North Central LRT Route Planning Study Update

North Central LRT
Route Planning Study Update
SPC on Transportation & Transit
2014 March 12
Previous Council Direction
• 2012: North Central Light Rail Transit Planning (TT2012-06)
– Identified transit network and operational issues with Nose Creek
Valley alignment
– Public support for investigating LRT alignment within North Central
communities
– Conduct a route planning study for the North Central LRT
– Report back no later than the end of 2014
Project Background
• 1967: Early documents showing a
North LRT line connecting downtown
and communities north
• 1980s: Nose Creek Valley alignment
identified
• 2009: Calgary Transportation Plan and
Municipal Development Plan updated
• 2011: Community support
Project Background
• Urban low-floor LRT vehicles
• Integrate with communities
• Lighter infrastructure
• Connect with SE LRT
Project Background
• Consultant team: Stantec, Steer Davies Gleave, Context
• Phase one of the study, currently underway, will identify:
– A route for North Central LRT;
– Station locations and amenities (e.g. opportunities for transit
oriented development, bus terminals, park and ride lots);
– Bus, bus rapid transit and LRT network connections, including a
possible connection to the future Southeast LRT
Project Background
– LRT vehicle technology and right of way concepts (elevated, instreet, segregated right of way);
– Ridership and traffic projections; and
– Projected high level costs and land implications.
Project Background
• Phase two of the study, to be completed in
2015-2016:
– more detailed planning of the required
infrastructure
– land requirements
– project costs
• Extensive public engagement will also be
undertaken as part of phase two.
Project Governance
• Calgary Transit with stakeholders from a wide variety of business
units form the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• North Central LRT Community Advisory Group (CAG)
• Variety of community members and stakeholder groups
Public Engagement and Input
• Interactive open houses held in 2013 June
– 675 participants at three events along the North Central corridor
– Activities built on the public input from 2011
– Input from participants helped the project team to identify important
characteristics of the communities, develop the evaluation criteria
– 4 Street NW included in evaluation as a result of participant input
Public Engagement and Input
• One interactive workshop held in late 2013 July
– Groups identified locations in their community that are important to
them and destinations where they travel
– Exercise to try and fit various elements in a constrained right-of-way
– Provided input to the draft vision and evaluation criteria
Public Engagement and Input
• In the Fall of 2013 and during election period the team focused
on technical analysis
• Continued to hold events with City staff, including a workshop to
determine the principles for rapid transit in the Centre City
Public Engagement and Input
• Utilizing an online engagement tool called PlaceSpeak
Sustainability Approach
• First large transit infrastructure project to adopt The City’s
sustainability approach to decision making
• Based on The City’s 2020 Sustainability Direction
• Public and stakeholder input informs the process
2020 Sustainability Direction
Economy
Sustainable
Corporation
Sustainable
Environment
Sustainability
Direction
Financial
Capacity
Community
Well-being
Smart Growth
& Mobility
Project Vision
A transit service that improves mobility in existing communities in
North Central Calgary, connecting people and places, and
enhancing the quality of life in the city
Community Principles
• Enhance connectivity between people and places, connecting to
all modes of transportation in the community;
• Contribute positively to community development and
revitalization;
• Be the affordable transportation mode;
Community Principles
• Be accessible for people to get to, board and use;
• Contribute to the character and cohesion of the community
through integrated design with no barriers to accessibility;
• Contribute to an efficient traffic management system that
promotes the optimal transportation choice, and reduces
congestion and travel times;
• Contribute to the vitality of businesses in the community by
promoting business development and access;
Community Principles
• Enhance the environment by reducing greenhouse gases (GHG),
protecting natural areas and urban beautification;
• Create a positive transportation experience - safe, accessible,
efficient; and
• Contribute to complete streets including landscaping, urban form,
pedestrian and cycling systems.
Evaluation Criteria
• Capital Financial Capacity/Sustainable Corporation
• Community Well-being
• Prosperous Economy
• Transportation
Evaluation Criteria
• Urban Development/Urban Realm
• Sustainable Environment
• Deliverability
Alignment Options
•Nose Creek Valley
•Edmonton Trail NE
•Centre Street North
•4 Street NW
Alignment Options
• North of Beddington Trail right-of-way is determined and
available
• Between 96 Avenue North and 16 Avenue North alignment
analyzed
• South of 16 Avenue North, into downtown
Alignment Options –
Central Section
(Beddington Trail to 16 Avenue North)
• Public engagement,
evaluation criteria,
technical analysis
• Performed ‘high-level’
multiple account
evaluation (MAE) on
the four alignment
options
• Study area bounded by
Deerfoot Trail, Nose Hill
Park, 16 Avenue North,
up to Stoney Trail
Alignment Options – Central Section
(96 Avenue North to 16 Avenue North)
• Underground, elevated and at-grade (ground level)
– 10 possible alignments in total
• Evaluation criteria based on public input, 2020 Sustainability
Direction, project vision and project objectives
• Evaluation criteria informed and endorsed by various
stakeholders
Alignment Options – Central Section
(96 Avenue North to 16 Avenue North)
• Centre Street North at-grade and Edmonton Trail NE at-grade
alignments performed better than other alignments based on the
evaluation
• Nose Creek Valley and 4 Street NW alignments eliminated from
further analysis
• Does not preclude tunneled and elevated sections
Alignment Options – Central Section
(96 Avenue North to 16 Avenue North)
• Next steps
– Currently undertaking detailed evaluation of the two remaining
alignments
• Refined capital costs
• Transit-oriented development opportunities
• Right-of-way constraints
• Land requirements
• Traffic and transit operations
Alignment Options – South Section
(16 Avenue North to Centre City)
• Previous studies indicated North Central LRT would utilize
7 Avenue S transitway
• SE LRT approved alignment
• River crossing
• Light rail and heavy rail crossings
• Constrained right-of-way
Alignment Options – South Section
(16 Avenue North to Centre City)
• 18 possible alignments developed for Centre City – needed to
focus the analysis
• Engaged the NC LRT Technical Advisory Committee in a
workshop to develop goals for rapid transit in the Centre City
Alignment Options – South Section
(16 Avenue North to Centre City)
• Round 1
– 18 possible alignments analyzed using multiple account evaluation
(MAE)
• Round 2
– Seven possible alignments analyzed using MAE
– Two preferred alignments presented today
– Further analysis required
Two Preferred Alignments
Draft concept
for discussion
Next Steps
• Central section (96 Avenue N to 16 Avenue N)
– Centre Street N and Edmonton Trail NE at-grade alignments
• South section (16 Avenue N to Centre City)
– Two alignments presented today are at the top of the technical
analysis, but other alignments are still being considered
– Public engagement events in Centre City to inform further analysis
Next Steps
• Nose Creek Valley and 4 Street NW alignments are eliminated
from further analysis
• Public engagement
– Centre City event in March
– Open houses and interactive workshops in April/May
– Open houses and stakeholder events in September to present
recommendations
Next Steps
• Continue to engage with Calgarians and Council
• Return with recommendation for North Central LRT alignment in
2014 December

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