Edmonton Light Rail Transit

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Edmonton Light Rail Transit
Info
Locale	Edmonton, Alberta
Transit type	Light rail
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	13
Daily ridership	50,000[1]
Operation
Began operation	April 28, 1978
Operator(s)	Edmonton Transit System
Technical
System length	15.2 km (9.44 mi)
Track gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) (standard gauge)
Route map

Edmonton LRT

Legend Gorman (2012) 0min Clareview 50 Street (Highway 15) 137 Avenue D.L. MacDonald Yard 3min Belvedere CN Lines Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16) Wayne Gretzky Drive 6min Coliseum 118 Avenue CN Spur End Stadium North LRT Line (future) 12min Churchill Central Bay/Enterprise Square 15min Corona Grandin/Government Centre Dudley B. Menzies Bridge North Saskatchewan River 19min University Health Sciences/Jubilee McKernan/Belgravia Belgravia Road 24min South Campus 111 Street Southbound Southgate (2010) Whitemud Drive (Highway 2) Century Park (2010) 111 Street & 23 Ave (future) South LRT (future)

Edmonton Light Rail Transit, more commonly referred to as the LRT, is a light rail system in Edmonton, Alberta. Part of the Edmonton Transit System (ETS), the 15.2-kilometre route starts in Edmonton's northeast suburbs and currently ends in the University of Alberta's south campus near Foote Field. Construction on the southern extension is under way, with the Southgate and Century Park stations scheduled to open in 2010.

The ETS designates the LRT as Route 201.^[2] The track carrying traffic to the southern terminus is designated Track 1, with the northbound track designated Track 2.

The system uses trains of either Siemens-Duewag U2 cars or Siemens SD-160 cars; 26 of the SD-160 cars were ordered in 2005, with the first cars entering revenue service on January 27, 2009.^[3]

[edit] System overview

The system currently comprises the following 13 stations: Clareview (where the main line begins and ends), Belvedere, Coliseum, Stadium, Churchill, Central, Bay/Enterprise Square, Corona, Grandin-Government Centre, University, Health Sciences/Jubilee, McKernan/Belgravia and South Campus, with the second stage of the southern extension, to the Southgate and Century Park stations, scheduled to open in 2010. Of these, Churchill, Central, Bay/Enterprise Square, Corona, Grandin and University are underground.

During construction, surface area was preserved (although costs increased) by tunnelling under the downtown core and the University of Alberta main campus. The underground portions of the LRT connect to a pedway system with links to many buildings. The LRT crosses the North Saskatchewan River between the Grandin and University stations on the Dudley B. Menzies Bridge^[4], a dedicated LRT bridge.

[edit] History

Edmonton was the first city in North America with a population of less than one million to build a modern light rail system. The route first started construction in 1974, and opened its first segment on April 22, 1978, in time for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. The line followed a CN right-of-way from Belvedere Station to Stadium Station, via an intermediate stop at Coliseum Station (near the Northlands Coliseum, now Rexall Place), and then continued in a tunnel under 99 Street to Central Station, at Jasper Avenue and 100 Street, including an intermediate stop, Churchill. The original line was 6.9 km long.

When the line opened, fare collection was modelled on traditional rapid transit lines, with booth attendants. Low volumes of activity at some entrances led to weekend closures of alternate station entrances. In November 1980, Edmonton Transit–as it was then named–switched to a modified European-style "proof of payment" system, initially retaining the old turnstiles to issue the new receipts. Fares were now collected by automated ticket vending machines, with irregular proof of payment inspectors which permitted keeping all entrances open and required fewer staff.

On April 26, 1981, ETS opened a northeastern-bound extension of 2.2 km on the CN right-of-way to Clareview Station, the D.L. MacDonald Yard between Belvedere and Clareview opened in December 1983. In June 1983, the light rail tunnel downtown was extended by 0.8 km to Bay/Enterprise Square and Corona stations, and was extended again in September 1989 by one station and 0.8 km to Grandin (below the Alberta Legislature). On August 23, 1992, the next extension opened from Grandin to University Station, partially via a North Saskatchewan River crossing with a lower level for pedestrians and cyclists, and partially via a tunnel into the University Station. On January 1, 2006, the line was extended 0.64 km south through the University Campus to the Health Sciences/Jubilee Station, which is located at street level. On April 26, 2009, the line was further extended 2.3 km south to McKernan/Belgravia and South Campus stations.

Every station on the line built since 1983 has been built with full accessibility for the disabled, although the line was semi-navigable by disabled passengers from its opening. In the late 1990s, Clareview and Belvedere Stations were covered and also had their platforms lengthened to allow for the use of five-car trains.

[edit] Future expansion

[edit] South LRT expansion

The above-ground LRT station at the University of Alberta's South Campus, near the Neil Crawford Centre and Foote Field

A 7.8 km expansion of the system is currently under construction. New stations will include McKernan/Belgravia (originally proposed as 76 Avenue Station), South Campus, Southgate and Century Park. The first two stations opened on April 26, 2009,^[5] with Southgate and Century Park due to commence operations approximately one year later. The first of the new Siemens SD-160 "Edmonton" light rail vehicle train cars for the new extension were shipped by rail from Sacramento, California, on April 24, 2008, arriving in Edmonton on May 9, 2008 (37 vehicles in total)^[6].

The LRT expansion is being developed entirely at surface level with several underpasses, one at Belgravia Road and the other under 111 Street south of 61 Avenue. A short busway has been constructed from the South Campus station^[7] roughly parallel to Belgravia Road in conjunction with the South LRT expansion. The surface LRT line emerges to ground level just north of the new Health Sciences Station at the University of Alberta, which was opened in January 2006. From the Health Sciences Station, the South LRT line will lead through the proposed South Campus and Southgate Mall, and to the former Heritage Mall site (now being developed as Century Park, a transit-oriented development).

In January 2008, Mayor Stephen Mandel announced that the southern leg will be extended further south along 111 Street to Anthony Henday Drive and then west to 127 Street. There will be a station and 1,000-car park-and-ride near that intersection, then the LRT will continue south for two more stops. Long range plans for the south line include possible extension all the way to the Edmonton International Airport and Leduc.^[8]

[edit] North LRT expansion

This map shows potential long-range expansion plans put before city council in January 2008.

On April 27, 2007, it was announced the city will begin detailed planning of a new LRT line that will run north from Churchill Station to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and beyond to north-end neighbourhoods such as Griesbach.

The proposed new line would branch off the main LRT line at Churchill Station, run west along 105 Avenue to the Grant MacEwan College City Centre Campus, then north along 105 Street, Kingsway Avenue and 106 Street to Kingsway Garden Mall and NAIT. Beyond NAIT the line would tunnel beneath the CN railway yard north of Yellowhead Trail and continue further north along 109 Street and 113A Street with long range plans to eventually extend the line to St. Albert.

The new line would have three stations: one at Grant MacEwan College (MacEwan Station), one on Kingsway Avenue (Kingsway Station) and one near the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT Station). MacEwan Station would be located just east of the downtown MacEwan College campus at 105 Street and 105 Avenue. The Kingsway Station would be located on Kingsway Avenue to the south of the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The NAIT Station would be located just south of Princess Elizabeth Avenue near the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. As part of the plan, the current Kingway Transit Centre would be relocated to the south east corner of Kingsway Avenue and 106 Street to provide service to both Kingsway Garden Mall and Kingsway Station.^[9]

The city has commenced detailed planning and engineering studies so the project is ready to procede when funding becomes available and hopes that the new line will be completed by 2014.^[10][11]

In April 2008, Edmonton City Council approved $45 million in funding to build a tunnel under the EPCOR Tower site immediately, while it is still under construction, with the aim of saving $140 million more that would have been required to dig under the tower once it was completed. This step was taken even though the rest of the project has not yet been approved, because of the time constraint posed by the construction of the new tower.^[12] Construction on the tunnel began in September 2008.^[13]

[edit] Northeast LRT expansion

On April 30, 2009, Mayor Stephen Mandel announced a $210 million project to extend the LRT system by one stop to Gorman Towne Centre. The expansion beyond Clareview Station is planned to continue along the CN right-of-way to a station and park-and-ride near 153 Avenue and Victoria Trail.^[14] Long range plans for the northeast leg of the LRT include extending it towards Fort Saskatchewan.

[edit] West LRT expansion

A potential expansion towards Stony Plain, with the West Edmonton Mall en route, is under consideration. A recommended route was announced on March 3, 2008. It called for a branch off the main North–South LRT line between Health Sciences and McKernan/Belgravia stations, with a tunnelled alignment running due west under University Avenue, crossing the North Saskatchewan River via a new bridge, and then continuing westwards at-grade along 87 Avenue past West Edmonton Mall to a terminus at Lewis Estates.^[15]

A second option for the west LRT extension would have the line run from Churchill Station, along 105 Avenue, 107 Avenue and Stony Plain Road before diverting south towards West Edmonton Mall and beyond. Proponents of this route cite better opportunities for transit-oriented development.

[edit] Southeast LRT expansion

Planning studies for an LRT route from downtown to Mill Woods has begun, and several routes are being considered.^[16]

[edit] Controversy

Concerns over community impacts^[17] along the proposed West^[18] and North^[19] LRT extensions have lead to a larger debate^[20] over the vision^[21][22] guiding the various expansion plans, and the criteria used to select the routes. A lack of coordination between the extensions and transit oriented developments as well as integration with other regional transportation nodes, has given rise to proposals for a new LRT master plan to guide it all^[23].

[edit] LRT fares

The cash fare for passengers using Edmonton Transit System buses and the LRT, effective February 1, 2009, is $2.50 for adults, seniors and youth.

Children under age six ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Passengers can purchase books of transit tickets, day passes, and monthly transit passes. Seniors can also purchase an annual transit pass.

Passengers paying a cash fare at a fare machine at an LRT station are issued an LRT ticket at the time the fare is paid. This ticket is valid both as proof of payment and as a transfer. Transfers allow the passenger to transfer from the LRT to a bus, from a bus to the LRT and between buses, and is valid for 90 minutes from time of issue. Passengers paying a cash fare on a bus can obtain a transfer at the time the fare is paid. Transfers also serve as proof of payment.

Passengers in an LRT proof of payment area must present proof of payment upon request by an ETS officer. Proof of payment includes LRT tickets, transfers, validated transit tickets and transit passes. Failure to provide proof of payment can result in a $110 fine. Proof of payment areas include all LRT trains and most LRT station platforms.^[24]

In 2007, the Edmonton Transit System, the University of Alberta, and Grant MacEwan College partnered to provide students with a universal transit pass (U-Pass), which is valid on the LRT and all ETS buses. The fee of $90 per semester for MacEwan students and $75 for University of Alberta students allows unlimited LRT and bus use by valid pass holders.^[25] The U-Pass is not valid during the summer months, when riders can pay the normal adult fares (students at U-Pass institutions are not eligible for the regular Edmonton Transit System student fares).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Edmonton Transit System–Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Namao, Spruce Grove
• Edmonton Light Rail Transit Video
• West LRT concerns
• ETS Photo Express