A proposal to extend the High Level Streetcar south to Whyte Avenue is racing against the clock, with the Edmonton Radial Railway Society hoping the city will approve the application before funding pulls away from the station for good. The popular seasonal attraction takes passengers from the Alberta Arts Barn at Gateway Boulevard and 84 Avenue across the High Level Bridge to a terminus at 109 Street and 100 Avenue. As reported by Global News, the plan to extend the rail line would see trains traverse Gateway Boulevard, past 83 Avenue, and through a vacant lot to a final stop next to the public bathrooms at Whyte Avenue.

Location of the proposed new southern terminus, image retrieved from Google Street View

The May submission of the application was six years in the making and details permission for a project estimated to cost between $700,000 to $800,000. The society has secured grants from the city and province that will fund approximately 25 percent and one-third respectively, with the society expected to cover the remaining cost. But the grants are only usable until the end of the year, at which time they will expire, putting the project in jeopardy.

A senior planner with the City of Edmonton has indicated there is initial support for the zoning, but concerns about the impact of vehicle and bicycle traffic have been singled out as issues to be addressed. The high volume of traffic moving along Gateway Boulevard, heavily used by motorists to access the downtown core, has been identified as an impediment to the extension. The planner said railway arms at Gateway Boulevard could be installed to improve safety.

Edmonton Streetcar #33, image by Forum contributor Daveography

If approved and built, the streetcar will retain its current schedule, with three weekday crossings an hour between the morning and afternoon rush hours. The society is anticipating a response from the city within the next few weeks, Global reports.

What do you think of the proposed extension? How could potential traffic impacts be alleviated? Leave a comment below or get involved in the discussion at the designated Forum thread.