Realignment of NW (NAIT) - LRT
Realignment of NW (NAIT) - LRT
Recommendation:That Administration prepare an amendment to the Transportation System Bylaw 15101 that includes revisions to the Downtown to NAIT alignment in accordance with Option 3 in the August 31, 2009, Transportation Department report 2009TD0048, and return to the November 9/13, 2009, Statutory Public Hearing.
Report Summary
This report describes options for changing the Downtown to Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Light Rail Train (LRT) line alignment in order to put an LRT Station on the Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA) lands as part of the current NAIT LRT project for 2014.
Previous Council/Committee Action
At the July 8, 2009, City Council meeting, the following motion was passed:
That the City Manager immediately begin to undertake the following activities:
· Administration to submit plans for realignment of NW (NAIT)–LRT based on available access to lands currently impacted by 16-34 runway, and report to Council no later than September 2009.
Report
The approved plan for LRT line from Downtown to NAIT included an alignment on 106 Street from Kingsway Avenue to Princess Elizabeth Avenue with a temporary station just south of the Avenue. This site provided flexibility for various LRT line alignments beyond NAIT which are currently being studied.
While the immediate closure of runway 16-34 provides the opportunity to bring LRT onto the eastern side of the Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA), the remaining open runway 12-30 places limitations on the alignment options. This is due to the height restrictions (Attachment 1) imposed by runway 12-30 and the taxiways that continue to be open along the east boundary of the airport.
There is an area north of Princess Elizabeth Avenue on the NAIT running track and soccer/football field that provides an excellent location for a LRT Station on ECCA lands. It can be constructed as a permanent or temporary station depending on the planning stage of both NAIT and the redevelopment of the ECCA lands at the time the design is completed and construction at that site begins.
There are three primary corridor options available to extend LRT line into the airport lands past the temporary LRT Station that exists in the current route plan.
Option 1 (Attachment 2)
Extend the LRT alignment north along 106 Street to a station for NAIT between Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 118 Avenue. At a later date, a second station could be placed on the ECCA lands after the line goes northwest towards a site that is integrated with the land-use plan. It includes a full or partial closure of 106Street. However, NAIT does not support this alignment due to impacts on its campus development plans and students.
Negotiations with NAIT regarding the configuration and integration of the station with their development plans may impact the completion date of 2014 for the entire line. This option does not locate an LRT station on the ECCA lands until a later phase.
Option 2 (Attachment 3)
Realign LRT line from the Royal Alexandra Hospital Station along Kingsway Avenue to 109 Street, then along 109 Street.
This alignment enters the ECCA just east of 109 Street and may be impacted by the height restriction contours at the airport. While this option eliminates the need to purchase property along 106 Street it does result in greater access impacts to Kingsway Garden Mall.
Negotiations with Kingsway Mall and revisions to the approved Concept Plan and preliminary engineering drawings will probably delay the completion date of 2014 by one to two years. The option locates an LRT station on ECCA lands.
Option 3 (Attachment 4)
Extend the LRT line alignment northwest off 106 Street past the temporary Station that would not be constructed. This option adjusts the alignment to just east of the Avonair Curling Club to a station on the north side of Princess Elizabeth Avenue. The line extends further into the ECCA lands after tenants vacate hangars on the east side of the airport and the overall land development is underway.
This option does not impact the completion date of 2014 for the entire line and locates an LRT station on the ECCA lands.
Process to Revise Alignment
The Transportation System Bylaw currently describes the end of the NAIT line at Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 106 Street. The Bylaw amendment and a Statutory Public Hearing must be completed if a change is made to the LRT line alignment. Should City Council wish to make this amendment, Administration can include it as part of Bylaw 15101, which will be brought forward to City Council on November 9, 2009. Consultation with stakeholders on the updated concept and engineering plans follows.
Budget/Financial Implications
The option to place an LRT station on the ECCA lands now provides the opportunity to extend the line across Queen Elizabeth Avenue at a cost of approximately $20 million. This action enables the City to complete this work during a time when construction costs are low. Also, a station on the south end of the ECCA lands provides access directly to the NAIT campus by avoiding the need to walk across the major roadway (Princess Elizabeth Avenue). The station provides early access to public transit in support of development at the south-end of the ECCA lands.
At this time, there are no signed agreements in place with either the Federal or Provincial governments for their funding contributions. The NAIT LRT line has an existing borrowing bylaw in place which only covers the current land purchases, the EPCOR tunnel and detailed design. The remainder of the debt funding requirement is approved subject to Green TRIP funding from the Province.
Justification of RecommendationOption 3 provides for an LRT Station on the Airport lands without causing delays to the Downtown to NAIT Project.
Attachments
- Airport Contour Map
- Alignment Option 1
- Alignment Option 2
- Alignment Option 3
Others Reviewing this Report
· C. Warnock, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
· M. Koziol, General Manager, Capital Construction Department
· L. Rosen, General Manager, Asset Management and Public Works Department
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