Capital Line - South

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About The Project

Design Phase

The Capital Line South Extension is part of the City’s Transportation Master Plan vision to expand LRT service to all sectors of the City by 2040. Expanding the existing line will improve mobility and access to neighbourhoods in southwest Edmonton.

Updating Preliminary Design

In June 2017, additional preliminary engineering from Century Park to Ellerslie Road was started to review and refresh of the preliminary design, bring the project up to current standards and reflect the principles of Urban LRT.

Project Details

Capital Line South continues to be high floor LRT and is 4.5km long and includes:

An underpass at 23 Avenue, bridges crossing Blackmud Creek and Anthony Henday Drive
An operations and maintenance facility south of Anthony Henday Drive
A combined LRT station, transit centre, and Heritage Valley Park and Ride facility on Ellerslie Road, between 127 Street and 135 Street

The park and ride is not a part of this project.

Reviewing

The current LRT work will look at:

The possibility to add a station adjacent to Twin Brooks to reflect Urban LRT principles
How the stations are integrated into the adjacent communities, with regards to aesthetics and materials
Assessing 9 and 12 Avenues, Saddleback Road and Ellerslie Road, for potential raised or lowered crossings from street level using a Council approved assessment framework

Century Park City Limit

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Capital Line South Extension and when will it be built?

This 4.5 km LRT extension, from Century Park to Ellerslie Road, will run between 127 and 135 Streets. This extension is expected to be in service before 2040, with the exact timing based on City Council prioritization and obtaining funding.

Why is this LRT extension being looked at again?

LRT design requirements are always being updated as the technology changes. It has been seven years since the preliminary design for the Capital Line South Extension, called South LRT Extension at that time, was approved. In 2016, the federal government approved funding through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) to support the City on LRT and other transit projects. The Capital Line South Extension preliminary design was identified as needing to be updated to reflect current design standards, current conditions and new opportunities.

What is the timeline for the update of the preliminary design?

This preliminary design update will be completed by the end of September 2018 to meet Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) funding requirements.

What is being included in this preliminary design update?

Confirm Preliminary Design is Current

We need to make sure preliminary design meets new technology and standards. This is a technical exercise with little influence by the public.

Assess the Tracks

Assess the need for raising or lowering of the tracks from street level (grade separation) at several locations along the line using a City Council approved assessment matrix. This is a technical exercise with little influence by the public. However, if deemed necessary, the public will have input on how these are designed to fit into the adjacent areas.

Look Into an Additional Station

Assess the possibility of an additional station adjacent to Twin Brooks. This is a technical exercise with some influence by the public.

Review the Look and Feel

Confirm, and if required, reconsider the aesthetics/look and feel of the design by looking at materials and furnishings that meet the current needs of the adjacent communities. This is where the public will have a strong influence on the design.

Where and when can I provide input?

You will have opportunities for input throughout the project. Public input will be collected and considered during three stages of the project.

How will my input be used?

The City of Edmonton is committed to working with and engaging citizens and stakeholders. Feedback from engagement events will be compiled in What We Heard reports which will be posted to the project web pages. These reports will include how feedback was used.

Why can’t I help decide on raising or lowering of the tracks from street level, at crossings along this extension?

The process for deciding if the line should go above or below street level (grade separation) involves the use of a City Council approved assessment matrix. This matrix provides an objective, consistent process when assessing LRT road crossing options. Major intersections are identified and assessed with the matrix which considers the following criteria:

Accessibility: How the various transportation modes link between one another and with adjacent developments
Network Operations: How the surrounding and broader transportation network is impacted
Urban Design and Social Environment: How the surrounding communities and stakeholders are impacted
Feasibility and Construction: Feasibility, costs and risk assessments

If going above or below street level is required, the public will be able to provide input on their design to fit into the communities. Concerns and other comments will also be taken and considered.

Will there be Park & Ride?

Two Park & Ride facilities are provided. Century Park has an existing Park & Ride, which is not part of this project. Heritage Valley Park & Ride, at the south end of this extension, is currently undergoing preliminary and detailed design as a separate project. It is anticipated that the Heritage Valley Park & Ride will be built within the next 5 years. It will include a bus transit centre.

The City is also in the process of developing a city-wide Park & Ride strategy.

Will there be problems with the signalling and speed of the trains with this extension?

The City is sensitive to the fact that the signalling system substantially delayed the opening of the current Metro Line. This will be a key consideration as we move forward and will be included as part of the update process. The design of efficient signalling and traffic systems is a top priority for this project and the lessons learned from the Metro Line will be applied to remove similar issues.

What is not being looked at in this project?

The corridor (the route) and the alignment (where the tracks are in the corridor) have been decided upon, so they will not change. The station at Ellerslie Road, between 127 and 135 Streets, has also been determined. These elements were approved by City Council during the concept design phase.

Public Engagement Opportunities

Community Advisory Committee

Applications for the two community-at-large members are now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.

Terms of Reference (Updated November 2017)

The purpose of this advisory committee is to provide a mechanism that will:

Build and maintain relationships and trust
Promote and support community engagement opportunities
Facilitate information-sharing and dialogue
Support the identification of issues, opportunities and concerns
Seek opportunities to minimize and mitigate impacts related to preliminary design, and future detailed design and construction

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting Agendas and Minutes

Meeting 3 - March 28, 2018

Agenda

Meeting 2 - January 31, 2018

Agenda

Minutes

Meeting 1 - November 8, 2017

Agenda

Minutes

Names of CAC members have been removed from the meeting minutes in compliance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation. Attachments referred to in meeting notes are not included. Some attachments are available online, while others were only for CAC members' information.

Pop-Ups

During the summer and early fall 2017, a number of pop-ups were held along the future extension alignment to allow residents an opportunity to provide their input on the project.