Red Deer reaches 100,000 people

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, I can see that. There's only the single two-lane overpass at the south end of Gasoline Alley. Airdrie learned the hard way that that is far too small for a population area of 40k. I would imagine this would all be on the east side of the city though, rather than straddling Highway 2. They would have to massively upgrade Highway 595 as well, and it already needs a lot of work as it is.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, I can see that. There's only the single two-lane overpass at the south end of Gasoline Alley. Airdrie learned the hard way that that is far too small for a population area of 40k. I would imagine this would all be on the east side of the city though, rather than straddling Highway 2. They would have to massively upgrade Highway 595 as well, and it already needs a lot of work as it is.

Actually I heard it was going in between #2 and #2A

[OMG!WTF!]

This is all a big lie. My parents moved to Olds two days ago. It's 99,998 at best.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Actually I heard it was going in between #2 and #2A

Wait... they are going to build toward the airport?

That's SMRT...

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, I can see that. There's only the single two-lane overpass at the south end of Gasoline Alley. Airdrie learned the hard way that that is far too small for a population area of 40k. I would imagine this would all be on the east side of the city though, rather than straddling Highway 2. They would have to massively upgrade Highway 595 as well, and it already needs a lot of work as it is.

Airdrie has to be one of the most poorly planned cities I have ever been to. 60,000 people, only two overpasses onto the QE2, and building subdivisions on both sides of the highway. I can only imagine the bottleneck of commuters, travelling to Calgary and back during rush hour.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I can only imagine the bottleneck of commuters, travelling to Calgary and back during rush hour.

It's only 15 minutes to downtown, 20 if traffic is really bad.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Burninator

It's only 15 minutes to downtown, 20 if traffic is really bad.

Airdrie to Downtown Calgary, during the morning rush? You can't be serious.

I've driven from the Beltline to Airdrie opposite the rush hour traffic, and it used to take me 30 minutes or more.

[jayswin]

[Northendzone]

I understand that the census also revealed that the pick-up truck count in red deer was at 68,478 and that approximately 43% of them were jacked up.

A full 73% of males under 34 own at least one pair of white Oakley sun glasses, and that red deer also claims the highest number of pairs of truck nutz per capita

[Flabbibulin]

Poster probably wasn't serious, but I do love the 'ol "it only takes 15 minutes to DT" argument for many of the people living in one of the surrounding towns. Probably based on that one time they drove at 5 or 6am and at the very most got from the city limits of Airdrie to the 4th ave bridge in 15 minutes. Even then...

[Oil Stain]

Keep growing Red Deer. We need a big enough population in Alberta to justify a high speed rail link from Fort Mac-Edmonton-Red Deer-Calgary one day.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I understand that the census also revealed that the pick-up truck count in red deer was at 68,478 and that approximately 43% of them were jacked up.

A full 73% of males under 34 own at least one pair of white Oakley sun glasses, and that red deer also claims the highest number of pairs of truck nutz per capita

Those number seem low

[Bunk]

To put things in perspective, it took Red Deer over 100 years to grow to 100,000, while Calgary grew by more than that amount in three (2012-14).

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

What exactly is the criteria for a Census Metropolitan Area? I know that Kelowna and Abbotsford now have CMA's. What would the Red Deer CMA encompass?

-Sylvain Lake (12,000+)
-Lacombe (12,000+)
-Blackfalds (8,000)
-Penhold (3,500)
-Innisfail (8,500)

150,000 sounds about right. Possibly more...

It's official, I'm old

I remember when Sylvain was just a pisshole in a snow bank, a place to go for a party and camp out...sure wish I would have done some investing.

[HOWITZER]

Originally Posted by Bunk

To put things in perspective, it took Red Deer over 100 years to grow to 100,000, while Calgary grew by more than that amount in three (2012-14).

To put it in perspective it also took Calgary about 75 years (including getting the CPR in 1885) to reach 100,000. Demographic growth is in no way, shape or form linear.

It's good to see Red Deer growing. Unfortunately, the city is still growing using an outdated planning model hell-bent on suburb growth. Would really be nice if they'd get moving on the downtown redevelopment and make something interesting of the river valley. The city needs to grow some independence and actually stand for something other than a rest stop.

[Property Manager DB]

Originally Posted by T@T

It's official, I'm old

I remember when Sylvain was just a pisshole in a snow bank, a place to go for a party and camp out...sure wish I would have done some investing.

It's never too late haha

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by HOWITZER

Unfortunately, the city is still growing using an outdated planning model hell-bent on suburb growth. Would really be nice if they'd get moving on the downtown redevelopment and make something interesting of the river valley. The city needs to grow some independence and actually stand for something other than a rest stop.

i would say that RD is growing in suburbs mostly because of the city being made up of young families. Not many people with families can find the right type of space to live downtown.

so what are you ideas for the river valley? and how should the city stand for something?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Airdrie has to be one of the most poorly planned cities I have ever been to. 60,000 people, only two overpasses onto the QE2, and building subdivisions on both sides of the highway. I can only imagine the bottleneck of commuters, travelling to Calgary and back during rush hour.

I hesitated to mention Airdrie because I knew the mental midgets would trot out the tired old jokes.

Anyway, Airdrie is no different than the other bedroom communities around Calgary - massive growth that made planning difficult. Chestemere is really accessible from the TCH by only one interchange, and one extremely dangerous level crossing. Cochrane, Langdon and Okotoks all with limited access as well. The province simply can't keep up. And I doubt that gets better under Notley.

Airdrie though gets all the problems first, and worst. Red Deer's milestone is great, but at current growth rates, Airdire is probably going to overtake it within 15 years. This year's census will almost certainly put the city over 60k. If the province was smart, they would put a new interchange between CrossIron Mills and Yankee Valley Blvd at 40 Ave S (yes, there is a 40 Ave) ASAP and connect it to Main Street and 8th Street on the west, and a new North-South road on the east edge of the city that would also connect to CrossIron. That would relieve a great deal of pressure on both Yankee Valley and Highway 566.

[Weitz]

If O&G stays down in the next few years their population could stagnate.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I hesitated to mention Airdrie because I knew the mental midgets would trot out the tired old jokes.

Anyway, Airdrie is no different than the other bedroom communities around Calgary - massive growth that made planning difficult. Chestemere is really accessible from the TCH by only one interchange, and one extremely dangerous level crossing. Cochrane, Langdon and Okotoks all with limited access as well. The province simply can't keep up. And I doubt that gets better under Notley.

Airdrie though gets all the problems first, and worst. Red Deer's milestone is great, but at current growth rates, Airdire is probably going to overtake it within 15 years. This year's census will almost certainly put the city over 60k. If the province was smart, they would put a new interchange between CrossIron Mills and Yankee Valley Blvd at 40 Ave S (yes, there is a 40 Ave) ASAP and connect it to Main Street and 8th Street on the west, and a new North-South road on the east edge of the city that would also connect to CrossIron. That would relieve a great deal of pressure on both Yankee Valley and Highway 566.

There's a huge difference, actually. Cochrane is in the Foothills, closer to the mountains and has its own charm and personality. Okotoks can also stand on its own feet, has a personality, and a pride that is interesting and even slightly enviable (e.g. Dawgs or Crocs or whatever that slowpitch team they have is called). Those two places also have their own natural water supply, which is literally the only mandatory thing required for human settlement. Chestermere has a lake and is nice, too.

Airdrie, conversely, is a horrid, vinyl-sided, suburbia-run-amok, depressing, two-story awfulville that doesn't even have its own water supply. I think we should just shut off the tap once in a while to fata with them and swing our dick around a bit. Let them know what's up and who butters their bread.