WestLRT Construction Transgression thread

[Sr. Mints]

Is there a set of tracks beneath the intersection at 33rd/Bow Tr. yet? If so, did it get tunneled or am I just forgetting about a massive closure?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Is there a set of tracks beneath the intersection at 33rd/Bow Tr. yet? If so, did it get tunneled or am I just forgetting about a massive closure?

Yeah, it's already complete. Barring a few cement/curb fixes, that intersection should pretty much be done now.

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Is there a set of tracks beneath the intersection at 33rd/Bow Tr. yet? If so, did it get tunneled or am I just forgetting about a massive closure?

It is done.... they are just fixing the intersection now. They did a cut and cover and there was no major closures as bow trail was routed either to the left or right of the ditch.

Chris

[bomba]

Do you guys know if they are still on track for a december 2012 launch?

[Byrns]

Considering they were 6months late opening Crowfoot, and that was one station, I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Ozy_Flame]

They'll be done in time I'm sure. SNC has it in their contract they get a bonus per day of early completion, which they are gearing towards. Also, I think they may have penalty clauses for going over as well, but not entirely sure. This is all grapevine knowledge.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Considering they were 6months late opening Crowfoot, and that was one station, I wouldn't hold my breath.

The West LRT project is managed much differently than any previous LRT extension in Calgary.

It will open early or on time.

[frinkprof]

Also, here is the latest iteration of the bus network as it is proposed for when West LRT opens.



Changes to the route 17, route 18 since the last one we saw. In addition, what is labelled as the route 403, which is really just the north (Renfrew) half of the old route 17 being linked up with the existing 403 since the southern half of the old route 17 is being changed.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Still the 108 is being removed totally?

That's a busy downtown route bus to eliminate. It picks up a lot of people from the start at Westhills along the way east on Richmond Rd.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Still the 108 is being removed totally?

That's a busy downtown route bus to eliminate. It picks up a lot of people from the start at Westhills along the way east on Richmond Rd.

In the context of the 108, I believe the thinking is that people west of Sarcee (Signal Hill and Westhills) will take feeder bus to the LRT; people between Sarcee and 37th Street will either take the feeder bus to the LRT, to the BRT, or directly board the BRT depending on where they are; and people east of 37th Street will board one of the remaining bus routes serving the area and/or the new 301 BRT service.

[GirlySports]

I see they will rename the Cougar Ridge 453 to 452. Why don't they do that now to avoid all the confusion with the Wentworth 453.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I see they will rename the Cougar Ridge 453 to 452. Why don't they do that now to avoid all the confusion with the Wentworth 453.

Hmm good question.

A lot of these routes will probably be renumbered anyway. Some or all of the current 400 series (although perhaps not the 401) and the 179 will likely become 1-99 routes. The 101-104 might be renumbered as well to a 1-99 route. The BRT A will be a 300 series, my guess is 303 (and will replace the existing 181-182 routes). The route 17 is being split into two routes, so one of them will need a new number. Some of the existing express buses will probably be deleted altogether, like the 166 Glenbrook Express, the 67 Signal Hill Express, and it appears the route 53 Signal Hill will also be deleted altogether.

Currently, the route numbers available from 1-99 are:

65, 68, 71, 87, 90, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, as well as the 67 and 53 if those are deleted.

[Ducay]

Is the revised 70 going to stop along Bow trail at all? Otherwise the 37th to Sarcee area still looks pretty underserved (aka only the 106 will run on it for a limited area)

[Rathji]

Reminds me of a thought I had the other day.

They should have a system, probably built into a smart phone app, where people can say "I want to be notified if any changes are made to X,Y,Z routes. That way they can get some sort of notification, and an easy way to access those changes later.

For example, I take 2 different buses downtown (either the 302 or 117) and sometimes I drive to Anderson station. When I come home, I either take those routes or once or twice a month I take the 1 or 305(?) to Forest Lawn for some training courses. It would be nice to have a single place where I could double check that if I shop up at this bus stop at my normal time, the bus will be there (and be named the same thing).

I do realize a good CT app, with both typical route saving and map support, would alleviate the need for this, so maybe it will be a moot point once that finally happens - although who knows when that will be.

[frinkprof]

Photos taken by "lineman" on SSP. From the tops of the catenary poles on the elevated guideway as they are being installed.

Spoiler!

[frinkprof]

Leftover land up for grabs at old Ernest Manning School site

School relocated to make way for west LRT station

By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald November 3, 2011

CALGARY — The city is now giving Ernest Manning High School alumni the chance to erect condos on the spot where they once sat through Chemistry 10, suited up for football tryouts and flung a forkful of mashed potatoes across the cafeteria.

Having committed about $30 million to relocate the high school to make way for west LRT’s lone underground station, the city began soliciting proposals Thursday on the leftover land parcels, where officials want high-density, transit-friendly developments.

A local real estate executive said he’s unsure the city will recoup that school building money in this market, although that’s not necessarily the city’s goal for the roughly 3 hec#tares of developable land.

In fact, the city won’t necessarily seek the highest bidder on that land, land servicing manager Robert Moskovitz said.

Rather, they want a developer who will commit to environmentally sustainable projects with affordable housing — and can make it happen within a few years.

[...]

Two years ago, council endorsed the Westbrook Village area redevelopment plan, which encourages a mixture of highrise and mid-size residential and mixed-use towers throughout the former school site and on lands where Westbrook Mall now sits. The city wants similar transit-oriented developments near LRT stations citywide, including where towers are planned at Brentwood station.

[...]

It’s likely a sale price to the buyers of those parcels wouldn’t be finalized or disclosed for at least a year.

The city will require that any developer devote at least two per cent of the units to affordable housing,

City hall’s real-estate wing has also begun plans which will lead to similar sales plans for public land around two stations on the south C-Train line. The higher-density projects would encompass the current bus loop and former YMCA site near Heritage LRT, and the massive park-and-ride lot at Anderson station.

[...]

Link to the rest of the article

[I_am_Beast]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Link to the rest of the article

too bad, the one rumor I liked was the people who own the westbrook mall was going to buy it and tear down the old mall and build a new mall double the size of Chinook with the LRT stop attached....

from 17th ave down 37th street to bowtrail then back around bow to 33 st would be a huge freaking mall.....

[worth]

Why would anyone want a mall double the size of chinook?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by worth

Why would anyone want a mall double the size of chinook?

So that they have something to talk about when people ask them what's interesting about Edmonton?

[frinkprof]

@markusoff Jason Markusoff

West LRT to open 4months late, in March 2013. Plus cost overruns, big unfunded item. Read @calgaryherald Friday 4 deets #yyccc #yyctransit

I'm shocked about the projected late opening date. Other than possibly the Kerby Station/10th Street Station closure logistics, I can't see the cause for delay.