Not sure if this is the right thread for this but, here is my idea for Edmonton's Rail Transit in the relatively distant future. Keep in mind this is after decades of densification and growth in the city. Also keep in mind is this is a fantasy concept, I'm not suggesting this is feasible or even possible but this is what I would like to see Edmonton's rail transit infrastructure look like in 30-50 years.
The lines and changes are in order of most possible to most insane.
Here is the full map:
View attachment 462153
As you can probably see, the goal here is creating connections farther out into the suburbs while intensifying the density of rail in the core.
The Valley Line:
I didn't feel it necessary to include a photo of the Valley Line as the changes are pretty obvious from the map. I just extended it south to Beaumont.
The Capital Line:
View attachment 462157
Basically, it extends south as far as Leduc, including a connection to the airport and also to the north where it connects to downtown Fort Saskatchewan. There will be a number of new stations along the route in the Horse Hill development and other likely areas of development in the south
The Metro Line:
View attachment 462159
In my plan the metro line extends north as is expected in the current plan, with the addition of 2 new stations in St Albert. Currently, the metro line terminates at Health Sciences / Jubilee, here it turns east down University Ave. Then it heads north at Strathcona Yards, which I see becoming a major transit hub with a High Speed Station as well as a stop on 3 different LRT lines. It then follows the same path as the Valley Line but due to incompatibility of the High Floor and Low Floor systems they can't use the same stations and probably not the same track so it would either require a grade separation or follow the opposite side of the road. It then turns west along 98th Ave probably stopping at Forest Heights, Ottewell and Capilano or something like that and continues heading east. Then it has a stop at Refinery Row before crossing the Henday and having a station at Bethel Transit Centre in Sherwood Park.
Festival Line:
View attachment 462160
This essentially follows the same path as the streetcar in the centre of the city traveling over the High Level. This could be an issue as this track is only one-way. Either it could be widened to hold 2 ways of rail travel or some creative stops and other solutions. Either way it also extends south to the new transit mega-hub at Strathcona Yards. It also follows the length of Jasper Ave and then turns north at 124th st. It could be grade separated along Jasper but I think it should be at grade on 124th and turn Westmount and the other neighborhoods along that stretch of 124th into Edmonton's first streetcar suburbs. It turns east after and goes through Blatchford where it connects to the Metro Line. Then it joins 118 Ave where it will spearhead a renewal of that area, which if properly built out could be one of the best area in the city.
The Energy Line:
View attachment 462158
This is by-far my most insane plan. The Energy Line Starts at West Edmonton Mall and heads west, splitting at Meadowlark which would become a new TOD project along the lines of Bonnie Doon or Brentwood in Burnaby. It then heads down Buena Vista and stops at the Zoo and Laurier Park. There is a new bridge constructed at Laurier Park. It then enters a tunnel under Belgravia where there could maybe be a Belgravia West Station? Then it re-emerges and has an interchange with the Capital Line at South Campus. Then it follows 72 Ave and interchanges with the Festival and Metro Lines at the Strathcona Yards mega-hub. Next it heads north and follows the Metro Line for a while along 82 Ave where it splits at Bonnie Doon with the Energy continuing east along 82 ave and the Sherwood Park Freeway instead of going North. It terminates at a Park and Ride at Ordze Transit Centre in Sherwood Park.
