Commuter & Regional Rail

[yeggator]

After seeing the pictures of the new public space at The Switch, I've been thinking a lot about how we might be able to integrate that with a new regional rail terminus for VIA Rail/service to Jasper and regional rail to the suburbs along CN's various ROWs and came up with the map attached. Imagine the Switch being tied in with the plaza in front of the RAM (directing you towards City Hall), the Living Bridge, Mary Burlie Park and a large new plaza with a drop-off loop (perhaps with an infill LRT station connection) in front of a new terminal (main building marked in orange, but platforms could extend all the way across the yellow zone). It would be a fantastic way to welcome visitors to the station right in the heart of the city from the suburbs, Jasper, the rest of the country coming in by train and even visitors across the world coming to the station to take the train to the mountains. Certainly much better than a crappy station by a rail yard, freeway and the giant Blatchford construction zone.
This also really puts into perspective just how much land we would need for a Downtown Station. Those VIA rail trains are ridiculously long and would stretch out almost to 92nd Street while stopped at the station! You'd have to acquire land where the Bissell Centre and Canada Post are, plus some houses on 106th Ave to set up platforms that are long enough for the trains, while not infringing on the LRT tracks.

 

[YEG imagineer]

While we wait for the release of the Alberta Rail Master Plan, here is a recent article.about Alto, the Quebec to Toronto HSR project. https://schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/...-learning-from-other-north-american-projects/

 

[YEG imagineer]

I would love AB post secondary to jump on this train as well. Currently only SAIT has a railroad program and graduates are scooped up by CN and CPKS as soon as they are done. AB should be prepping for potential rail expansion with education before we build. And maybe get some companies like Alstom to donate funds. https://www.alstom.com/press-releas...eers-canada-new-funding-ontario-tech-students

 

[trevorhayden]

They aren't because they know the UCP program is all smoke and mirrors.

 

[husky]

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/b0769b96-7a45-40b5-b57c-415ff82aca49/resource/71a5bc04-ce3d-4436-b15f-ca0b6f2a0f19/download/tec-mandate-letter-transportation-and-economic-corridors-2025.pdf

TEC Mandate letter includes the following gems of interest:
- In cooperation with Treasury Board and Finance, finalize planning and timelines for
implementation of the Passenger Rail Strategy.
- In partnership with the City of Edmonton, commence planning for a YEG Airport connector
to Edmonton’s light rail transit system as part of the Passenger Rail Strategy.

 

[chrisvazquez7]

Well the Alberta Passenger Rail Master Plan was supposed to be done this summer but it’s now officially fall. Any word on when the plan will be made public?

 

[trevorhayden]

When the UCP needs a distraction from driving the province into destitution.

 

[The_Cat]

It’s going to be tough to do, especially with the fiscal situation.

 

[husky]

Well the Alberta Passenger Rail Master Plan was supposed to be done this summer but it’s now officially fall. Any word on when the plan will be made public?

From the sessions I attended it sounds like they were hoping to have the plan (maybe just in draft?) complete by Sept/Oct. Not sure if that's when it'll be released to the public

 

[David A]

It’s going to be tough to do, especially with the fiscal situation.

Yes, not sure if there is quite as much of a mood for it now, but it probably doesn't involve spending money in the next few years so it may not matter.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Unfortunately, It may be another plan that will be kicked down the road for "future considerations"

 

[CplKlinger]

"It’s why your government will invest in the expansion of Edmonton’s and Calgary’s light-rail transit systems, and roll out a provincial passenger-rail strategy that will see commuter rail built out over the coming decades to ease the growing burden on the QE2 and Trans Canada highways. We can’t, after all, keep adding lanes on these congested roadways forever. As Alberta continues to grow, public transit must be part of the solution."

Speech from the Throne

The throne speech opens a new session of the legislature and outlines the broad goals and direction for government.

www.alberta.ca

 

[fjordgard]

"It’s why your government will invest in the expansion of Edmonton’s and Calgary’s light-rail transit systems, and roll out a provincial passenger-rail strategy that will see commuter rail built out over the coming decades to ease the growing burden on the QE2 and Trans Canada highways. We can’t, after all, keep adding lanes on these congested roadways forever. As Alberta continues to grow, public transit must be part of the solution."

Speech from the Throne

The throne speech opens a new session of the legislature and outlines the broad goals and direction for government.

www.alberta.ca

I wonder if the investments they are talking about are the amounts already promised for the Green Line and the Valley Line West. This does not necessarily mean more money is coming...

 

[David A]

I wonder if the investments they are talking about are the amounts already promised for the Green Line and the Valley Line West. This does not necessarily mean more money is coming...

I feel it is, governments these days often seem to like to announce and re-announce the same thing a number of times over and over.

However, if there is some new Federal infrastructure money soon perhaps the province will have a reason to add some more too.

 

[archited]

Agreed @David A -- we have heard this one before but at least they haven't forgotten about the previous versions of the same announcement. I think -- reading between the lines, studying the tea leaves, and staring into my crystal ball -- that what is likely up for Provincial consideration is an extension of the Capital line to the YEG airport, done and dusted. That seems to be the most realistic prospect and one that is more easily achieved than any of the other schemes. I also believe that this would serve Edmonton well -- it would connect the City at large to the airways.