[Immotus]

My BIL is middle management at ETS, he had a few interesting things to say. The switch from 4 to 2 car trains is preventing drug use and loitering from when homeless concentrate and take over an entire car. Shorter trains force people to mix and this eye's on the street psychology has caused a drop in damage and disruption. Also EPS has stepped up enforcement on the LRT and they're finding many of these people have warrants for arrest in other locations, so they can ship them out of the city. Some had dozens apparently.

FYI he has for years insisted the plan is to tunnel underneath the CN rail yard.

 

[MacLac]

My BIL is middle management at ETS, he had a few interesting things to say. The switch from 4 to 2 car trains is preventing drug use and loitering from when homeless concentrate and take over an entire car. Shorter trains force people to mix and this eye's on the street psychology has caused a drop in damage and disruption. Also EPS has stepped up enforcement on the LRT and they're finding many of these people have warrants for arrest in other locations, so they can ship them out of the city. Some had dozens apparently.

FYI he has for years insisted the plan is to tunnel underneath the CN rail yard.

Nice! I like "shipping out of the city....."

 

[yeggator]

The switch from 4 to 2 car trains is preventing drug use and loitering from when homeless concentrate and take over an entire car. Shorter trains force people to mix and this eye's on the street psychology has caused a drop in damage and disruption.

Interesting. Apparently, the new high-floor LRVs the city is purchasing will be longer (4-car train = current 5-car train). That means we can double down on this strategy with less compromise of capacity. Easier to check fares too. Would have preferred open gangways though, but I can imagine why the logistics may be tricky.

Also EPS has stepped up enforcement on the LRT and they're finding many of these people have warrants for arrest in other locations, so they can ship them out of the city. Some had dozens apparently.

Highlights the unfortunate realities of other communities dumping their problems on Edmonton, as well as the feds not taking bail reform and law enforcement seriously (yet). Good to see the increased police presence working.

FYI he has for years insisted the plan is to tunnel underneath the CN rail yard.

I’d still prefer a bridge instead of a tunnel for pedestrian/cyclist connections. Lately though, my preference has been to run the LRT along the Yellowhead and cross the CN tracks at 97th Street with a much shorter crossing to save money and bring the line closer to Northgate.

 

[CplKlinger]

My BIL is middle management at ETS, he had a few interesting things to say. The switch from 4 to 2 car trains is preventing drug use and loitering from when homeless concentrate and take over an entire car. Shorter trains force people to mix and this eye's on the street psychology has caused a drop in damage and disruption. Also EPS has stepped up enforcement on the LRT and they're finding many of these people have warrants for arrest in other locations, so they can ship them out of the city. Some had dozens apparently.

FYI he has for years insisted the plan is to tunnel underneath the CN rail yard.

Thanks for the insider's scoop, please keep the lore coming as you get it! Did he ever say if the only hold-up for crossing Walker Yard is funding, or if they're still negotiating with CN?

 

[trevorhayden]

They should have an apartment

 

[Immotus]

Thanks for the insider's scoop, please keep the lore coming as you get it! Did he ever say if the only hold-up for crossing Walker Yard is funding, or if they're still negotiating with CN?

No problem; one caveat, he has a tendency to say more than he knows, so take these as rumors.
Apparently CN didn't agree to having pylons in their yard. Years ago he said the tunnel would have to be deep to due to (freight) train weight and to avoid dealing with pollution leaching through the soil, lastly a deposit was put in to reserve a tunnelling machine for some years in the future. Just to keep the option open.

 

[IanO]

0.00001% it is going to be a tunnel.

I just pray that we do not try to do a 'signature' $2b bridge here and just do something pragmatic and cost-effective; not everything needs to be 'world-class iconic' and IMO if I was living to the north of this I would not want 200' high towers next to me.

*maybe need to move these to another thread.

 

[The_Cat]

I wonder if the LRT stations could allow for amateur acts like there used to be before Covid.

 

[EdwardEdm]

I wonder if the LRT stations could allow for amateur acts like there used to be before Covid.

ETS Busker Permit Payment Appointment | City of Edmonton

Book an in-person appointment to pay for a Busker Permit at the Edmonton Service Centre.

www.edmonton.ca

Seems they still do.

 

[Glenco]

I quite often see a flute player at Century Park.

 

[IanO]

Walking home from the Citadel last night with a rather larger crowd on a Thursday night.

Central station LRT entrance on 101st was a gong show with 4-5 individuals 'in colours' with bags and open drug use occuring.

It would be nice to see uniforms do a sweep of Churchill and Central pre show release.

 

[Greenspace]

^I go to the Winspear often. EPS and Peace Officers are there all the time. They usher them out and then they come back again in 15 minutes. It's an endless cycle.

Officers can ticket or remove individuals from loitering on transit property, but often they choose just to move them along. If they need social supports they're directed as such. Rarely do they charge someone under a provincial summons anymore for racking up multiple fines. That used to be fairly common but now it is more frowned up as clogging up the judicial system, and often folks have their cases dismissed for the lengthy delays they face.

 

[EdwardEdm]

ETS Busker Permit Payment Appointment | City of Edmonton

Book an in-person appointment to pay for a Busker Permit at the Edmonton Service Centre.

www.edmonton.ca

Seems they still do.

Indeed, the signage is still up.

 

[Glenco]

I quite often see a flute player at Century Park.

Or should I say “flutist”

 

[CplKlinger]

If they need social supports they're directed as such

Part of the issue is that most of these services, such as Boyle Street and the navigation centre, are only open during business hours. If it's 9 PM and someone needs a referral to addiction treatment or housing, they're hooped until the next day in the best-case scenario.