Valley Light Extension

Valley Light Extension

Last year, I had written an article on the Edmonton Light Rail Transit. This post though would focus on the Valley Line extension, a future 27 km, low-floor urban light rail line in Edmonton, Alberta currently under construction. Continuing Alberta’s vision of sustainable transport framework, with the aim of expanding mobility and getting commuters and other travellers off the roads, this US$1.6 billion PPP-funded project will see a private sector contractor design, build, partially finance, supply light rail vehicles for, and operate and maintain the line. The public would fund US$355 million through both the government of Canada and the government of Alberta. Upon completion of the entire line (expected to be around 2020), the Valley Line is expected to serve more than 100,000 commuters daily.

The advantages of having such a system are:

·      Smaller-scale stops that are spaced closer together

·      Maximizing openness of space to create safe environments at stops and stations

·      Reducing vehicle and traffic speeds in congested areas to support safe, pedestrian-friendly communities

·      Investing in landscaping and architectural features to improve visual appeal and community integration

·      Require less infrastructure than the high-floor LRT (Transformingedmonton.ca)

A map of the proposed network (Image Credits: City of Edmonton)