have the power they deserve to properly lead. Especially our large cities. It’s crazy how little Toronto can control compared to other cities of its size elsewhere.

 

[CplKlinger]

Coming to Council on October 22: Options and Cost Analysis for Ellerslie Grade Separation

 

[VaultBoy]

Coming to Council on October 22: Options and Cost Analysis for Ellerslie Grade Separation

 

[Edmcowboy11]

So it would be cheaper to lower or raise the road than raise or lower the LRT?

 

[BASE]

So it would be cheaper to lower or raise the road than raise or lower the LRT?

I believe the issue is the road needs to be the one to change grades as the LRT doesn't have the distance to do so based on where the station is currently being built.

 

[Gronk!]

I'm all in favor of Option 1 unless I'm convinced otherwise.
The LRT trains will always be the same height no matter what, but the same does not hold true for road traffic.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

I'd go with option 2. I rather the LRT station be more visible

 

[CplKlinger]

The west valley line wasn’t expected to be funded until the 2030s. That’s why the transit centre refurb and then tear down just years later. Feds came through with huge transit funding way sooner than expected.

I know this is off topic from the main thread, but does anyone know where I could learn more about this? That's a fascinating tidbit that opens up a lot of what ifs.

 

[EdwardEdm]

The west valley line wasn’t expected to be funded until the 2030s. That’s why the transit centre refurb and then tear down just years later. Feds came through with huge transit funding way sooner than expected.

Do you have a source for that?
The report to Council on the WEM Transit Centre building was expecting construction within 10-15 years, which in 2015 would have meant construction by 2030, and would have meant funding in place before that. Right now that timeline is right on.
"The current proposed alignment approved by Council incorporates an elevated LRT Station above the existing transit centre. The anticipated construction time frame is within 10-15 years, depending on the pace of future LRT expansion." CR_1978 April 22, 2015

By 2016, although I don't have a direct council report for this, the City said: "While there are no timelines for additional funding, the City hopes to be ready to initiate the procurement phase as early as 2018. Once additional funding is secured, it is planned to take about one year to select a contractor for the Valley Line West and another five years to complete construction."
Clearly the City figured they would be able to get funding a lot earlier than 2030.
edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/project-history

Besides, the refurb would have extended the life of the shelter building 10-15 years, sufficient to extend the life to 2030 so that still doesn't explain how they went back to doing a complete rebuild vs. the approved refurbishment.

 

[trevorhayden]

Neither option. Use the funds for Northwest METRO line

 

[The Woodruff]

I like the look of option 2 more, but its something like $30M more expensive with limited benefits, so I'm going option 1.

 

[BrettB]

I really like the pedestrian/cycling links in option 1

 

[yeggator]

I like the look of option 2 more, but its something like $30M more expensive with limited benefits, so I'm going option 1.

How would option 2 be more expensive? It just involves digging up a ton of earth and building two relatively small train overpasses. Option 1 looks way more expensive with how big the road overpass is (from the rendering, it seems bigger than the new 50th Street overpasses). I’m all in favour of option 2

 

[BASE]

How would option 2 be more expensive? It just involves digging up a ton of earth and building two relatively small train overpasses. Option 1 looks way more expensive with how big the road overpass is (from the rendering, it seems bigger than the new 50th Street overpasses). I’m all in favour of option 2

The report notes the projected costs. I think the greater expense is on the excavation, drainage, and retaining wall work being quite a bit more than building up.