Valley Line LRT | TransEd/Marigold | City of Edmonton

[EdwardEdm]

I think the LRT means higher property values along the line.

Theoretically. I live a few minutes walk from a station and the value of my property went down with the last assessment. Ok, sure a lot goes into the City determining property values, but was shocked to see it go down. It went down enough that it offset the tax increase.

 

[Greenspace]

But if the business case shows and was sold on more robust ridership compared to the reality, we have a problem then. Will the operations have to be further sudsidized via the tax base?

Listen, this is not about being anti-lrt, it's about respect for the taxpayer.

Agreed. I'm pro-LRT and the decisions to do LRT were make at least 15-20 years ago. But we need to have an honest discussion of how much it's costing us, not skipping the facts or throwing up our arms and pretend it's not expensive. I find that very disingenuous.

I am hopeful the West line improves ridership over the whole line, as there are more current destinations, namely WEM.

 

[fromyeg]

I think ridership numbers will continue to increase year over year and then we’ll have a bigger jump once VLW opens.

There are currently midrise/highrise projects being built or being rezoned for near Mill Woods, Avonmore, Bonnie Doon, Holyrood, Strathearn, and the Quarters stops. Many (most?) of these projects are being built because of the LRT and will encourage further ridership.

Also there are all the multiplexes being built in nearby neighbourhoods now since the zoning bylaw changed.

On the whole, I’m optimistic about the future of the Valley Line.

And to be clear, ALL public transit is subsidized by the ‘taxpayer,’ but not nearly to the degree that roads and car infrastructure are.

 

[erudyk_29]

Low ridership in the Southeast is unfortunate but not entirely unpredictable, considering the population density and lack of activity nodes in the areas it serves.

The completion of the west should increase the ridership significantly, considering the higher overall population density in neighborhoods like Wikhwentowin and some of the Central West Side areas. In addition it will serve more and bigger activity nodes like WEM, Norquest, 124st, Misericordia, MacEwen, etc.

As @fromyeg mentions, an increase in the number of multi-family units in the central southeast thanks to a number of projects and most importantly the zoning bylaw will increase ridership in that section.

In 10 years, the VL will have more than enough ridership to justify its existence imo. I would argue it already does, even if its less than expected, simply having a good and easy way to get from these areas to downtown or transit is reason enough.

 

[David A]

I think ridership numbers will continue to increase year over year and then we’ll have a bigger jump once VLW opens.

There are currently midrise/highrise projects being built or being rezoned for near Mill Woods, Avonmore, Bonnie Doon, Holyrood, Strathearn, and the Quarters stops. Many (most?) of these projects are being built because of the LRT and will encourage further ridership.

Also there are all the multiplexes being built in nearby neighbourhoods now since the zoning bylaw changed.

On the whole, I’m optimistic about the future of the Valley Line.

And to be clear, ALL public transit is subsidized by the ‘taxpayer,’ but not nearly to the degree that roads and car infrastructure are.

This line was completed as we were still recovering from the great disruption of COVID, which certainly wasn't predicted. I also wonder if the operating cost figures given here take into account the costs of alternative transit, such as more bus service which would be required if the line were not running.

I also feel it may take a few years for this line to reach its potential, with more recovery in transit use and growth from development along the line. While delayed too long IMO, it seems to be mostly running smoothly now.

 

[Dubas]

Another drone video. Love this guy’s work.

 

[The_Cat]

A lot of paving is complete.

 

[J_gordo]

Railing started on the elevated guideway

 

[thommyjo]

129,000 projected daily boardings by 2047 I read in one report. Then in a blog by knack I see 49,000 for SE and 51,000 for west by 2044.

It’ll be interesting to watch how it does. I suspect west will be a massive jump like everyone is saying.

Tbh, if the SE leg terminus had been Macewan, and not 102st, I think that would have helped a lot too.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

129,000 projected daily boardings by 2047 I read in one report. Then in a blog by knack I see 49,000 for SE and 51,000 for west by 2044.

It’ll be interesting to watch how it does. I suspect west will be a massive jump like everyone is saying.

Tbh, if the SE leg terminus had been Macewan, and not 102st, I think that would have helped a lot too.

Or even the Norquest stop. That would completely change ridership levels.

I'm pretty certain that the new residential buildings at Millwoods Town Center will help the numbers too.

 

[The_Cat]

There will be 17 new stations on the Valley West extension, and I’m thinking five or six (MacEwan, 124 Street, 156 Street, Misericordia, WEM and Lewis Farms) will be major stops. There are perhaps four (Churchill, Bonnie Doon, Davies and Mill Woods) on the SE line.

 

[TAS]

There will be 17 new stations on the Valley West extension, and I’m thinking five or six (MacEwan, 124 Street, 156 Street, Misericordia, WEM and Lewis Farms) will be major stops. There are perhaps four (Churchill, Bonnie Doon, Davies and Mill Woods) on the SE line.

I will put my money on Brewery/120st stop to outperform 124st - just to be argumentative/spark debate

 

[archited]

^ Not if that twin 25-storey tower goes ahead on 124th Street and it brings with it some imaginative outcomes.

 

[Glenco]

 

[thommyjo]

Or even the Norquest stop. That would completely change ridership levels.

I'm pretty certain that the new residential buildings at Millwoods Town Center will help the numbers too.

As much as TOD is important, it actually doesn’t boost ridership that much until it’s substantially built out. The millwoods towers will likely only add a few hundred daily users.

The long term vision of 6000 homes for MWTC will likely take 20+ years to build out. And with 6000 homes, I doubt you get more than 5000 more daily users.

So growing from 10k to 40k for this line will need a lot more than a few dozen TOD buildings.