SECLA PROJECTS and AREA PLANNING

South East LRT Extension

Representatives from SECLA and the City of Edmonton met in mid December to discuss proposed routes for extending the LRT into South East Edmonton .

Five routes were presented.

The most advantageous to our communities started at the downtown LRT station, ran east to a new station at the proposed condo developments at 95th street, crossed the river valley by the Dawson bridge, and proceeded south down 85th street with stops at McNally CHS, Neumann Theological College, Holyrood Boulevard apartments, Bonnie Doon mall and Vimy Ridge HS before continuing south through a corridor bounded by 83^rd and 75^th street. 75^th street has been designated an inner city ring road so it is doubtful that the LRT will go down that route. 83^rd street allows the LRT to stop at St. James Catholic School and Wagner CHS prior to going to the Mill Woods Bus Terminal, Grant MacEwan South Side campus, J Percy Page CHS, Millwoods Recreation Centre and Millwoods Town Centre.

The largest cost associated with this route is the downtown underground work and the bridge over the river valley. SECLA proposed that these elements be the last portion of the project to be undertaken and that initial work should concentrate on laying track from McNally CHS to Mill Woods Town Centre. Bus connectors could then run from McNally to downtown until the more expensive work was completed.

SECLA impressed upon the City that we support LRT expansion into our communities and that we would welcome construction as soon as possible. It provides us with a wonderful opportunity to improve urban land use in our area and the quality of life of our residents.

A key-stakeholder meeting will be held in late April to review the preferred route. Key-stakeholders include such groups as SECLA, the Millwoods Presidents Council, Bonnie Doon Mall, EPSB, Mill Woods Town Centre, Grant MacEwan, South Side Business Association, etc..

All stakeholders (including all Community Leagues that will be touched by this project) will be able to have input into the proposed route selection in June of this year during an open house.

(Dec. 19, 2008) bk