WestLRT Construction Transgression thread

[mykalberta]

How much traffic is there on 26 street? Is it so much that there cant be a 5min+ light for bow then a 30s each way light for 26?

[amorak]

nenshi tweeted

[amorak]

I have a secret way down the hill that's cutting my commute from Aspen to t he core in half, but its only a matter of time before others figure it out - They really need to fix the timing at 26th.

[Ducay]

Emailed 311 and alderman Pootmans, I urge anyone else impacted to do the same.


I know the green time for n/b and s/b 26th is at its "minimum", but they can always increase the amount of green time for e/b, w/b bow. The majority of people using 26th are just cutting across as a shortcut anyways.....

[mykalberta]

do they plan on a pedestrian brige there or will there always be a lighted crossing. From what I read on the PDF it sounds like no overhead pedestrian crossway.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Ducay

The majority of people using 26th are just cutting across as a shortcut anyways.....

Well I'm not sure about that. Summer traffic is mostly to the golf course. Right now there isn't a better access road out of the area. I live right in the middle at 29th street and with 33rd blocked off 26th is the best option out of the neighbourhood. Cutting through the Westbrook lot to get to 47th and onto westbound Bow isn't a good option and using 17th is worse. I agree, right now there are some people who going westbound on Bow peel off at 24th, go up by the golf course and then cross 26th. I suspect the biggest issue right now is the timing of the pedestrian crossing as they seem to have that timed for people who take baby steps.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

do they plan on a pedestrian brige there or will there always be a lighted crossing. From what I read on the PDF it sounds like no overhead pedestrian crossway.

No overhead there, it's always going to be ground. The station committee tried to get an elevated walkway but it never happened. There will be a pedestrian and bike overpass at 24th where the old one used to be. That should help as bike traffic and those using the river paths for running etc will use that which should help. The bridge though was supposed to be done in October and it's nowhere close...maybe they meant October 2011.

[amorak]

Left Pootmans and Nenshi's EA messages about this.

[The Goon]

Wouldn't want to be working on the LRT this week.

[amorak]

hard poo man called me!

He said he is working diligently to get the lights retimed and its a priority.

[Sr. Mints]

I know the light on 26th of which you guys speak. I always hit it at about 11 at night, and it's ridiculously long. I don't travel Bow Trail in the day, but I can just see it screwing up the flow out of downtown during rush hour.

Good for you for contacting someone. I am far too lazy.

[Ducay]

Had a reply from pootmans' office as well. Looks like they're pushing this matter with the Roads dept.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

No overhead there, it's always going to be ground. The station committee tried to get an elevated walkway but it never happened. There will be a pedestrian and bike overpass at 24th where the old one used to be. That should help as bike traffic and those using the river paths for running etc will use that which should help. The bridge though was supposed to be done in October and it's nowhere close...maybe they meant October 2011.

No, it's the opposite. There was originally supposed to be a pedestrian overpass connecting to a station head and the platform. After the changes to the routing, the community complained about the visual impact such a configuration would have and the current design is the result (with the at-grade-only access to the platform. A similar situation with the community also saw a pedestrian overpass to and from the Park N' Ride removed from the design of Sirocco Station.

[Ducay]

Never underestimate the stupidity of a community association.....

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Never underestimate the stupidity of a community association.....

We don't have elevated walkways because of aesthetics? Are people insane?

[Table 5]

Don't worry guys, I'm sure they'll build the walkways 5 years from now at twice the cost.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Don't worry guys, I'm sure they'll build the walkways 5 years from now at twice the cost.

You can betcha once an old lady get hits crossing 17th Ave @ Sirocco they'll demand an elevated walkway be put in (there are 2 large retirement complexes straddling this intersection).

[yads]

Originally Posted by Ducay

You can betcha once an old lady get hits crossing 17th Ave @ Sirocco they'll demand an elevated walkway be put in (there are 2 large retirement complexes straddling this intersection).

They wouldn't be using the walkway from the park & ride anyway.

[Rathji]

As much as elevated walkways are nice, if it saves us some money and doesn't kill too many stupid people on their iPods I think we should cut them out

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by yads

They wouldn't be using the walkway from the park & ride anyway.

Who is to say where old people would be coming from? I could see them walking from the complex in the SW corner of the intersection to the park and ride and then over to the station via a walkway.

Plus, old people are unpredicatable and ninja like. Trust me when I say it, once an old person gets hit at this intersection (it will happen), they'll be up in arms and we all know how much retired folk like to complain.

Originally Posted by Rathji

As much as elevated walkways are nice, if it saves us some money and doesn't kill too many stupid people on their iPods I think we should cut them out

Green text aside, Im not so sure about this. The whole point of the WLRT is to cut down commuting times. A few extra dollars for a couple of walkways wouldn't have been a big deal in the budget, nor a sticking point. Those extra ~8 seconds of red times on 17th and Bow at those intersections is going to add up; it wasn't a dollar based decision, but rather one of aesthetics and complaints by the comm. asscs.