Downtown

[David A]

Yes its not the end of the world, just as having a mediocre downtown is not the end of the world either. I realize a lot of people here are content with the status quo and don't care about the impression we give to visitors, which is one reason why Edmonton has such a poor reputation elsewhere.

I have done the LRT/747 trip in rush hour with luggage, so it is possible but I would say it is for the brave and well prepared with not too much luggage.

 

[Tropical]

I really think the first step needs to be doubling or even tripling frequencies on the 747. While a direct bus downtown would be nice, transferring to a train to get to the city centre is not the end of the world.

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I couldn't agree more.

 

[BASE]

A frequent bus to directly to the Churchill capital/metro/valley line interchange would be a great initiative to get started now with a emphasis on trying to get the train built asap. Even if bus service started now we would be looking at minimum 8-10 years at the earliest before a train takes it's place.

 

[thommyjo]

Yes, there is a stop gap of shuttle services for various hotels and expensive cabs (in part because the airport is quite a long trip from downtown), but not everyone traveling is on an unlimited expense account or wants to justify a big cab bill to their employers.

Edmonton is full of contradictions - too cheap to spend for a downtown bus, but hoping for some much more expensive HSR service that may not arrive when many of us are still alive. In any event at this point we are paralyzed by our inaction and have been for a long time. The city needs a kick in the pants to realize it is not aspiring to be Regina.

As someone that used the Montreal 747 bus this summer, I can attest that it needs to be the stop gap solution for us.

Signage, que lines, easy ticketing, higher frequency, staff directing people, buses that accommodates luggage.

But I will say, the bus was old and sort of gross. And montreals road are so bad, a bus only makes it worse. And it was 35 degrees with no AC.

I think something more like a charter with higher end finishes would be nice. Run it at 20 minute frequencies. Advertise the heck out of it. Treat it like BRT in signage and maps. Build a nice loading area for it.

Our airport is so far away that the cost of Ubers and taxis is so high. Charging $10-15 for a 1 way ticket seems competitive. Then a monthly pass option could be looked into as well for regular commuters/airport employees. (Maybe part of monthly fare cap?)

 

[bolo]

Any idea why Skyshuttle hasn't resumed service? My guess is that Skyshuttle found it hard to compete in the early days of Uber, when they undercut the market to drive out competition. And when COVID came around, the lack of demand was the final nail in the coffin. But Uber has been raising prices and is quite expensive now, and demand is probably back to pre-COVID, so it's certainly worth re-evaluating in the current landscape.

ETS could run a similar service (with similar fee structure to what Skyshuttle would charge). Or the money could go into kickstarting/subsidizing Skyshuttle if they are able to resume operations.

 

[Gronk!]

I want a transit bus service between downtown and the airport, preferably non-stop. More options are required because I'm not impressed by what's available now.

The last time I flew, I drove to the airport and used their self-parking service. I won't be using that again! I had a hard time using their automated machine to leave until an attendant had to help me.

Taxi service is about $70 one way, but I find them unreliable. I booked them online to pick me up at a specific time and date but didn't hear boo from them. By the time I did, I was already halfway to the airport.

Using the LRT should be fine but one has to wait ages for the 747 service. Plus what's this about having to pay an extra fare to use the 747? Can I use an Arc card for the 747?

An LRT extension to the airport likely won't happen in my lifetime.

The Sky Shuttle service was OK but it stopped at a couple of southside hotels and at the cargo area of the airport before it finally stopped at the terminal.

 

[David A]

As someone that used the Montreal 747 bus this summer, I can attest that it needs to be the stop gap solution for us.

Signage, que lines, easy ticketing, higher frequency, staff directing people, buses that accommodates luggage.

But I will say, the bus was old and sort of gross. And montreals road are so bad, a bus only makes it worse. And it was 35 degrees with no AC.

I think something more like a charter with higher end finishes would be nice. Run it at 20 minute frequencies. Advertise the heck out of it. Treat it like BRT in signage and maps. Build a nice loading area for it.

Our airport is so far away that the cost of Ubers and taxis is so high. Charging $10-15 for a 1 way ticket seems competitive. Then a monthly pass option could be looked into as well for regular commuters/airport employees. (Maybe part of monthly fare cap?)

The one I used in Montreal seemed better, but it wasn't during the midst of the summer heat. In any event, I agree something nicer would probably be a good idea and $10 - $15 would be a good price.

The recently completed front area at the Convention Centre may work as a loading area, maybe with a couple of stops: one on Whyte Ave and one further south for people traveling from there, and I think we could have something fairly good until whenever we get HSR or LRT to the airport.

 

[TAS]

I was at a mental health conference at the Westin Hotel yesterday with 300 delegates.

The host speaker, a former media personality, started things off by talking about how anxious she was about coming downtown.

She was worried about the commute with all the construction, how to navigate through downtown, where to park, how to use new parking meters, and the street environment. She was not alone. I heard others say they haven't been downtown for years and that it has really changed (in a negative way).

Interesting to hear people's perceived (and real?) experiences and fears.

 

[David A]

I was at a mental health conference at the Westin Hotel yesterday with 300 delegates.

The host speaker, a former media personality, started things off by talking about how anxious she was about coming downtown.

She was worried about the commute with all the construction, how to navigate through downtown, where to park, how to use new parking meters, and the street environment. She was not alone. I heard others say they haven't been downtown for years and that it has really changed (in a negative way).

Interesting to hear people's perceived (and real?) experiences and fears.

The "new" parking meters if I correctly understand what she is referring to, have now been around over 5 years or longer I think, so that says something about how often some people living here come downtown.

Yes, they are not as intuitive as the old ones, but if you use them a few times you can figure them out. Construction is a moving maze and always seems particularly bad at this time of year. Oddly not as bad in mid summer.

 

[Greenspace]

Good insights, for most people coming Downtown is not a regular thing, even if for Rogers events.

I think the thing to look for is the trend in perceptions, which has been more negative since the pandemic. I'm curious if that's trending up or down or staying the same.

 

[David A]

I do get feedback from people who come downtown occasionally so my guess would be staying the same/improving slightly.

It does take time for perceptions to change and that usually happens when people who only come downtown rarely actually see what it is actually like now, which is not quite as bad as portrayed a year or two ago.

 

[SimonCo]

Tap Room doesn't seem to be doing well. This review claims it dirty (with photos) and that the owners aren't paying their staff?

 

[Coprolite]

Tap Room doesn't seem to be doing well. This review claims it dirty (with photos) and that the owners aren't paying their staff?

I'm starting to wonder if their rebrand was due to Oilers Entertainment Group dropping a 'cease and desist', because it doesn't seem to have been part of any strategy to do anything better.

 

[Greenspace]

There must be a DP for this as well.

External ID
535530501-002
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
Description
To install (1) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising (Select Discounted Liquor)
Applicant
BLACK GOLD FABRICATION & DESIGN INC
Status
Intake Review
Class of Permit

Create Date
October 16, 2024
Approval Date

Location
10010 - 104 STREET NW Plan 3727MC Blk 4 Lot 73
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN

 

[Greenspace]

O'byrne's moving along.

External ID
535516423-002
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
Description
To install (1) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising and (1) Projecting Sign(s) not in the form of a Roof Sign limited to On-premises Advertising (O'Byrne's)
Applicant
CROWN SIGNS
Status
Intake Review
Class of Permit

Create Date
October 16, 2024
Approval Date

Location
10235 - 101 STREET NW Plan 8822518 Lot 79C
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN