WestLRT Construction Transgression thread

[SilverGS]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Well, there will be an indoor station head on either side of the platform at 69th Street Station.

Does this mean that station would be somewhat heated and shielded from the elements?

[frinkprof]

^Yes. Most people will likely wait for their train inside one of the indoor station heads on the ends of the platform, which will be heated and protected from the elements. Also, since the 69th Street Station will be the end (terminus) station for awhile, there will very often be at least one train sitting at the platform anyway while the operator switches ends. That will be the case until the Aspen Woods Station is built and opens.

[SilverGS]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

The 7th Ave. Refurbishment project is independent of the Stephen Avenue Subway project. The old stations on 7th Avenue were nearing/had passed their lifespan and needed to be replaced, and the entire system needs to move to 4 car capacity platforms, which is why the existing downtown platforms are being replaced. While the Stephen Avenue Subway is being formally studied now, planning to date has it that the Subway will operate in addition to (rather than replace) the 7th Avenue infrastructure. One line (probably south <=> northwest) will run in the new tunnel, while the other line (probably northeast <=> west) will run on the existing 7th Avenue at-grade line.

Ah so that is where we maybe going. Until the Stephen Ave Subway comes into play with the new west leg and increased number of cars cause strain on the 7th ave grade line and downtown traffic going north-south due to more trains going back and forth?

Over time is the current plan to create a subway along Stephen ave then also move the 7th ave to become a subway as well?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by SilverGS

Ah so that is where we maybe going. Until the Stephen Ave Subway comes into play with the new west leg and increased number of cars cause strain on the 7th ave grade line and downtown traffic going north-south due to more trains going back and forth?

The new West leg actually won't add any trains to 7th Avenue. It can really be seen as an operational extension of the Northeast line. Instead of the northeast trains stopping at 10th Street west at the far end of 7th Ave. and turning around, they will just continue west and then eventually turn around at 69th Street.

That said, 7th Ave. is at capacity now, which is why 4 car trains and then the Stephen Avenue Subway are needed.

Originally Posted by SilverGS

Over time is the current plan to create a subway along Stephen ave then also move the 7th ave to become a subway as well?

We'll know a little more once the formal subway design study is completed and released. However, in the longer term, it has been speculated that the 7th Ave. at-grade line will be replaced with a tunnel as well.

The immediate focus now though is the Stephen Avenue Subway, and the 10th Ave./2nd Street West underground line that will be used by the Southeast LRT line.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Not sure what you're referring to here. The Westbrook Station was supposed to be in Brentwood?

I think he meant that the city once proposed a badass development around Brentwood and it included some serious upgrades to the Brentwood station, but the residents around there didn't want the increased density. Was it Brentwood or Dalhousie?

[SilverGS]

Good to know. Thanks Frinkprof

[Muta]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I think he meant that the city once proposed a badass development around Brentwood and it included some serious upgrades to the Brentwood station, but the residents around there didn't want the increased density. Was it Brentwood or Dalhousie?

T'was Brentwood. Westbrook residents generally didn't complain about the development of a station and were generally pro-development (unlike Brentwood was), so the city 'rewarded' the neighborhood with a beautiful station.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I think he meant that the city once proposed a badass development around Brentwood and it included some serious upgrades to the Brentwood station, but the residents around there didn't want the increased density. Was it Brentwood or Dalhousie?

The Brentwood Station Area Redevelopment Plan (SAP) was approved in November 2009. In fact, Rio-Can is gearing up for the first phase of their 4 tower proposal for the Brentwood Mall site. They held an open house a couple months back.

Here's a concept model from one of the community consultation visioning sessions for the SAP:

Originally Posted by Muta

T'was Brentwood. Westbrook residents generally didn't complain about the development of a station and were generally pro-development (unlike Brentwood was), so the city 'rewarded' the neighborhood with a beautiful station.

I'm not sure that's how it played out exactly, as it was a bit of a different process/circumstances. The Brentwood Station was already existing almost 20 years before redevelopment plans came about. Land use/redevelopment studies were part and parcel of the WLRT planning process before a shovel hit the ground on the actual line and stations.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I think he meant that the city once proposed a badass development around Brentwood and it included some serious upgrades to the Brentwood station, but the residents around there didn't want the increased density. Was it Brentwood or Dalhousie?

That was it, thanks 4x4.

While the Brentwood redevelopment plan is going ahead, I really seem to recall that what Brentwood rejected in terms of transit-oriented development, Westbook residents accepted and welcomed when the City went looking elsewhere.

Brentwood and Westbrook Stations are going to be vastly re-developed and densified, but Westbrook will have the underground station at Brentwood's loss. I'm pretty sure.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

I'm not sure that's how it played out exactly, as it was a bit of a different process/circumstances. The Brentwood Station was already existing almost 20 years before redevelopment plans came about. Land use/redevelopment studies were part and parcel of the WLRT planning process before a shovel hit the ground on the actual line and stations.

The Brentwood place have been in place for years, yes. Different circumstances, different developments, I agree. But, believe me, let's just say the City was more enamoured with the response from the Westbrook community than they were from the Brentwood community about these developments.

[Ducay]

Why does Westbrook need to be "rewarded" with an underground station? They've already got a Smitty's, BP's, Wal-mart, and Little Mogadishu within walking distance, if anything, we should have punished them with an elevated station with no heaters.

[Knut]

Come on... Westbrook Mall is pretty sweet... I only wish Dooie Stevens was still there.

[Bunk]

While the Brentwood plan was certainly controversial, there was a large segment of the community's population that supported it, and in fact spoke in favour of the plan at Council. There were a small group of residents that were opposed and fearmongered by spreading falsehoods about what the plan entailed.

In the end, there was a lot of buy in and the plan was passed as proposed.

As frinkprof mentioned, the first phase of the RioCan lands (which were sold to Knightsbridge homes) is in for a development permit (4 buildings). The Calgary Co-op also has plans to redevelop their lands, but they've been quiet now for a while.

The plan itself does propose some upgrades to the LRT station itself, but primarily focus on the interface with the LRT bridge and the community. An adjacent buildings may even connect directly with the LRT bridge.

[MrMastodonFarm]

They're doing a bunch of stuff at the Brentwood station now. Seems to be just a re-model of the bus loops area though, don't know if it will go beyond that.

[chalms04]

Seeing this thread reminded me that I snapped a pic of the lifting truss on the weekend.

[Burninator]

Do they have a timeline for the 4 car expansion? When can we expect it?

[calgaryrocks]

they need all stations to be 4-car ready. i can't remember if i heard 2012 or 2014, either way not for a few years

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Do they have a timeline for the 4 car expansion? When can we expect it?

It may be done by the time the West line opens up, at least some of the system. I think the federal stimulus gave some money to help the process along.

Whitehorn station is currently being extended to 4 car length - In part to get it done, and in part as a trail run before the rest of the NE line is done. But the South line has got to be completed first, as it needs it the most.

Some have speculated that the South line will be done for 2012, then the lines will temporarily be switched so that 4 car trains can run on a South to West line, while the NE-NW line could still be 3 cars. Then the lines would be switched back to the way they are now when all the stations are lengthened.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Do they have a timeline for the 4 car expansion? When can we expect it?

2014.

The WestLRT platforms will be 4-car length right off the bat when it opens in December 2012. The downtown platforms are almost completed and should all be done by 2012. Shawnessy, Somerset-Bridlewood, Dalhousie, Crowfoot and McKnight-Westwinds are all 4-car length. The forthcoming stations in Tuscany (2014), Saddetowne and Martindale (2012) are also being built to handle 4 cars.

That leaves the remaining older suburban stations to be done by 2014. Currently Whitehorn Station is being refurbished and having its platform extended.

[mykalberta]

2014 - they have been working on this for 2 years already. Who do they hire to do these things, wow.