[Glenco]

Guessing it's due to the track switches south of Health Sciences limiting slope approach distance to closer to 150M, albeit I think that's still reasonable for a below grade crossing. And if frequency isn't limited by University Crossing signaling, do they even need the switches right there? They have a set by South Campus.

If this is an actual opinion of the City and not the usual smug make believe peddled by trevorhayden, it gives off big time "find an excuse to not do it" vibes that gov't administration loves to produce when faced with correcting past errors.

Obviously the switch would have to be moved to South Campus where they have a centre switch back. Would be less disruptive as the train would not have to cross tracks. This cannot happen until University Avenue is grade separated.

 

[yeggator]

This is a smart way to frame this upgrade. I wonder if similar thinking could lead to an upgrade at University Ave for the next (hopeful) south extension as well.

Unfortunately, even without extending it past Century Park, the south leg of the Capital Line already contributes so much ridership (going to/from Health Sciences and beyond) that there’s no good way to build the grade-separation without disrupting tens of thousands of daily commutes. Best bet is to get the new OMF set up so we can sever service between Health Sciences and McKernan and try to find a way to bridge the gap temporarily (perhaps by setting up temporary bus lanes and shuttle bus service between McKernan/South Campus and University Stations).

 

[Kosy123]

Crazy idea but can we just get an underpass under the LRT line and just lower the whole intersection of University Ave and 114 St?

 

[Barnaby]

Closing off University Ave to vehicle through traffic would solve this problem. Turn the area east of 115 St into a park.

I know this sounds like an impossible task, but it would cost $15 million instead of the the proposal to grade separate, which would undoubtedly cost nearly as much as the Blatchford extension.

For this money you could build a Spur Line on the VLW from Brewery to the Via Rail Station.

Spending hundreds of millions to maintain the usability of this roadway is insane

 

[yeggator]

Closing off University Ave to vehicle through traffic would solve this problem. Turn the area east of 115 St into a park.

I know this sounds like an impossible task, but it would cost $15 million instead of the the proposal to grade separate, which would undoubtedly cost nearly as much as the Blatchford extension.

For this money you could build a Spur Line on the VLW from Brewery to the Via Rail Station.

Spending hundreds of millions to maintain the usability of this roadway is insane

I think you underestimate just how crucial University Ave is as one of our few major cross-river routes.

 

[Foolworm]

At some point there will have to be a grade crossing removal programme. Right now the City wants to build the network out first.

The BRT lanes on 109St / 87 Ave will probably need to be built first before any shutdown of University Ave is contemplated.

Likewise I think 107 Ave/105 St, Kingsway/111 Ave, and PEA/106 Ave all have to be done. Bus lanes for 101 St will likewise need to be in place for that to happen.

 

[whattheheck]

"At some point there will have to be a grade crossing removal programme."

The built-form isn't even future-proofed for that. A future generation will be left to wonder why our current generation so royally screwed it up, while they pay so much more to fix what should have been built properly (or at least built with future consideration) the first time.

 

[whattheheck]

Closing off University Ave to vehicle through traffic would solve this problem. Turn the area east of 115 St into a park.

I know this sounds like an impossible task, but it would cost $15 million instead of the the proposal to grade separate, which would undoubtedly cost nearly as much as the Blatchford extension.

For this money you could build a Spur Line on the VLW from Brewery to the Via Rail Station.

Spending hundreds of millions to maintain the usability of this roadway is insane

I would really love to know what type of bizarro world you live in. Please, whoever you are, do not ever run for an elected position. If a little tiny voice inside your head says to, please don't listen to that voice so as to spare the public from terrible ideas.

Close off University Avenue to vehicle traffic?! Wow, just total wholesale, I can't believe what I just read wow. I used to be young and idealistic. But never was I ever completely tone deaf.

 

[Foolworm]

"At some point there will have to be a grade crossing removal programme."

The built-form isn't even future-proofed for that. A future generation will be left to wonder why our current generation so royally screwed it up, while they pay so much more to fix what should have been built properly (or at least built with future consideration) the first time.

Or they could be appreciative that it was actually built in the first place. That's the takeaway from Calgary, who built their network out early and has benefited from it for decades, as opposed to Edmonton who is only now embarking on a massive catch-up effort.

I know plenty of people who wonder why the original generation was so fixated on 'building it right' (the Jasper ave subway)that they screwed over the network by crimping its growth.

 

[Barnaby]

I would really love to know what type of bizarro world you live in. Please, whoever you are, do not ever run for an elected position. If a little tiny voice inside your head says to, please don't listen to that voice so as to spare the public from terrible ideas.

Close off University Avenue to vehicle traffic?! Wow, just total wholesale, I can't believe what I just read wow. I used to be young and idealistic. But never was I ever completely tone deaf.

People are way too comfortable with condescension on here. I would have built it grade separated from the start, for the record.

My argument is that if you run a traffic study, and conduct a long term CBA, removing the crossing would be best.

And while you may comfortable bringing age into it for some reason, you might be uncomfortable knowing that I have infinitely more to do with LRT construction in Edmonton than you likely ever will.

 

[whattheheck]

The downtown tunnel did not result in the stalling of the lrt. That was more due to the fact the proceeding councils were not willing to take on debt related to infrastructure. Add in successive provincial governments who have always been hesitant to give proper infrastructure funding to Edmonton.

From the University, then Capital line should either have been elevated or trenched through Belgravia. But planners at the time really did believe that building the lrt would result in such a dramatic decrease in traffic (because they assumed everyone would take the lrt) that they went the cheap seats route. The hubris.

 

[whattheheck]

And while you may comfortable bringing age into it for some reason, you might be uncomfortable knowing that I have infinitely more to do with LRT construction in Edmonton than you likely ever will.

That doesn't make me uncomfortable. TBH, that makes me angry as a citizen. To see a supposed 'expert' making suggestions like that. Wow. It's suggestions like closing off University Ave that result in populist politics (aka the ucp et al) infecting our civil discourse because people like you give them the fuel for their terrible fires.

 

[Glenco]

So what is it? We insisted on doing it right by building a subway or when we build out as quickly as possible? Level crossings are inevitable if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck. Ask Calgary should they have built a tunnel downtown 40 years ago the cost now is prohibitive whereas we have a future proofed subway system that won’t reach capacity for at least another 50 years.

 

[Barnaby]

I'm presenting an extremely fiscally conservative idea. Most of my transit preferences are such, just read through my post history regarding the LRT lines.

If you put myself and Dreeshan at a bar top, his views on transit spending would be far more socialist than mine. I'm literally in favour of toll roads and highways.

 

[whattheheck]

^A true fiscal conservative would future proof what is a generational infrastructure project to ensure the taxpayers of tomorrow are not left with an even bigger price tag to fix the mess they have no choice but to inherit.