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Centre LRT Study

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The Central LRT route was identified in the City’s Long Term LRT Network Plan (adopted by City Council in 2009) and will provide opportunities for seamless connections between Downtown, the Alberta Legislature, the University of Alberta, Strathcona, Bonnie Doon, east Edmonton and the wider LRT network.

Centre LRT Study - Connecting Edmonton

Preferred Route Bulletin and Map

Downtown

The central LRT route will connect with the Valley Line West LRT at 102 Avenue and 107 Street. It will head south on 107 Street, turning west on 99 Avenue and then south to a bridge river crossing.

Crossing The River

While the High Level Bridge was the preferred river crossing, investigation and analysis determined the bridge could not support the additional load of LRT trains. The Dudley B. Menzies Bridge wasn't considered, it runs the Capital and Metro high-floor LRT lines and can't accommodate the low-floor system. The study reviewed other river crossing locations east and west of the High Level Bridge and recommends a new bridge structure between the High Level Bridge and Dudley B. Menzies Bridge.

University of Alberta Area 

After crossing the river, the preferred route has the LRT on 110 Street before turning west onto 89 Avenue and south on 112 Street where it will head east onto Whyte Avenue.

Whyte Avenue

Whyte Avenue emerged as the preferred east/west route; however, comes with challenges. This segment will provide better connections to key destinations. Tradeoffs need to be considered to manage potential impacts to parking, trees, medians and vehicle space.

East Edmonton

The preferred route will be determined to an end point in the Bonnie Doon area. Route options farther east revealed more in-depth studies. This work will be deferred to a future study. 

Centre LRT Preferred Map

Preferred Route Bulletin and Map

How Preferred Routes are Determined

How did this become the preferred route?

Potential corridors for LRT projects are evaluated based on criteria determined by:

  • City technical team
  • City policy
  • Stakeholder
  • Public input

Technical criteria fall under these categories:

  • Financial
  • Business
  • Community and Social
  • Sustainable Urban Integration
  • Transportation
  • Environment
  • Feasibility/Constructability

Specific criteria include:

  • Serves community destinations
  • Local access
  • Property impacts
  • Pedestrian connections
  • Connections to transit
  • Impact on auto and goods vehicles
  • Impact on parking
  • Impact on parks and open spaces
  • Construction impacts

City policy provides guidance and public input helps inform and identify important destinations, as well as concerns and opportunities in the study area.

Technical Analysis

Technical analysis conducted a corridor screening of the entire Centre LRT Study project area including every possible street and avenue between 104 Avenue and 76 Avenue and between 116 Street to 83 Street.

Initial Screenings: Initial screening process removed corridors that had significant feasibility issues. These include steep gradients, narrow corridor widths, constructability issues, significant environmental issues and other impacts.

Low Performance: Evaluation removed lower/poor performing segments like segments that performed poorly against a single category or across multiple categories.

Viable Routes: With remaining segments, potential routes were developed and further evaluated against project categories such as route length, the potential for providing stops close to key destinations and to existing and planned transit.

Preferred Route: The preferred route performed the best at both a route and segment level against the predetermined criteria. While there are trade-offs that have to be made for every option, the preferred route is considered to minimize the impacts and best meet the project objectives. The City will continue to explore options and possible approaches to mitigate any issues raised by the public and stakeholders prior to City Council approval of the route.

City Policy

Route selection is guided by City policies including:

Public Engagement

Since June 2017, the Centre LRT Study project team has been gathering input to better understand local perspectives on the future route. Engagement activities included public events, street team interactions, one-on-one meetings and surveys.

Connecting to Strathcona, Downtown, Bonnie Doon and East Edmonton

The Centre LRT Study will determine the best LRT route to connect Edmontonians and visitors to Strathcona, Downtown, Bonnie Doon and east Edmonton.

The City’s LRT Network Plan includes six LRT lines extending from Downtown to the Northwest, Northeast, East, Southeast, South and West sections of the city. This new central LRT route will provide the missing east connection completing the LRT Network Plan. It will also enhance Edmonton as an extraordinary place to live, work, play and visit by increasing sustainable transportation mode choices that both support our City’s growth and consider our environmental footprint.

LRT Network Map

This new central LRT route will provide the missing east connection completing the LRT Network Plan.

About the Project

Strategy Phase

The Centre LRT Study will research possible street and avenue options to determine the best location for a Central LRT route, stop locations along the way and the optimum track alignment (where the tracks fit in the roadway).

This new LRT route will use a low‐floor, urban‐style LRT that operates at street‐level in dedicated lanes, using traffic signals to flow with traffic through intersections. It features frequent, sidewalk‐level stops and can fit seamlessly into communities. It is the same LRT system as the Valley Line LRT currently being constructed between Mill Woods and Downtown. It is intended to connect with the Valley Line in east Edmonton and will cross the river to connect again Downtown.

Current LRT Projects

Where We Are In The Study

After months of technical studies, stakeholder meetings and public engagement, an LRT route has begun to emerge within the Centre LRT Study area. At this point in the study, Administration is confident the preferred east/west connection of the route will be located on Whyte Avenue rather than on 76 Avenue. Additional technical analysis and stakeholder engagement is required before other areas of the route, such as the preferred river crossing and locations to connect to the Valley Line, can be identified.

In early 2018, the project team will share details of the study and hear your thoughts on the preferred route. We will also gather input to help inform the development of the Concept Plan options, including preferred stop locations and track alignment (where the tracks fit in the roadway, right/left/centre). Feedback will likewise be collected on how the LRT can best ‘fit’ or integrate into your community, and link to cycle, pedestrian and other transit connections.

Timeline

Concept Design
  • Spring 2019 - Public Hearing at City Council Review
  • Winter 2019 - Public Events Phase 4 - Preferred Concept
  • Fall 2018 - Public Events Phase 3 - Options and Concepts
Route Study
  • Summer 2018 - Public Hearing at City Council Review
  • February 2018 - Public Events Phase 2 - Preferred Options (We Are Here)
  • July 2017 - Public Events Phase 1 - Route Options
LRT Network Plan
  • Approved by City Council 2009

Stay Informed

Centre LRT Study

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Related Documents

High Level Bridge Historic Resource Fact Sheet

High Level Bridge Executive Summary

February 7, 2018 - Structural feasibility study and conceptual bridge modification strategy report.

Low Floor LRT Fact Sheet

Urban LRT

LRT Network Plan and using new low-floor LRT vehicles.

For More Information

Centre LRT Study

Telephone

780-496-4874
Email centreLRTstudy@edmonton.ca

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