A BIG mistake on the West LRT by City Council
The route for the West LRT is set in stone… and it’s not as good as it could be.
City Council should have spent the extra $90 million (approximately) to bury the C-Train tracks below 17th Avenue SW all the way to the 45th Street Station (see this link)… possibly even further along to 47th Street SW.
Why?
Short-term financial pain for long-term traffic gain.
Under the final design plan 17th Avenue will turn into another 36th Street NE. And most drivers know that 36th Street NE is where left-hand turns go to die.
Here’s an abbreviated version of what City Council chose as the route:
The West LRT will rise as it comes out of downtown. It’ll stay elevated as it runs west along 10th Avenue SW. The tracks will run up the middle of Bow Trail. Then under Westbrook Mall. Then rise back to street level at 41st Street SW running down the MIDDLE of 17th Avenue SW. BIG MISTAKE. The C-Train shouldn’t have come back to ground level until atleast the LRT station at 45th Street SW. The line then continues on ending at 69th Street SW by the Westside Rec Centre. (all West LRT maps)
Anyone who has grit their teeth in frustration knows how big of a pain turning left on 36th Street NE can be… and that is what’s going to happen along 17th Ave.
I’d hate to be the Ward 6 Alderman in 2015.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Sorry, I beg to disagree! I am TIRED of property taxes shooting up by 80%! Really, I am at the point where I say “The cheapest route is the ONLY route”. People will just have to bite the bullet and take the LRT. Isn’t that the whole point? That more people take the LRT? If what you say is true, we are building the west leg of the LRT so more people can drive? What a no-brainer! I am sure the only thing that will force more people to take the LRT, the new west leg of the LRT, is when it gets as infuriating as 36th street forcing them to leave their vehicles at home. BRAVO, City Council, for once!