David A
Senior Member
The LRT is safer? TBH, I never feel very safe or comfortable on AHD, but then I don't use it much so there is a lack of familiarity.
Probably a similar feeling to those who occasionally use LRT only for special events.
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Probably a similar feeling to those who occasionally use LRT only for special events.
Glenco
Senior Member
A lot of people were over reacting to the accidents with the new LRT saying they should put gates and bells everywhere etc. People will get used to it The AHD has been open for years and people are still running into the infrastructure. You can’t fix stupid.
CplKlinger
Senior Member
I'm not sure how widespread it was or how long they were there for, but for a period of time Churchill, and perhaps some other stations, had turnstiles as well. These photos are at the ERRS Archive.
Bonus pictures of a ticket agent in action, and a ticket agent booth at Belvedere (1979).
EDIT: I am digging through the Edmonton Journal archive. I still can't find when the turnstiles were removed, but it looks like they were at least at the underground stations (Belvedere is a possibility but the article mentioning it was unclear), and there were two kinds: Free-moving turnstiles for those with transfers and passes, and locked turnstiles that riders inserted coins into, which would then unlock and print a ticket. The turnstiles were introduced with the Proof-of-Payment system that replaced ticket agents - although agents remained for a period of time during the transition.
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Glenco
Senior Member
Good catch. I didn’t know these pictures existed.
Gronk!
Senior Member
The struggle continues...
Airboy
Senior Member
I forgot about those till the photos were posted. and then it came screaming back.
David A
Senior Member
A lot of things have happened to the city, transit and downtown LRT over the years. I recall a period of time when it was free downtown during mid day to encourage more use.
Maybe the turnstiles were removed in anticipation of or to facilitate that. Obviously, the city was a lot smaller when the LRT first started, so maybe it was felt they were not needed at that point, but I feel they are now.
CplKlinger
Senior Member
I don't think so; if I recall correctly, one of the articles I found mentioned people still putting money into the turnstiles even if they were staying within the free zone, because they were unaware of it.
David A
Senior Member
I had thought they were not around by then, but that was a long time ago and I don't recall exactly.
That free zone, I think it was in the early 1990's, was only for several downtown LRT stations, so people would still have to pay if they went outside the zone.
Yes, I could see how it could easily get confusing if you were behind someone who paid, because they were going outside the zone, but not realizing you assumed you had to also, even though you didn't.
That free zone, I think it was in the early 1990's, was only for several downtown LRT stations, so people would still have to pay if they went outside the zone.
Yes, I could see how it could easily get confusing if you were behind someone who paid, because they were going outside the zone, but not realizing you assumed you had to also, even though you didn't.
CplKlinger
Senior Member
David A
Senior Member
Thanks for all the information - good article. I was not downtown much at that time, but I remember the free zone from later.
So as per the last part, the cheap decals that didn't stand out or were not well placed, which led to some of the confusion.
As always, it comes down to good implementation, some things never change.
So as per the last part, the cheap decals that didn't stand out or were not well placed, which led to some of the confusion.
As always, it comes down to good implementation, some things never change.
TravellingChris
Active Member
Apples and oranges. The LRT will be running down the middle of streets with no bollards or crossing gates. Cities which have had this same type of system for years, like Denver and Houston, are STILL having accidents caused by the alignment. A flawed design will always be a flawed design.
The Valley Line has had a plethora of accidents already and the line isn't even in revenue service. This doesn't bode well. And responsible transportation management means fixing designs which are inherently flawed or accident-prone, rather than telling the public to "get used to it." There are plenty of intersections around the capital region where city administrations have had to perform tweaks or change the designs because of an overabundance of crashes or near-misses.
Look at the 23 Avenue overpass at Calgary Trail. At one time that was an at-grade intersection which had racked up so many crashes that it was listed as the deadliest intersection in the city. Municipal administration didn't just launch an awareness campaign and nag people to "drive better!"--they invested a lot of money and performed a proper fix at that intersection.
Major infrastructure like the 23 Ave interchange and the LRT lines should NEVER be built on the cheap. They are supposed to be legacy projects that serve the community for decades. Investing the proper amount of money and building them right the first time should be a no-brainer.
Glenco
Senior Member
Valley line is an urban vehicle much like the old street cars or trams all over Europe. Not meant to be a high speed commuter train to the burbs. It serves the higher density inner city hop on hop off shorter travel. Adding bells and gates are not necessary just get used to it.
TravellingChris
Active Member
But that's not what Mill Woods was promised when LRT was pledged to the area decades ago. They weren't promised a streetcar or tourist tram, they were promised light rail transit similar to what the northeast already had. The Valley Line is a massive downgrade.
Remember, the whole logic of running the line to Mill Woods is not for people to sightsee, it's to get commuters between the southeast and the city core.
The_Cat
Senior Member
At least the Valley Line LRT is separated from the roadway, with traffic control wherever trains cross roads. Looking at the U. S. videos, the tracks and trains sometimes share the roadway.
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