David A
Senior Member
$20 is less than a cab ride, so I expect this would appeal to others as well as business travelers. For those that are more frugal, bus/LRT and 747 already works.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
Gronk!
Senior Member
IIRC Edmonton was on the losing end of major convention bids due to the lack of direct YEG-downtown transportation options.
MakeYEGGreatAgain
New Member
Edmonton loses (or does not even show up) many conventions due to lack of direct flights, decent transportation from the airport to downtown, decent supply of good quality rooms downtown and lack of entertainment/shopping downtown.
Ohman
New Member
A convention recently where they checked out Edmonton and Calgary and it was a no-brainer. Calgary has the airport connections, the Telus Convention Centre opening right onto Stephen Ave with tons of food/retail at the doorstep. Plus the foot traffic on Stephen Ave made the city feel alive plus all the hotel options. Some of the international visitors commented on how boring calgary was 
(i can only imagine what they would have said about edmonton!)
Edmonton’s nowhere close on this stuff right now. There are so many pieces that would need fixing before it’s even back in the conversation. The YEG-to-downtown connection is just one part of a much bigger puzzle. it would take a really coordinated effort and probably years before Edmonton is a proper contender on the convention front. The whole thing was a bit jarring in realizing how far behind we are.
with all that said, LRT or something to yeg would be a huge boon and like others pointed out, running it through what is currently fields feels like bit of a no-brainer. A clear straight line vs the current approach of LRT arriving decades later, rammed through windy roads and tearing up existing infrastructure to build.
(i can only imagine what they would have said about edmonton!)Edmonton’s nowhere close on this stuff right now. There are so many pieces that would need fixing before it’s even back in the conversation. The YEG-to-downtown connection is just one part of a much bigger puzzle. it would take a really coordinated effort and probably years before Edmonton is a proper contender on the convention front. The whole thing was a bit jarring in realizing how far behind we are.
with all that said, LRT or something to yeg would be a huge boon and like others pointed out, running it through what is currently fields feels like bit of a no-brainer. A clear straight line vs the current approach of LRT arriving decades later, rammed through windy roads and tearing up existing infrastructure to build.
MacLac
Senior Member
Sure sure……
David A
Senior Member
Yes, while all of those are problems, the second and the third are probably easier for us to fix in the short to mid term. So maybe we should focus on them.
degrandprix
Active Member
All true, except Calgary's 45-minute airport bus connection is no better than ours. Though I believe they have plans to extend LRT to their airport soon-ish.A convention recently where they checked out Edmonton and Calgary and it was a no-brainer. Calgary has the airport connections, the Telus Convention Centre opening right onto Stephen Ave with tons of food/retail at the doorstep. Plus the foot traffic on Stephen Ave made the city feel alive plus all the hotel options. Some of the international visitors commented on how boring calgary was
Edmonton’s nowhere close on this stuff right now. There are so many pieces that would need fixing before it’s even back in the conversation. The YEG-to-downtown connection is just one part of a much bigger puzzle. it would take a really coordinated effort and probably years before Edmonton is a proper contender on the convention front. The whole thing was a bit jarring in realizing how far behind we are.
with all that said, LRT or something to yeg would be a huge boon and like others pointed out, running it through what is currently fields feels like bit of a no-brainer. A clear straight line vs the current approach of LRT arriving decades later, rammed through windy roads and tearing up existing infrastructure to build.
David A
Senior Member
Yes, lets not forget everything is not perfect elsewhere either. Interestingly, Montreal also does not have LRT to its airport either, although they are working on it.
I really don't feel it is productive to just hash out a long list of problems, we need to focus on and fix the ones that we can most easily deal with immediately.
So for instance a better airport connection to downtown now should be a no brainer, a lot cheaper and it can happen faster than LRT to the airport.
archited
Senior Member
I am still puzzling over why an airport connection has to be to downtown vis a vis a direct run.
David A
Senior Member
Because the convention centre, larger hotels and major business offices are downtown.
Glenco
Senior Member
Exactly how would the link work? What would be the cost to the city considering we only just have enough money to cover current services?Once an hour? A city bus with 30-40 passengers or a van? If you are travelling in a group far better to hire a cab especially if you are on a business expense. Where exactly would the bus drop you off? Churchill square? Then what you have to do is get to your hotel. How much demand on a day to day basis be? Probably run empty most of the time is my guess.
BrettB
Active Member
Some of us have not so fond memories of the Airporter, which offered service downtown and was the only non-vehicle way to get to YEG for a long time
ChazYEG
Senior Member
I don't think a 40 seat coach bus running an express line between YEG to, let's say ICE district, with a stop at the U of A, wouldn't see demand. YEG flies on average 20k passengers every day, I find it hard to believe that we couldn't get 240-300 people to ride it each way every day.
For reference, 3 companies run almost hourly (with two different stops within the city) buses between YYZ and London, a city about 1/4 the size of Edmonton Metro, with most of these buses being at least 70% occupancy, from what I have experienced.
There's a different perception between riding a $15-20 coach bus with comfortable seats and space for as much luggage as you can carry on a plane, directly to the places where most people would be going to. It is not the same as taking an uncomfortable city bus and then having to haul stuff around through a transit centre so you can hop on the LRT.
The_Cat
Senior Member
I think Edmonton would do well with multiple transportation options to the International Airport. What percentage of travellers go to visit West Edmonton Mall or Rogers Place? What about summer festivals? What about academics and students? Are they staying in hotels or AirBNBs?
With the growth of Edmonton and Leduc, LRT is becoming a greater possibility. Bus service is becoming more established with service from Leduc and the International Airport. If we build clientele, this will become a reality, especially with an LRT network that has over 50 stops.
With the growth of Edmonton and Leduc, LRT is becoming a greater possibility. Bus service is becoming more established with service from Leduc and the International Airport. If we build clientele, this will become a reality, especially with an LRT network that has over 50 stops.
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Gronk!
Senior Member
I reckon that a good chunk of tourists are attending hockey games and concerts at Rogers Place, or checking out summer festivals such as the Taste of Edmonton and The Fringe, or attending events such as the hydrogen convention at the Edmonton Convention Centre or the Edmonton Expo at the Expo Centre. Thus it makes sense to have lots of hotel space downtown c/w LRT access (which is coming soon to WEM). But is there enough downtown hotel space? You have the Hotel Mac, Courtyard, Westin, Chateau Lacombe, Sandman, JW, Delta, Matrix, Holiday Inn Express, APA (currently u/c), Comfort Inn, Days Inn and Hyatt - but that's it, really.