Edmonton Transit says the complete $690 million 7.6 km extension from Health Sciences Station to Century Park Station is expected to double the total number of weekday LRT riders from about 50,000 to 100,000. Such growth in ridership might seem fantastical, but it has happened before when the LRT system has reached places where riders want to travel. When the University station opened on August 28th, 1992, passenger trips catapulted from 23,400 to 36,000 virtually overnight.

The South LRT extension marks several firsts including the first tracks down the middle of the street. Trains traveling on the new extension go through a 19-metre tunnel beneath the southbound lanes of 111th Street. The tracks emerge in the 111th Street median South of 61st Avenue between South Campus and Southgate stations.

It also includes two new bridges – a one-way bridge over Belgravia Road, and an LRT bridge across Whitemud Drive south of Southgate Station. To provide the capacity needed, Edmonton Transit has purchased 26 new light rail vehicles.

The extended track and new stations will mean passengers will be able to ride in the same seat from Clareview to Century Park through a total of 15 stations, covering 20 km in 34 minutes. The trip from Century Park to downtown will take about 18 minutes, while the trip from Century Park to the University LRT station will take about 14 minutes.

New traffic safety features are built at intersections along 111th Street between 23rd Avenue and 61st Avenue, and Edmonton Transit has launched its TraXSafe campaign to keep people safe around the crossings.

“Public safety is our top priority,” says Graeme McElheran, communications officer for LRT Design & Construction. “Trains are rolling, so people need to be patient and aware, look both ways for trains and never stop on the tracks.”

Traffic gates prevent eastbound and westbound traffic and left turns in any direction when trains are approaching. Drivers should never cross the tracks are turn left when gates are down. All left turns from 111th Street onto the avenues of designated left turn lanes, and drivers turn left on flashing green arrows only. Pedestrians should only cross a pedestrian crossings marked by crosswalks, bells, lights and pedestrian gates.

TraXSafe presentations are available for schools, community leagues and other organizations. More information and a safety video are available at www.takeETS.ca/TraXSafe

Trains began rolling through the new section of track in early February, with rigorous testing of all aspects of LRT engineering including track durability and speed, vehicle clearance, signals and communications systems. During initial testing, trains travelled at speeds of no more than 8 km/h, and as the commissioning process continued, trains ramped up to 70 km an hour, with traffic gates and signals in full operation.

Meanwhile, the LRT platforms at Health Sciences and McKernan/Belgravia stations are being extended to accommodate five car trains. At present, the LRT network is built to handle four car trains, but longer trains are needed to accommodate more passengers during peak hours and to maintain service levels during construction of the line from downtown to NAIT. The work is to be complete this October.

Funding for the project included $56 million in federal funding from gas tax revenue, and $25 million from the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program. A further $15 million came from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, $12.7 million was provided from fuel rebate monies from the provincial government, and $8.3 million was allocated in general funding from municipal taxes. The University of Alberta also contributed to South LRT development, donating 2.5 hectares of provincially owned land at the Neil Crawford Centre.

The completion of the extension is a remarkable achievement, especially given its long and sometimes tumultuous history, which goes back to the 1980s. The City of Edmonton’s plans for LRT along 114th Street did not sit well with the residents of McKernan and Belgravia. They wanted their main road left alone, and the tracks routed underground.

In August 2005, work began in the LRT extension from the Health Sciences Centre to a station at McKernan/Belgravia and South Campus. Some 45 homes were demolished to make room for the track right-of-way.

Eventually, the city backed away from plans to widen the corridor to six lanes. In an effort to appease the agitated residents, city council agreed to let them have a say in whether they wanted a community station in the neighbourhood.

More than 800 people cast ballots in the 2001 vote, and nearly 70 per cent supported a station at 76th Avenue. The resulting McKernan/Belgravia Station that opened last year provides outstanding security for travellers.

It fits well with the surrounding neighbourhood, and a tunnel under 114th Street eliminates the need for pedestrians to cross the busy roadway. The station provides the neighbourhood excellent access to public transit, and that can only help make it a more desirable place and push up property values.

LRT service to the new stations will begin at 11 AM on Saturday, April 24th. The Edmonton Transit System Community Fair celebrates the opening of Southgate and Century Park LRT stations from 10 am to 5 pm. Regular LRT service from century Park begins at 5:34 am on Sunday, April 25.

For more information, visit www.edmonton.ca/LRTprojects