Project History
Finalizing Funding & Starting Procurement
With the preliminary design in place the City focused its efforts on securing funds to proceed with the Southeast to Downtown portion of the project.
December 2013 to Present
102 Avenue Streetscape Update
The City has established a design guide for the 102 Avenue streetscape to be applied when the Valley Line LRT is built. The streetscape concept, on display at City hall from November 2-5, recognizes 102 Avenue’s status as a significant, multi-use corridor, and is intended to create a more welcoming environment for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. The design guide will be part of the City’s Project Agreement with the public-private partnership (P3) contractor when the contract to complete design and build, operate, maintain and partially finance the Valley Line LRT is awarded. The City expects to select a preferred proponent later this fall.
Preparing for Future Roadway Access Restrictions
The construction of the Valley Line LRT will result in some permanent changes to the roadways that will be used for the LRT alignment. In some cases, service roads will be absorbed into main arterial roads to allow for widening. Elsewhere, two lanes of traffic in a particular direction will be reduced to one. To address concerns about the safety of some private accesses that would back out onto the LRT tracks, bylaws have been prepared for public hearing and consideration by Transportation Committee September 2 to close a number of such accesses. All affected property owners have been notified, and in all cases, alternative access is or will be available. The access closures will not be immediate, but will take effect over the next year. The City will continue to work with affected property owners to address any issues they might have.
Transportation Committee Agenda Sept 2, 2015 (Items 6.1 to 6.38)
Construction Preparations
Construction preparations for the Valley Line are underway to accommodate construction and operation of the new LRT line. Preparations include:
- Relocating utilities (power ducts, gas lines, sewers, etc.) owned and operated by EPCOR, ATCO, Telus and the City of Edmonton.
- Removing some City-owned buildings.
- Removing and/or relocating trees on City property.
- Permanently closing some public roads and accesses.
- Permanently closing some private access while ensuring alternate access exists.
During construction, some streets will be periodically and temporarily closed or detoured.
Recruitment for Valley Line Citizen Working Groups
May 26 to June 25, 2015
Five Citizen Working Groups were established as part of the City’s commitment to ongoing citizen engagement during the procurement, detailed design and construction phases of the Valley Line LRT project between downtown and Mill Woods.
Each group includes members assigned by community leagues, business, recreational and cultural organizations and by community members themselves in a series of public meetings held in the spring.
City Council Approves Environmental Impact Screening Assessment and Site Location Study Updates
April 14, 2015
City Council accepted Transportation Committee's recommendation and approved updates to the Environmental Impact Screening Assessment and Site Location Study. These updates included minor adjustments to the Project Area in the North Saskatchewan River Valley made in response to stakeholder concerns identified during the preliminary design process.
City Council Meeting Minutes (Item 6.19)
City Council’s Transportation Committee Recommends City Council Approve EISA and SLS Updates
March 25, 2015
The Transportation Committee made its recommendation following a non-statutory public hearing which featured presentations from LRT Design and Construction, citizens, and community groups.
Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes (Item 6.1)
The EISA and SLS Updates and Related Documents
Valley Line LRT Stage 1 Site Location Study Update
Valley Line LRT Stage 1 Environmental Impact Screening Assessment Update
EISA Update – By Section:
Executive Summary and Introduction
North Valley Primary Construction Access
West Project Boundary Modifications at HMEP
Ski Club Infrastructure Relocation
Muttart Access Road Partial Removal
LRMP Temporary Trail Connector
Appendix A – Alternative Analysis for Construction Access Route
Appendix B – Temporary Construction Access Road – Geotechnical and Slope Stability Assessment
Appendix D – Wildlife Species Potentially Found in the Study Areas
Appendix E – Special Status Wildlife Species Potentially Found in the Study Areas
Request for Proposals
January 7, 2015
Q&A
The City posted responses to questions about the Valley Line LRT - Stage 1 Request for Proposals (RFP) online.
This document is the result of a process mandated by City Council:
- The public release of parts of the RFP documents initiated a 30-day period for the receipt of written RFP-related questions by members of Council.
- The City also used the LRT Projects Information Centre to gather public inquiries about the Valley Line RFP during this period.
- The question period began on October 9, 2014 and ended on November 8, 2014.
- As directed by Council, questions gathered during this period and the City's answers have been compiled into a document and posted online within 60 days of the final date for receiving questions (January 7, 2015).
The City received 98 public inquiries and questions about the Valley Line RFP from 14 different individuals and groups during the question period.
Request for Proposals
A Request for Proposals (RFP) was released to private sector teams so they could bid to design, build, operate, maintain and partially finance the Valley Line. Teams prepared designs for the Valley Line that met criteria established by the City.
Submissions for final bid will happen in fall 2015. A project agreement will be finalized with the successful team by the end of 2015 so that major construction can begin in 2016. Construction of the new line between downtown and Mill Woods is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Request For Proposal Posted Online
October 9, 2014
Parts of the RFP were posted online to ensure openness and transparency during the P3 procurement process.
P3 Short List Selected
August 8, 2014
Five private sector teams responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) released in April; three of those teams were invited to reply to a Request for Proposals (RFP) and submit a bid to design, build, operate, maintain, and partially finance the Valley Line between Mill Woods and downtown:
- Trans Ed Partners
- Moving YEG
- River City Transit
LRT Backgrounder
Request for Qualifications
July 22, 2014
The following teams responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Valley Line - Stage 1:
- Gateway Transit Partners
- Moving YEG
- River City Transit
- Trans Ed Partners
- Valley Line Partner
The RFQ consisted of the following documents:
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Addendum 1
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Addendum 2
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Addendum 3
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Addendum 4
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 1
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 2
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 3
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 4
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 5
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 6
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 7
Valley Line LRT RFQ - Stage 1 - Clarification Issuance 8
City Council Discussed the Public Engagement Plan
July 16, 2014
The following motions were passed by City Council relating to the Valley Line LRT public engagement plan going forward:
- That within 30 days following the release of the Request for Proposal for the P3 construction of the Valley Line LRT, Administration post on the City’s web page a public copy of the publicly releasable parts of the Request for Proposal.
- That within 30 days after the Public version of the Request for Proposal is posted on the web page, Members of Council, considering input received from the public, may provide written questions on the Request for Proposal for the P3 construction of the Valley Line LRT to the Office of the City Clerk, and
- That within 60 days after the final date for receiving questions, Administration
- a) post the responses to the questions on the City web page with the related publicly released Request for Proposal, and
- b) provide a report to LRT Governance Board including responses to the questions asked by Councillors and the public, and the LRT Governance Board incorporating their responses in their subsequent semi-annual report to Council.
July 16, 2014 City Council Meeting Minutes
Final Funding Arrives for Valley Line LRT
May 26, 2014
Federal MP Rona Ambrose, Provincial MLA Wayne Drysdale, and Mayor Don Iveson jointly announced that all funding for the Valley Line was in place, and the $1.8 billion project was ready to proceed to procurement.
Final Funding Arrives for Valley Line LRT. Next Stop: Procurement
City Council Approves Valley Line Funding
April 15, 2014
Council approved:
- Revised Valley Line LRT Capital Profile.
- Revised Metro Line LRT (Downtown to NAIT) Capital Profile.
- A letter to the Province from Mayor Iveson, written on behalf of Council, requesting that the $60 million in GreenTRIP funding not required for the Metro Line be applied to offset an equivalent portion of the $200 million provincial loan for the Valley Line LRT.
- Administration initiating procurement of the Valley Line LRT stage 1 contract by releasing the Request for Qualification (RFQ) and subsequently the Request for Proposals (RFP).
With these motions, the Valley Line LRT project officially began the procurement phase of the project.
Council Requests more Information on P3 and Public Engagement
March 19, 2014
Council directed the project team to provide a three reports by May 7, 2014:
- Valley Line stage 1 LRT project detailing how the City’s and public’s interests will be protected during the P3 process.
- The City and P3 operations relationship and what part of the LRT line operation will remain under the City’s oversight.
- A public engagement plan that describes how the public will be involved in the procurement and construction phases of the Valley LRT Line.
Funding for Valley Line (Mill Woods to Downtown) Secured
March 11, 2014
The provincial government announced its funding commitment to the Valley Line LRT project. With the final funding piece in place, pending Council's approval of the overall funding strategy, the Valley Line was able to proceed. Thanks to our provincial and federal partners, the Valley Line remains on schedule for construction to start in 2016 and opening to the public by the end of 2020.
The province agreed to contribute $250 million in GreenTRIP funding, $150 million in additional funding, and $200 million in a 10-year interest free loan. This joins the City's own contribution of $800 million, along with the federal government's contribution of $250 million from P3 Canada and an expected $150 million through the Building Canada Fund.
Alberta Delivers on Edmonton LRT Funding News Release
LRT Expansion Council's Top Priority
December 11, 2013
Council voted in favour of a motion that established LRT as Council’s number one priority for new infrastructure spending. Council’s discussion and vote emphasized the need for long-term funding commitments from the provincial and federal governments in order to achieve Edmonton’s goals for LRT and public transit.
Councillors noted that all necessary commitments from the City, including funding, design and planning, were in place for the Valley Line LRT project to proceed.
Funding & Completing Preliminary Design
Between November 2011 and 2013, the preliminary design phase involved stakeholders and interested members of the public to define the look, feel and integration of the line in their communities.
With the progression of the project, an effort was made to officially name all of the City’s future LRT lines. The combined Southeast, Downtown and West sections were officially named the Valley Line.
For the Preliminary Engineering project, six key areas were identified as the basis for public consultation.
November 2011 to November 2013
The 27-kilometre line was divided into six consultation areas:
Area 1 Map (Mill Woods to Whitemud)
Area 2 Map (Whitemud to Argyll)
Area 3 Map (Argyll to Strathearn)
Area 4 Map (Strathearn to Centre West)
Area 5 Map (Centre West to 149 St)
Area 6 Map (149 St to Lewis Farms)
Final Preliminary Design Report Completed
November 14, 2013
Following two years of design and consultation, the preliminary design of the 27-kilometre urban style LRT from Mill Woods to Lewis Farms was completed.
Presenting the Aesthetics and Integration of LRT in the Community
June 2013
In stage 5 the public was invited to view the final recommended preliminary design of the Valley Line LRT. This round of engagement included information-sharing on the environmental impact assessment process, findings, and recommendations.
Meeting Materials
Preliminary Design Process
April 2013
The City had a two year plan to develop and finalize the Preliminary Design for 27 km urban style low-floor rail system from Mill Woods to Lewis Farms.
Preliminary Design Process
The Valley Line is Announced as the New Name of Southeast to West LRT
March 28, 2013
Following extensive public input, the names of the current and future LRT lines were decided. The LRT stop and station, bridge, and facility names for the southeast portion of the Valley Line LRT were also determined. However, the stops, stations, bridges and facilities on the west portion of the Valley Line would have to wait until funding and a construction timeline were determined.
Government of Canada Funding Announcement
March 14, 2013
Government of Canada announced a $250 million investment from the P3 Canada Fund to support construction of the the Southeast to West LRT Line.
City Council Approved Funding for P3
February 20, 2013
Additionally, Council approved $60 million in funding for P3 advisory services and the owner’s engineer for the P3 procurement phase, and for advancing utility relocations and building demolitions.
City Council Approved Concept for North Saskatchewan Bridge
February 20, 2013
City Council approved the concept for a new bridge that will take the Southeast to West LRT across the North Saskatchewan River into the downtown. Public input, technical feasibility, and cost were factors in the selection of this bridge concept.
Refining the Aesthetics and Integration of LRT in the Community
September 2012 to May 2013
Stage 4 collected final input on the proposed designs and other key elements discussed in Stages 2 and 3, and presented updates on the ongoing technical developments.
What We Heard Report - January 2013
Meeting Materials
Developing the Aesthetics and Integration of LRT in the Community
May 2012 to November 2012
The focus of the area meetings in stage 3 was to present preliminary designs of stop and station elements for each area, proposed changes to roadways and related concepts for connectivity and pedestrian/cyclist access. Participants had opportunities to be involved by attending the meeting in their area or by participating online.
Meeting Materials
| Presentations | Project Displays | Detailed Maps |
|---|---|---|
|
Area 4 Strathearn to Centre West |
Area 5 Centre West to 149 St (1 of 2) Area 5 Centre West to 149 St (2 of 2) Area 6 149 St to Lewis Farms (1 of 3) |
Developing the Public Involvement Process for Preliminary Design
November 2011 to April 2012
Stage 1 ran from November 2011 to February 2012. The project team focused on developing the public involvement plan to guide all public involvement activities throughout the project. The plan was based on input and information from June 2010 to June 2012, as well as new information gathered through interviews and online surveys with stakeholders.
Stage 2 ran from March to April 2012. The project team consulted the public for the Southeast to West LRT through community conversations in six consultation areas along all 27 kilometres of the line. Each meeting included a presentation and small group discussion of how the LRT could integrate with communities.
Determining How the LRT Will Fit
While gathering feedback from the public the project team defined the route selection - which determines how the line will fit within the corridor. The project team worked with the communities to create a concept plan to present to Council.
With the corridors set for Southeast and West LRT (Valley Line), a new Downtown LRT Connector project was started to identify how the Southeast to West LRT would connect through the downtown.
May 2010 to June 2012
Concept Plan Updates are Final, Concept Plans are Complete for Entire Line
March to June 20, 2012
Public Consultation
A report on how the public was consulted about the Southeast to West LRT concept plan amendment was available in March 2012.
Property Aquisition
When approving the route Council considered the impact on property owners and ultimately selected an alignment that minimized the need for private property acquisition. However, in some cases, privately-held property will need to be acquired in order for the project to proceed.
Property Aquisition
Concept Plan
City Council approved the proposed amendments to the concept plan, making the entire line ready to move forward with preliminary design.
Approval of the proposed amendment details:
- The Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) was relocated to Whitemud Drive & 75 Street
- The Transit Centre and LRT station were relocated to Wagner, on 75 Street south of Wagner Road
- The Park & Ride was relocated to Wagner and will include up to 1300 stalls
- There will be no LRT stop at Whitemud Drive & 75 Street
- The LRT will operate on a bridge from about 85 Street & Argyll Road to 75 Street & McIntyre Road
Approved Concept Plans & Detailed Maps
| Southeast - Jan 19, 2011 | West - Jan 19, 2011 | Downtown - Feb 15, 2012 |
|---|---|---|
City Council Approves Concept Plans for Downtown LRT
February 15, 2012
The project team presented two options for the downtown route—102 Ave and 102A/103 Ave—and supporting reports from the public consultation. Council approved the 102 Ave route options for the downtown portion of the Southeast to West LRT Project.
City Council Follow Up on Alternate Downtown LRT Route Options
January 18 & 31, 2012
Council was presented with a report that recommended the concept plan for the Downtown LRT Connector between the West and Southeast lines.
Council and Committee Meeting Minutes - January 18, 2011 (Item 6.1 & 6.2)
Transportation Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes - January 31, 2012
City Council Presentation for Recommended Concept Plan for Downtown LRT
November 15, 2011
Council was presented with a report that recommended the concept plan for the Downtown LRT Connector between the West and Southeast lines.
Council and Committee Meeting Minutes - November 15, 2011 (Item 6.2)
The project team was asked to return to Council on January 18, 2012 and provide details on an underground option for 102 Ave and 102A Ave, a LRT Stop on 95 St and 102A Ave and alternate options for 102A Ave/103 Ave, including details regarding why 102A Ave was not used.
Revised Recommendation for Downtown LRT Shared with Stakeholders
October 5, 2011
A revised recommendation was completed and shared with the stakeholders.
Downtown LRT Revised Recommendation: 102 & 102A Ave - 95 to 97 St
Downtown LRT Revised Recommendation: 102 & 102A Ave - 95 to 97 St - Chinese
Developed Downtown LRT Options
July 24, 2011 and August 21, 2011
The project team worked with the community in the vicinity of 102 Ave and 102A Ave between 95 St and 97 St to discuss local concerns and opportunities, and collectively developed four LRT options.
| August 21, 2011 | July 24, 2011 |
|---|---|
|
|
City Council Approved Funds for Preliminary Engineering for Southeast and West LRT
June 1, 2011
City Council approved $39 million to proceed to preliminary engineering for the Southeast and West portions of the LRT line.
Following the approval of a study on the downtown LRT connector corridor study on June 21, 2010, a concept planning study was initiated to define where the LRT would fit within the approved corridor, where LRT stops would be located, and what type of access changes would be required for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
A public involvement process was initiated to support the planning study, and to identify local issues and impacts that needed to be addressed through the planning process. The project team followed up with a concept on November 15, 2011.
City Council Presentation on the Refinement of the Downtown Alignment
May 25, 2011
At the June 21, 2010 City Council meeting, Council determined that a downtown LRT connector would be defined. Council approved the downtown LRT connector corridor in June and asked the project team to provide more details on the refinement of the downtown alignment. The development of the recommended concept plan involved additional engineering and public consultation to evaluate various options of the alignment.
Transportation and Public Works Committee Minutes - (Item 6.2)
Review and Feedback for Downtown LRT Connector Concept Plan
April 28, 2011
The Downtown LRT Connector information session provided stakeholders with information about the LRT planning process, the recommended Concept Plan for presentation to City Council and to receive and summarize feedback to inform City Council.
Downtown LRT Connector Presentation
Downtown LRT Connector Display Boards
City Council Approved Land Acquisition for Valley Line Corridor
December 5, 2011
Council approved $102 million for land acquisition along the Valley Line corridor.
City Council Presentation on Impacts and Mitigation
March 22, 2011
Clarification was presented to Council on how the project team would assess and mitigate vibration and intersection impacts, ridership forecast, park n’ ride options and neighbourhood accesses.
Concept Plans are Approved for Southeast and West LRT
Jan 19, 2011
Council approved the amended Southeast and West LRT Concept Plans that were presented.
Valley Line Fact Sheet (Chinese)
City Council Public Hearing Minutes (Item 6.6 & 6.7)
City Council Reviewed the Concept Plans and Requested Reports
December 8, 2010
The Transportation and Public Works Committee reviewed the Southeast, West and Downtown concept plans. Reports for Council were requested for March 22, 2011 to get more clarity on some costs, assessment and impacts.
Special Transportation and Public Works Committee Minutes
Review and Feedback with Stakeholders for Final Proposal
September & November 2010
Information sessions were held to share the final proposal to Council, and get feedback on design options and concept plans in preparation for the non-statutory public hearing at the Transportation and Public Works Committee scheduled for December 8, 2010.
November 29 and 30 - West LRT Information Sessions
Presentation - Stony Plain Road Business District to Downtown
Presentation - Lewis Estates to Stony Plain Road Business District
November 24 and 25 - Southeast LRT Information Sessions
Presentation - Downtown to Argyll
November 2 - Downtown LRT Open House
September - Downtown LRT Design Options
September 7 and 8 - Southeast LRT and West LRT Open Houses
Presentation Southeast Downtown to Argyll Road
Presentation Southeast Argyll Road to Mill Woods
City Council Approved Downtown Section of LRT
June 21, 2010
City Council approved the surface downtown section of LRT. The work to determine the downtown LRT route was developed in conjunction with the Capital City Downtown Plan.
Determining How the LRT Will “Fit” into the Corridors
May and June 2010
The project team was now focused on how the LRT route would “fit” into the corridors. Workshops were setup to define things like: where the LRT will run within the corridors, where the bridges or underpasses will be, where the stations will be located, how they will be configured, and how vehicle access in and out of communities will be impacted.
| West LRT Workshops | Southeast LRT Workshops |
|---|---|
|
May 4, 2010 |
May 18, 2010 |
|
May 6, 2010 |
May 19, 2010 |
|
May 12, 2010 |
May 26, 2010 |
|
May 13, 2010 |
May 27, 2010 |
Deciding Where the Route Will Run
Using feedback from the public the project team defined the corridor selection, a high level concept of where the line will run. At this stage of the project the line was divided into two sections: the Southeast LRT line running from Mill Woods to downtown and the West LRT line running from downtown to Lewis Estates.
December 2008 to February 2010
City Council Made Southeast to West LRT Next Priority
February 3, 2010
City Council passed a motion to make the combined West and Southeast LRT lines the next priority after, or concurrent with, the NAIT line (now know as the Metro Line).
City Council Minutes - Priorities of next LRT Lines (Item 5.5)
City Council Approved Corridor Selection
December 15, 2009
City Council approved the proposed Southeast and West LRT corridors for the LRT expansion. The approval followed extensive public involvement, recognizing that new LRT development will play an important role in shaping the future of our City and result in significant benefit and impact to businesses, communities and institutions.
Corridor Selection Reports
October 2009
The corridor selection reports explain the project structure, alternatives identification, screening process, evaluation criteria and a summary of the technical analysis key points. These points were completed and presented to Council, along with a public involvement report that summarized how the public was consulted on the corridor selection and the outcomes of those meetings.
Southeast LRT Route Selection Report
Prior to these reports, the Southeast to West LRT (now known as the Valley Line) corridor had not been defined. After consulting with the public, it was recommended that the West LRT would run from Lewis Estates (now known as Lewis Farms) to 109 Street at MacEwan University, and the Southeast LRT would run from Mill Woods (28 Avenue and 66 Street) to 109 Street at MacEwan University.
These reports detail the decision-making process conducted by the City to determine the recommended corridor for the Southeast to West LRT.
Defining and Soliciting feedback on Route Options
May to June 2009
Online consultation and two public workshops were held to solicit input on the LRT route options. As the technical analysis was completed, information from this phase of consultation was used to ensure local issues were considered within the technical evaluation, and to identify consultation points for further study.
Project Initiation
December 2008 to April 2009
Interviews gathered feedback on the five possible routes identified by the project team and received input on a proposed public involvement plan for the project.
Public Involvement Process Profiling Interviews for Southeast LRT
In March and April 2009, a questionnaire and a series of face-to-face interviews were conducted with key stakeholders. This information was used to help refine the discussion points for further public involvement. A summary of public feedback was completed in the Public Involvement Themes Report.
How It Started
In December 2008, City Council approved a new criteria for LRT Route Planning & Evaluation. This criteria reflected a shift in the City’s strategic planning direction, as reflected in The Way We Move and The Way We Grow. For LRT and Transit investments, the original goal was to minimize travel times and increase ridership, but the new focus was finding a balance of travel time and shaping land use.
October 2008
At this time, planning studies were underway for a West LRT line. However, the change in policy direction led to a decision to re-evaluate potential west routes.
In 2009, the City also completed a long-term study to define the future size, scale and operation of Edmonton’s LRT system. The Network Plan calls for the potential development of five LRT lines across the City. For lines that don’t physically connect into the existing system, such as the Valley Line, the Network Plan called for the development of an urban-style LRT. This means the system should have smaller, more frequent stops that are better connected to the surrounding community.
For More Information
Future LRT General Inquiries
| Telephone | 780-496-4874 |
|---|---|
| LRTprojects@edmonton.ca |
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