Valley Line LRT | TransEd/Marigold | City of Edmonton

I’d be fine with more peace officers ready to fine people on Valley Line (and other) no right turn on red areas. Easy cash right there. Essentially an idiot tax.
 
Trains collided with vehicles at least 18 times since the line opened Nov. 4, new data provided by the city shows. Pedestrians and cyclists were struck by a train, or ran into the train themselves, five times since it opened to riders. Trains were derailed by collisions with motor vehicles at least twice.

The city isn’t considering any safety changes right now. Coun. Salvador said she will be asking about additional signage.

edmontonjournal.com

More than 20 crashes on Valley Line train since southeast LRT leg opened

Edmonton's Valley Line train has been involved in more than 20 crashes since the southeast leg opened to riders last November.
edmontonjournal.com edmontonjournal.com
 
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SarcasticMarmot said:
From what I understand its actually the delay to drivers that they don't want. Avoiding the dead time at intersections that drivers have to wait for the arms to drop before the train comes and then waiting for them to raise after the train leaves was a big motivator for this style of intersection. Now, I think Edmonton drivers have proven they aren't smart enough to deserve that so arms must be considered.
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Is there a reason we can't have the arms come down later and go up sooner? I'm imagining some weird ancient law about railway crossings or something?
If the arm starts dropping the moment the light turns yellow, and is able to start going up a few seconds before the light would turn green I would think it'd be fine, wouldn't have much impact. It'd be different if these crossings weren't already signalized, but they all are and so we just need to synchronize the arms with the lights that already exist.
 
JuliallThat said:
Is there a reason we can't have the arms come down later and go up sooner? I'm imagining some weird ancient law about railway crossings or something?
If the arm starts dropping the moment the light turns yellow, and is able to start going up a few seconds before the light would turn green I would think it'd be fine, wouldn't have much impact. It'd be different if these crossings weren't already signalized, but they all are and so we just need to synchronize the arms with the lights that already exist.
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There are federal standards that determine how much times gates have to be active before the arrival of a train, but I don't believe they would apply for Valley Line. Again, as I noted earlier we have once example in Edmonton where a gates operates this way, but for a bus only road.
I do believe in the Project Agreement there was the option to use crossing gates at Whitemud Drive and maybe another location or two, and I believe for the WLRT the option existed for the Anthony Henday as that was under Provincial jurisdiction, the Province might have required them.
 
In other countries, low floor trams run through the centre of pedestrian squares and people and drivers seem to be able to figure it out. That said, I do wonder if we need to give the LRT the same Vision Zero treatment as roads. If people can't make good choices, amend the infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of injury or death.
 
For posterities sake I went and dug up the relevant details from the VLSE and VLW Project Agreements.
VLSE- Called for TransEd to do a Hazard Analysis of each grade crossing in accordance with the Safety and Security Certification Program and Good Industry Practice and to provide "automatic grade crossing warning systems" if hazards couldn't be mitigated with existing mitigation measures and the permitted Traffic Control Devices.
If automatic grade crossing warning systems aren't required, TransEd is to ensure that there is necessary clearances for future installation of a grade crossing warning system at: McIntyre Road, Roper Road, 51 Ave, Whitemud Drive Westbound and Eastbound ramps.
https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/defau...T Schedule 5 Part 6 Systems.pdf?cb=1727397242 Page 6-34

VLW- No need to do a Hazard Analysis. All that needs to be provided is clearance to install a future grade crossing warning system at: Lewis Farms P&R gravel parking area access, Anthony Henday Northbound and Southbound ramps. There is then details on what needs to be installed noting that it could be required by the City or Alberta Transportation. That's where I assume it is Alberta Transportation who could turn around and tell the City to installed a grade crossing warning system at the Henday.
https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/defau...le5_Part_6_Systems_Redacted.pdf?cb=1727402643 Page 6-67
 
roe_ said:
In other countries, low floor trams run through the centre of pedestrian squares and people and drivers seem to be able to figure it out. That said, I do wonder if we need to give the LRT the same Vision Zero treatment as roads. If people can't make good choices, amend the infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of injury or death.
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There are so many people here that are self entitled enough to put themselves ahead of an LRT train, hence the accidents.
 
roe_ said:
In other countries, low floor trams run through the centre of pedestrian squares and people and drivers seem to be able to figure it out. That said, I do wonder if we need to give the LRT the same Vision Zero treatment as roads. If people can't make good choices, amend the infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of injury or death.
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But intersections like 82 Ave are not city centre pedestrian squares. This LRT line goes across some busy roads and to pretend they are all just quiet neighbourhood streets is just going to lead to more grief.
 
How bad was it?

"Contingency bus service was implemented after both incidents. Service on the Valley Line LRT resumed Tuesday between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., said Ryan Birch, Edmonton Transit Service director of bus and security operations, in an email sent by a spokesperson.

Nine buses were made available after Tuesday's crash. Upon review, Birch said, those buses did not meet the need to transport riders in a timely way, and more support staff were needed to help direct affected riders.

The transit service will apply lessons learned from this to use in its bus support plans in the future, he said."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-valley-line-lrt-1.7335247
 
Stony Pl Rd 141st, today
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If the SPR/102 Avenue intersection can be done by the end of October, it may be possible to start the Wellington Bridge replacement next year.
 
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