City council approves new hockey arenas, LRT expansion

[Juventus3]

The news article is brief, I haven't been able to find anything more detailed as of yet.

New Rec Facilities And LRT Extensions Approved By City Council
Nov, 06 2007 - 4:30 PM

CALGARY/AM770CHQR - Calgary city council approved the spending of millions of dollars on LRT expansions and new recreation facilities Tuesday.
In a special meeting called by the Mayor, the newly-elected council voted in favor of of expansions of the LRT to the northeast, northwest, and the new west leg of the line.
The purchase of new LRT cars also got the thumbs up, as well as money for the design of an 8th Avenue LRT tunnel that would allow the trains to run underground through the downtown.
Council also approved $301 million in new spending on recreation and sports facilities, including new regional rec centres/librairies in 3 of the four quadrants of the city.
New ice rinks were also approved.
All of the funding is coming through a new longterm agreement reached with the province in September.

Absolutely great to hear there will be some relief coming to the minor hockey system. It was so disheartening to hear there are kids being denied access to a hockey team.



http://www.am770chqr.com/news/news_x...news_local.cfm

[psicodude]

1 question. Why did they just spend millions of dollars making all of the c-train stations downtown larger so they can handle 4 cars if they are just going to put them all underground? Maybe this is one of those 20 year project things?

Great news about the rinks. Living in the McKenzie area, I know how desperate things have become.

[FlamesKickAss]

What about repairing/upgrading the arena's that exist right now? Some of the ice in this city is absolutely terrible. I think they should look at repairing the ones they have just as much as build new ones, because if they build a new one and 2 rinks go down then they are behind where we are now.

[Bill Bumface]

Wow, crazy good news. Although I feel expanding the NW leg of the LRT is completely useless, I snicker as I will sell my condo that will be within walking distance of that station once it is done

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by psicodude

1 question. Why did they just spend millions of dollars making all of the c-train stations downtown larger so they can handle 4 cars if they are just going to put them all underground? Maybe this is one of those 20 year project things?

Bingo. There is a need for 4 car trains now, but don't expect to see a downtown underground LRT anytime soon. Keep in mind the funding is for a design, not to build the sucker.

[Eagle Eye]

Problem is when the finally get all the stations upgraded to 4 car trains, it will be time to build the underground line anyways. They have 2 stations downtown that can fit 4 car stations. After downtown is down they are gonna start to work on the South line (only the last 2 stations are 4 car platforms right now), then they have to work on the other 2 lines

[Table 5]

Remember, that the underground train line downtown might not be on the same street as the current line. With new lines being built in the future, you can't cram everything onto one line downtown...it would become total gridlock, underground or not.

[Juventus3]

Upgrading city infrastructure is the sole purpose of city workers. The way they build up and tear down in this city is enough to make a person go crazy. How many times are intersections expanded to facilitate an increase in traffic flow, then ripped down anyways two years later to put up interchanges? **Cough Crowchild Tr. The LRT is no different, they're just finding work for the city's workers.

As for repairs, I'd imagine there is funding for that as well. The city wouldn't approve new ones with the plan to shut down the old ones.

There was something last year about Rob Kerr mediating a forum of concerned citizens, hockey Canada, and Calgary minor hockey officials that was aimed to find solutions to the 'rink crunch'. I suppose a thank you is in order to him for that, he played a huge role in getting the issue out there and talked about.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

Upgrading city infrastructure is the sole purpose of city workers. The way they build up and tear down in this city is enough to make a person go crazy. How many times are intersections expanded to facilitate an increase in traffic flow, then ripped down anyways two years later to put up interchanges? **Cough Crowchild Tr. The LRT is no different, they're just finding work for the city's workers.

As for repairs, I'd imagine there is funding for that as well. The city wouldn't approve new ones with the plan to shut down the old ones.

There was something last year about Rob Kerr mediating a forum of concerned citizens, hockey Canada, and Calgary minor hockey officials that was aimed to find solutions to the 'rink crunch'. I suppose a thank you is in order to him for that, he played a huge role in getting the issue out there and talked about.

So you are saying LRT expansion is a make work project?

[Juventus3]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

So you are saying LRT expansion is a make work project?

No that was kinda tongue-in-cheek.

I'm more taking a shot at this city's planners. They significantly lack vision. Look at all the broken causeways in this city, and the constant upgrades being done on major intersections (longer turning lanes, more through lanes, etc). It's extremely frustrating to see.

It's one thing to have upgrades being done to an organically grown city, but the grid layout of Calgary should all but completely erase the need for such constant upgrades.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

No that was kinda tongue-in-cheek.

I'm more taking a shot at this city's planners. They significantly lack vision. Look at all the broken causeways in this city, and the constant upgrades being done on major intersections (longer turning lanes, more through lanes, etc). It's extremely frustrating to see.

It's one thing to have upgrades being done to an organically grown city, but the grid layout of Calgary should all but completely erase the need for such constant upgrades.

While I agree that urban planning in this city is a joke, with the rapid expansion I'd imagine almost any city would struggle.

10 years ago who could have forecast the massive growth we have today? And with Duerr getting elected to do nothing because that was the cheapest way to keep taxes down, I can't imagine the city spending one cent more than they felt was required, let alone over build anything in case of unexpected growth.

[foofighter15]

applause. Its about time. My only issue with the expansion they want to do with the west leg is it should go to Mount Royal and towards Westhills, I don't think that up Bow Trail is the way to go.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

What about repairing/upgrading the arena's that exist right now? Some of the ice in this city is absolutely terrible. I think they should look at repairing the ones they have just as much as build new ones, because if they build a new one and 2 rinks go down then they are behind where we are now.

Part of the money is going to towards repairs those arenas

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

applause. Its about time. My only issue with the expansion they want to do with the west leg is it should go to Mount Royal and towards Westhills, I don't think that up Bow Trail is the way to go.

There is a far more dense population going up Bow Trail to 37th and then up 17th to Westside.

What the city really needs are more central bus depots that smaller bus lines run to during rush hour.

You should see how packed a 101 or 104 are in the morning and evening. There need to be more routes that go from downtown up bow trail.

[Slava]

Its great that they are spending the money and getting these projects underway. I just hope that theere is more to come!

I thought that I heard yesterday that this money is for the next ten years?? I hope not...to me this might bring us up to the current standard, nevermind another ten years of growth!

[SteveToms]

What I would like to see is a dedicated bus lane type deal from MRC to a set stop on the LRT. Make a shuttle style bus where it one has one stop each way.

[fredr123]

There's gotta be a graphic or map somewhere that shows the expansion plans. I'll bet someone will be linking to it right... now?

[Eagle Eye]

http://members.shaw.ca/LRTinCalgary/FutureMap.html

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

There was something last year about Rob Kerr mediating a forum of concerned citizens, hockey Canada, and Calgary minor hockey officials that was aimed to find solutions to the 'rink crunch'. I suppose a thank you is in order to him for that, he played a huge role in getting the issue out there and talked about.

There was also a follow-up meeting on Tuesday. it was called "Ice Summit 2" and was co-promoted by the folks at Hockey Calgary. There will (apparently) be an "Ice Summit 3" sometime in the new year.

Big kudos to Rob Kerr for keeping this going!

[someguy51]

Sweet. Wonder when they'll start working on the Saddleridge station? That will be sweet for me when its finished.

Is Dec 2 still the date for Mcknight-West Winds station?