Editorial: LRT fix misses the mark
Edmontonians could soon witness their council performing a trick worthy of David Copperfield: transforming a neighbourhood-friendly tram into a Vancouver-style SkyTrain.

This wouldn’t be a charming illusion, but a real-life metamorphosis that could conjure costly and lasting consequences, including a barrier dividing neighbourhoods in Bonnie Doon and Holyrood, a six-month delay in completing the Valley Line LRT between Mill Woods and downtown and an extra cost of up to $220 million.

A report coming before councillors today proposes changing the original plan by building an elevated station and tracks for the train to run above grade for 10 blocks along 83 Street from north of 90 Avenue to south of 82 Avenue.

Councillors asked city officials to come up with options for the Valley Line after seeing the Metro Line snarl traffic in the Kingsway Mall area.

But elevating the LRT wouldn’t go very far towards the goal of easing congestion and cutting travel times. Whether or not the tracks are elevated, traffic engineers predict the intersection at Whyte Avenue and 83 Street will be choked with vehicles. When the LRT opens in 2020, the intersection will be operating at the lowest grade on the engineering scale — meaning vehicles will be waiting through multiple light cycles to get through during the afternoon commute.
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http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-bonnie-doon-lrt-fix-misses-the-mark
 
Edmonton votes down $220-million plan to raise Valley Line LRT in Bonnie Doon
Council balked at a $220-million plan to raise LRT through the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood Tuesday, saying the payoff just isn’t worth the cost.

“Glad we looked at it because we all had this questions … but it’s pretty clear the return on investment is not there,” said Mayor Don Iveson, thinking of other places those same dollars could be invested.

The cost is double the price to fix the rail line on 50 Street – letting traffic flow over or under that commuter headache, he said. “It’s small returns for huge cost.”

City officials said raising the Valley Line LRT above several congested Bonnie Doon-area intersections would add between $125 million and $220 million to the total construction bill. It would run on stilts for 10 blocks along 83 Street from north of 90 Avenue to south of 82 Avenue, but only shave 30 seconds off the wait for motorists at the Whyte Avenue/83 Street intersection.
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http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loc...-plan-to-raise-valley-line-lrt-in-bonnie-doon
 
Information Session :: Valley Line Canopy Sculptures RFP
The Edmonton Arts Council has released 5 Calls to Artists for the Valley Line LRT Transit Shelter Canopy Sculptures at the Avonmore, Grey Nuns, Millbourne/Woodvale, Muttart, and Quarters neigbourhood stops.

We're hosting an Information Session for the calls in the Lestock Lounge on the second floor of the Prince of Wales Armouries on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

The Prince of Wales Armouries is located at 10440 108 Avenue, Edmonton, AB

EAC Public Art staff, City personnel, and community representatives will present information and technical specifications for the program, as well as background on the communities surrounding the stops.

RSVP is required by Monday, May 1, 2017 to Grace Law glaw@edmontonarts.ca - the event will be cancelled with low response.

Visit http://publicart.edmontonarts.ca/calls/ for details on all the RFPs. Artists may apply for one or more of the calls.
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https://www.facebook.com/events/1901565826756763/
 
Riverdale all shook up over Valley Line LRT construction
Spring has sprung, the birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, and if you live in Edmonton's Riverdale neighbourhood, everything seems to be vibrating.

Construction crews are going full bore on the new Valley Line LRT including the new bridge that will allow trains to cross the river.

The Tawatinâ Bridge will replace the Cloverdale footbridge which has been removed except for the concrete foundations.

"We had to put down what we call a cofferdam, which is a set of steel panels, around there so that we can get in there and safely remove the old concrete," said Dean Heuman with TransEd, which represents the companies involved in the P3 project.

cofferdam.JPG

This cofferdam allows workers to remove the concrete from the old bridge supports but it requires the steel beams to be hammered into the ground. (CBC)

That particular part of the project is loud and it's leaving Riverdalians a little shaken.

"When they're dumping the rocks it's like an avalanche, and then when they're pounding it feels like there's an earthquake, it's vibrating so much," said Chow Pon, who owns a 12-unit apartment building on Cameron Avenue that backs on to the construction site.
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...p-over-valley-line-lrt-construction-1.4078767
 
Short term pain for long term gain. My street is being reconstructed this summer. Maybe I should call CBC and complain about all the noise and vibrations...
 
TransEd kicks off construction on Valley Line LRT Bonnie Doon stop
Construction on the latest expansion of Edmonton’s LRT system kicked off at Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre on Monday.

The 27-kilometre Valley Line LRT expansion continues with the Bonnie Doon stop, south of 84 Avenue and 83 Street, which representatives from the shopping centre say will bring new life to the area.

“[Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre] is definitely in need of that rejuvenation,” general manager Charlene Macintyre said.

“It will definitely be a different format moving forward, but Bonnie Doon mall will always be here.”
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http://globalnews.ca/news/3418893/city-kicks-off-construction-on-bonnie-doon-lrt-stop/
 
Mill Woods golf course seeks compensation for summer pipeline LRT work
The term “burning up the course” will take on new meaning this summer in Mill Woods. ATCO will be on site for a good chunk of the summer, burying deeper natural gas pipelines that need to be lowered because of Valley Line LRT construction.

At some point during the process there will be flaring.

Joan Kirillo, the business manager with MCARFA, the not-for-profit agency that runs the course in partnership with the city, only found out late last week how extensive the job will be this summer.

“They’re not telling us enough information,” Kirillo told reporters after appearing before city council’s executive committee Tuesday.

“I’ve been working with the city on this since 2012 and I’ve always been told: there’s no relocation of the pipelines.”

“It wasn’t until somebody sent me an email about moving one of our gates that is on that area that they went, ‘Oh, by the way, the relocation is happening.'”
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http://globalnews.ca/news/3421208/m...ks-compensation-for-summer-pipeline-lrt-work/

Valley Line LRT construction could be ‘devastating’ for golf course
A “critical” step in getting the Valley Line on tack is coming at the expense of the Mill Woods golf course, says the club’s manager.

That’s because city councillors at the executive committee approved plans Tuesday that will see crews dig into part the course this summer to lower underground pipelines, so the future LRT doesn’t cause them to vibrate when it zooms nearby.
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http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmont...ey-line-lrt-devastating-golf-course-city.html
 
"Trains run every 10 min off-peak & 5 min in peak hours"

Yet somehow isn't going to be a negative impact on traffic.

I feel like some planners idea of public transit is make regular driving so terrible it forces everyone to use transit.
 
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