The_Cat
Senior Member
I’ll wait until there’s a concrete plan. The UCP are terrible at managing the Province’s finances.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
IanO
Superstar
Rail master plan I believe. I hope to see that happen before i'm a senior, but i'm not holding my breath AND any HSR talk would drastically change that discussion.
archited
Senior Member
Ah c'mon -- hold your breath...
Barnaby
Senior Member
At least the provincial government is talking about it for the first time in my life.
Tropical
Active Member
This is why I've been assuming that the BRT to Castle Downs will lead to a Capital Line extension toward YEG instead of an extension to St. Albert. This is the line that the UCP wants and I offer Calgary's Green Line as an example of how those politics play out.
Of course, if the NDP takes government my assumptions change.
Of course, if the NDP takes government my assumptions change.
IanO
Superstar
^that's an interesting suggestion and one that I could see as plausible, but rumours had an Edmonton to YEG via a heavier rail, think UPX, connection along the QE2 I believe.
But I could see it.
But I could see it.
Tropical
Active Member
After witnessing how the UPX basically functions as another subway line in Toronto, I would be all for this.
Wax
New Member
As we have no heavy rail currently, there is a world where we just extend the LRT as the “temporary air rail link” and have heavy rail built out once hsr/heavy rail to calgary goes ahead. ~~if*
archited
Senior Member
^ I have been advocating for that for quite some time -- LRT extension to the airport -- I suspect that it would compare favorably in practice to HSR in any case. It would certainly be far less costly to implement and would improve LRT ridership substantially. I also suspect that a study might prove that the airport to U of A connection would be stronger than the airport to downtown need.
Wax
New Member
^my guess is that the transfer to valley line will make downtown the main ridership driver, with university coming in second. (But thats why we need a study…)
archited
Senior Member
^ Oh I am with you -- VLW will in my opinion be the greatest boon to LRT ridership but I think that it will only minimally impact airport traffic to downtown. Most of WEM's "tourism" comes from Edmonton's Greater Hinterland (study after study has reaffirmed that fact -- it is almost a "staycation" mecca and it is why it has a significant car-parking venue). The LRT boost will come from stops along the line from all over the City and may cause the Ghermezian clan to re-examine the parking need, converting some -- especially at key locations on site -- into luxury residential towers and even perhaps an additional hotel tower. Countering that thought there will soon be a 2fer reason for westbound traffic as River Cree develops into a major Tourism destination. If I were among the powers-that-be at the City I would rank LRT Extensions like this -- Numero Uno would be Capital Line south to YEG; Second would be a VLW extension to River Cree; and 3rd would be an extension to St. Albert.
Barnaby
Senior Member
I'm still more in favour of adding spur lines to the Capital Line and Valley Line next. The airport needs to happen, but all other extensions should be central and affordable. Beverly, 124th, Whyte, Michener Park.
The Gondola should also be a part of the central transit plan. Council is so dumb for killing that. I'm not taking a bus to Whyte ever.
archited
Senior Member
Incidentally, the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Edmonton International Airport (YEG). The resort is located about 20 minutes from the airport. For schedules and to confirm the shuttle service, guests are advised to contact the Casino Players Club. There would be an impetus in retaining this service (Gamblers Anonymous) due to its direct impact on sustainment regardless of an LRT connection.
archited
Senior Member
^^ I am particularly interested and focused on a Downtown-to-Old Strath Gondola employing modern advances that would improve Whyte Avenue viability. I would also like to see the Radial Railway extended along the historic route of Mill Creek connecting Old Strath to both Muttart and the Power Plant, obviating need for parking at both of those sites as well as RE/MAX Field.
David A
Senior Member
I feel by the time something to the airport is funded, the Provincial government may be closer to building regional rail, so it will probably be whatever meshes with that better.