Estimated at the equivalent of 6000 cars:
But Stage 1 doesn't reach walking distance of any of those population centers in the SE:
That was a major argument for skipping BRT and going to LRT directly.... But it was made on behalf of the NC. But with the massive cost overruns and the trouble in the DT, 15 years from now North of Beddington Trail communities probably won't have any LRT, or even significant transit service improvements of any kind.
This is true. After Stage 1, any extension of the Greenline should be quite productive and easier and replace some of that feeder bus ridership. Mackenzie Town, Auburn Bay and Seton are three fairly well thought-out nodes (by suburban standards) to support LRT stations and ridership. Centre Street is even better, with real density, existing and potential. It's easy to criticize Stage 1 though as it certainly has the vibes of being awfully expensive for what you get, with the exception of the downtown and Inglewood sections. Particularly rough is the Highfield and South Hill stretches of low job density, poor/zero sidewalks and more scrapyards, landfills and school bus storage within walking distance of rapid transit than probably any other LRT project in history. All these will change in time though with eventual redevelopment and intensification.
Yes, I think based on the arguments for presented for doing the Green Line that it makes more sense and follows the previous successful LRT practices to go North first. The SE IMO is also easier to build out in smaller extensions (if you don't need to reach the Shepard for the maintenance facility right away); while to reach a useful initial terminus point in the NC (like Beddington) still requires a "mega-project:"
Yes, I think based on the arguments for presented for doing the Green Line that it makes more sense and follows the previous successful LRT practices to go North first. The SE IMO is also easier to build out in smaller extensions (if you don't need to reach the Shepard for the maintenance facility right away); while to reach a useful initial terminus point in the NC (like Beddington) still requires a "mega-project:"
Yes, I think based on the arguments for presented for doing the Green Line that it makes more sense and follows the previous successful LRT practices to go North first. The SE IMO is also easier to build out in smaller extensions (if you don't need to reach the Shepard for the maintenance facility right away); while to reach a useful initial terminus point in the NC (like Beddington) still requires a "mega-project:"
I think this is the big problem, where the City previously never truly decided about which was more important (though Route Ahead had the NC LRT slightly ahead), and which they were able to avoid by thinking the Green Line could be built all at once. But in 2017, when it became apparent that $4.6B could only build most of only one line, the City Admin chose the SE without any public engagement, debate or full accounting of how they scored it. Some anger was held in check at that time based on the hope that cost savings could be found in Stage 1 to expand construction, but now that the DT is in trouble, it's obvious to many NC politicians that LRT service in the NC, especially north of Beddington Trail, will be delayed indefinitely. Unless they can force a re-examination of the entire project now.
At the May 2017 meeting, Mayor Nenshi asks Fabiola MacIntyre, at 8:46:22 of the video, about sites in the North and she confirms that it could fit at Aurora Business Park (by 96th Ave).
I think this is the big problem, where the City previously never truly decided about which was more important (though Route Ahead had the NC LRT slightly ahead), and which they were able to avoid by thinking the Green Line could be built all at once. But in 2017, when it became apparent that $4.6B could only build most of only one line, the City Admin chose the SE without any public engagement, debate or full accounting of how they scored it. Some anger was held in check at that time based on the hope that cost savings could be found in Stage 1 to expand construction, but now that the DT is in trouble, it's obvious to many NC politicians that LRT service in the NC, especially north of Beddington Trail, will be delayed indefinitely. Unless they can force a re-examination of the entire project now.
And with the news that Calgary Transit's operating budget will be reduced by $7M (requiring 80,000 hours of service cuts), higher ridership and reduced operating costs should be an increasingly important factor. With all the efforts the City is going through to find $60M in operating budget cuts from all departments, how's it going to pay for the $40M/year Stage 1 operating costs (net of new revenue and operational savings)?
Green Line operational costs will take 'significant' cash: Nenshi | Metro Calgary
Although fully funded, the Green Line will take millions to operate annuallyweb.archive.org