Hi Joe. David raises some important questions about unnecessarily expensive aspects of the finalized LRT project, and I have a few of my own to add:

First, the below-grade station at 69th Street really doesn’t seem necessary, having the track itself duck under the street makes sense, but I’m sure a surface level station to the immediate west would cost less.

Second, and this one really bugs me, is the whole issue of the alignment between Downtown and Crowchild Trail. Getting the LRT past the Crow-Bow interchange was obviously a real technical challenge, but it seems like there are about a dozen really obvious alternatives to the ridiculous eyesore of a solution that city engineers chose.

Surely there were alternatives that could have permitted an at-grade alignment in Sunalta, behind the warehouses, and kept the next segment of track beside, rather than in the median of Bow Trail. Would it really cost more to build a simple underpass for the LRT beneath the ramps on the north side of this interchange than to build an extra two kilometers of track AND a station on stilts?

I believe a more robust public engagement process initiated much earlier would have gone a long way to exposing these design flaws. Having a policy whereby third-party engineering firms evaluate city proposals might also help.

Thanks,

Drew

I second your questions David and also wonder why the train couldn’t go on the utility corridor on the west side of Sarcee Trail from Bow Trail to 17th Avenue?

On another note, I see Joe hasn’t responded here to your questions (I haven’t checked Facebook). I emailed Joe a question in February asking why he voted no on turnstiles for the LRT. I suggested that a huge amount of revenue is lost due to fare evasion, and that a great deal of money could be recouped by ensuring that everyone who is on the platform has actually paid to be there. This would be especially important because during rush hour, there are never transit police checking tickets. I also suggested that someone could be employed at each of the stations to oversee the turnstiles, and this in turn would also provide more security at the stations.

Joe’s assistant emailed me to tell me Joe was away on business, but Joe has never gotten back to me. If he wants to be mayor, he needs to address the citizen’s concerns.

David, Sarah & Drew,
First of all, my apologies for the tardiness but my world has (obviously) exploded with my recent announcement. The West LRT project involved over 125 community meetings and hopefully you were available to attend some of them. Many of the points you have raised have been debated at length…and decisions have been made through careful consideration and community debate.

Rest assured that this final alignment is the best use of taxpayer dollars while respecting the integrity of the existing communities.

Joe

Hi Joe,
I have attended some meetings on the WestLRT and have not seen a proper response to David and Drew’s very valid and common sense questions. Can you pass those on? Particularly regarding the LRT route across Crowchild and along the north side of Bow Trail, as well as the demolishment of Ernest Manning? Thanks!