Edmonton South Light Rail Extension, Canada

The aim of the Edmonton South light rail extension is to extend the current light rail system from University Station, with it eventually terminating at Heritage Station. It involves the addition of two stations, as well as the construction of two tunnels. The project is partly in response to the significant population growth over the past ten years and partly in response to concerns to the impact and expense of traditional roadway solutions to traffic congestion and the national climate control strategy initiated in the Kyoto protocol. This has resulted in the strategic recommendations for increased public transportation.

EDMONTON SOUTH RAIL EXTENSION PHASES

On 21 November 2000, Edmonton City council approved the concept plan for the South Light Rail Transport extension from University to Health Sciences Station. This action supports the Council's previous decision on 17 October 2000 to make the Light Rail Transport the top priority for the Federal Infrastructure Programme. The project has been split into three phases.

PHASE ONE

The concept plan approved by the Council included plans for two, 6m diameter tunnels that will extend from University Station at a 6% grade to a portal location 100m south of 87th Avenue on the west side of 114 Street. The 6% grade will enable the tunnel and LRT tracks to miss the underground utility corridors crossing 114th Street and result in substantial savings. Since a 6% grade exceeds the braking capacity of the current LRT cars, the re-braking of all current LRT cars is required.

The existing pedestrian crossings on 114th Street will be retained and a new roadway will be constructed. The existing number of parking stalls in the Jubilee Parking Lot will be retained through modifications to the parking area. The Jubilee Road South will be closed.

HEALTH SCIENCES STATION

The Health Sciences Station will be an at-grade, centre-loading platform located in front of the existing EDC building to serve the institutions in the Health Sciences precinct. The station will be a staged development. The initial platform will accommodate four LRT vehicles with the potential to expand to a five-car platform when the demand arises. An eventual pedestrian overpasswill be developed connecting the station, University Hospital and the future redeveloped EDC. Interim platform shelters will be used until the EDC site plans are concluded at which time a permanent shelter will include elevators to the pedestrian overpass.

SECOND PART OF EDMONTON SOUTH RAIL EXTENSION PHASE ONE

The second part of the first phase includes the area from the Health Sciences Station to the Neil Crawford Centre. The planning for this section is in the initial stage, some of the key planning components and consultation points for this section include the impact of alignment on buildings, landscaping and access points between Health Sciences Station and University Avenue. It also includes the impact on the communities of Belgravia and McKernan. A community committee has been created to facilitate community information sharing and decision-making.

EDMONTON SOUTH RAIL EXTENSION CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS

During the process of preliminary engineering and detailed design, a number of outstanding issues will continue to be addressed and mitigated. The construction impact on parking in the Jubilee Parking Lot will be tackled. The lot will be used as a construction site and lay down area, which will result in the loss of parking stalls for some of the local amenities. A study examining alternatives to minimize the impact is underway. The study includes any circulation or parking impact on surrounding communities as a result of alternative parking sites. The construction has impacts such as noise, vibration, pedestrian and vehicular circulation.

EDMONTON SOUTH RAIL EXTENSION PHASES TWO AND THREE

The second and third phases are in the early planning stages. The second phase, which will be the extension of the LRT from Neil Crawford Centre Station to Southgate Station, is dependent on the outcome of the first phase, as the second phase continues where the first one finishes. The third phase extension from Southgate Station to Heritage Station is dependent on the second phase for the same reasons.

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