NW LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak and Tuscany

Safety and Security on Calgary Transit Continued...

2011-03-02T19:29:00.009-07:00

The following post has been provided by Brian Whitelaw, Coordinator of Public Safety and Enforcement, Calgary Transit (Brian is also a Calgary Police Service Inspector).

The most important point to note when discussing Calgary Transit safety and security is that actual reported crime is very low. In fact it is much lower than reported crime in communities. Despite Calgary Transit experiencing significant growth over the last several years, the actual number of ‘crimes against persons’ (robberies, assaults) has been remarkably stable since the early 2000s ranging between 190 and 240 incidents per year. However, when a crime involving violence does occur it captures media headlines and influences our perceptions about how safe riding transit is.

Transit organizations report crime based on passenger trips (incidents per 1 million passenger trips), which is different than how crime is reported by police. The police report crime based on its incidence per 100,000 people. Transit organizations report crime based on ‘number of trips’ because it highlights the relative exposure of customers to crime. Exposure is an important part of our report card as we take efforts to reduce both crime and disorder incidents observed by our customers.

There is a perception that ‘criminals’ travel on transit, commit crime in the closest neighbourhood, and then return to their own neighborhoods - we regard this as largely myth. Any crime and disorder that does occur is usually localized to the station itself and very infrequent; typically assaults between individuals who are known to one another.

Vehicle crimes are generally crimes of opportunity, often victims have left property in plain view and it has been stolen. Through dedicated efforts over the last three years, such as bait cars, mountain bike patrols, and our partnerships with the Calgary Police Service and Calgary Parking Authority, Calgary Transit has significantly reduced vehicle crime from 807 incidents in 2007 to 140 (estimated) in 2010. This represents an 83 per cent reduction!

The urban environment surrounding this LRT station is characterized as Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which is essentially higher density development, and discourages crime and disorder. The only predicted increase in crime will be due to the vehicle crime associated with the Park and Ride lots, and even this is anticipated to be low given our success to date in reducing vehicle crime.

It is worthwhile to mention that the NW extension is by far the safest LRT line on the system and this trend will continue.

Calgary Transit’s most important challenge is ensuring we address every customer’s perception of safety in an effort to maintain and increase ridership because we know that a thriving and well-used system is its own form of crime and disorder prevention.

I will provide more updates in future as this station moves from concept to creation.

~ Erin Russell, Project Communcations for Brian Whitelaw

Safety and security on Calgary Transit

2011-01-26T21:40:00.005-07:00

Safety and security are often a concern for communities when a new LRT station is coming to their area, but the community crime statistics measured before and after an LRT station opens indicate homes near a station are at no greater risk for crime. Calgary Transit understands how important a safe and secure system is and makes it a priority. In 2008 the entire system was reviewed and since then a number of initiatives have been implemented to further improve safety and security throughout the system.

Some of the initiatives include public safety advertising campaigns encouraging riders to report suspicious or undesirable activity, Park and Ride security patrols, and the addition of 65 uniformed peace officers patrolling the system 24 hours a day.

Detailed information about crime and disorder statistics is available from Calgary Transit.

One of the most effective ways to promote safety and security is to incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. CPTED is a multi-disciplinary approach adopted by The City of Calgary to deter criminal behaviour by ensuring the design of the facility creates opportunities for natural surveillance. The basic idea behind natural surveillance is that people will be less likely to break the law if there is a possibility someone might be watching them.

In practice, creating opportunities for natural surveillance includes:

eliminating dark areas or “dead spaces” where there is little or no traffic;
creating open and transparent sight lines between the community and the station, and within the station itself;
and encouraging pedestrian traffic in the area to create a sense of community and vibrancy.

CPTED has been a consideration throughout the design of this station, and the designs have been reviewed several times by the Calgary Police Community Liaison Officer for the area to identify areas for improvement. Both the station and Park and Ride areas will be well lit (see rendering below), and security cameras will be installed at strategic locations and monitored by trained staff. Additionally, transit operators, supervisors, and maintenance personnel constantly use the system and are available to provide assistance.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Overflow parking in communities

2010-09-21T12:18:00.008-06:00

Someone recently posted a comment regarding parking in communities once the LRT station opens. LRT parking in communities is often a concern for nearby residents when a new station is proposed. The City recognizes this, and policies are in place to address overflow parking should it become an issue. There are successful parking management strategies in communities adjacent to existing LRT stations throughout Calgary.

Approximately one year before the station opens (current opening is scheduled for 2014), Transportation Infrastructure will work with the Community Consultation Committee (CCC) and Roads to develop residential parking zones in both Tuscany and Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak. The residential parking zones establish the area within which residential parking permit applications can be made and must be approved by Council. Once the residential parking zones have been approved, The City will work with impacted residents to implement parking restrictions in the area, if desired by the community.

Typically parking restrictions are not initiated until after the Park and Ride lots have been in service because it is worthwhile to match solutions to the actual parking issues before installing the restrictions. Transportation Infrastructure and Roads will work with residents to have the parking zones in place and will educate community representatives on the process so that solutions can be implemented quickly. More information about the Residential Parking Permit Program can be found here.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Transit Oriented Development

2010-09-13T14:23:00.004-06:00

In recent months, particularly at the last round of open houses, we’ve received several questions about transit oriented development (TOD) and how it might be implemented at this station. Since there is plenty of information available online, I will use this post to guide you to information written by experts.

According to The City of Calgary’s Municipal Development and Calgary Transportation Plans, TOD is a compact, mixed-use community within walking distance of a transit stop, that mixes residential, retail, office, open space and public uses in a way that makes it convenient to travel on foot or by public transportation instead of by car. Walking distance is typically around 600 metres.

The City of Calgary has done some significant work in developing and implementing TOD policies and is considered a national leader in the field. Several station areas within the city, such as Anderson Station and Westbrook Station (as part of the West LRT) have been identified as priority for TOD and development or redevelopment plans are in progress. Council has already approved other TOD plans, like Brentwood and Chinook Stations.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provides 10 TOD case studies on the Sustainable Community Planning section of their website, including Calgary’s first fully-implemented example – The Bridges.

As for implementing TOD at this station, it is expected that the residual lands will be designated for TOD but redevelopment is not anticipated in the near future. It is unlikely that any redevelopment will occur without some public consultation regarding the land use; opportunities for community input will be provided.

As always, if you have any questions or comments for the project team feel free to leave a comment on the blog or call 3-1-1.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Feedback Summary from the June Open Houses

2010-08-16T13:19:00.002-06:00

Approximately 312 people attended the recent open houses; ~113 at the Tuscany open house and ~199 at the Rocky Ridge open house. At the opens houses, a total of 63 feedback forms were collected: 48 in Rocky Ridge and 15 in Tuscany. Feedback is still being collected until August 22 (see here for details), but you can view the feedback collected so far here.

Generally, people were very pleased with the quality and type of information available at the open houses. More specifically, we asked what people liked the most and they said:
• Station concept;
• Station location; and
• No access from Crowchild Trail.

When asked what they liked the least, respondents said:
• More trees/landscaping is needed;
• Completion date is too far away; and
• Extra traffic in the community.

The majority of respondents thus far support the name Tuscany Station, and feel the locations for bike storage facilities are convenient (several people suggested additional storage may be required).

A complete summary of all of the feedback collected will be posted here and on the project web page in early September.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

The Calgary Greenway

2010-08-15T20:05:00.014-06:00

The following information about the Calgary Greenway was provided to us by the Parks Foundation. There are proposed pathway links from both the north and south Park and Rides to the pedestrian bridges across Stoney Trail and the Greenway.

Connecting People… Creating a legacy of outdoor destinations - all around Calgary.

The approximately 100 kilometres of pathways and greenspace created for this project, which is led by Parks Foundation Calgary, encompass the city and offers a year – round destination for healthy activities such as walking, cycling, jogging and nature watching. The Calgary Greenway links more than 40 communities along its route. Once complete, The Calgary Greenway will be a world-class destination and a significant addition to Calgary’s vast network of parks and pathways, already one of the most extensive in North America. Some 900 kilometres of pathways will connect dozens of community, regional and provincial parks, including Nose Hill Park and Fish Creek Provincial Park, two of Canada’s largest urban parks.

The pictures above illustrate the recently completed Phase I - East Calgary Greenway. For more information on the Greenway please see the recent article in the Calgary Herald, or Summer 2009 and Summer 2010 Parks Foundation newsletters.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Landscaping plans, parking facility layouts, and station name for public input

2010-08-10T11:33:00.016-06:00

If you missed the open houses in June, there’s still an opportunity to provide your input. This newsletter will be delivered to residents in Tuscany, Royal Oak, and Rocky Ridge the week of August 9. We wanted give folks not particularly inclined to attend open houses the same opportunity to provide their feedback, so you’ll find all of the plans available on the project web page. You can also download a feedback form and fax or email it in (as directed on the back of the page), or you can answer the questions online.

Landscaping
These preliminary landscaping plans (click here to view Tuscany or Rocky Ridge) have been developed with several purposes in mind: aesthetics and beautification of the site, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), stormwater retention, and wind screening in some areas. The location and type of landscaping has been carefully designed to provide some screening from the wind and for adjacent residents, while maintaining an open feeling that enhances security and provides a pleasant experience for Calgary Transit customers.

Some features to look for include:
• Rain Garden Beds
• Location of bike racks and lockers
• Proposed bike lanes in Rocky Ridge
• General pedestrian and cyclist movements to and from the station

Pathways and bike lanes
As part of the continuing City-wide focus on pedestrians and cyclists, the project team has paid particular attention to the pat hway and bicycle connections in and around the station. Designated bike lanes are proposed in Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak, and all of the pathway and sidewalk connections linking to the station have been designed (or reviewed if they already exist) to ensure they can accommodate multi-user traffic when necessary. The pathways and bike lanes immediately adjacent to the station can be seen in the landscaping plans.

Station Name
Under The City's Municipal Naming Policy, LRT stations are to be named for their geographical location or proximity to a significant landmark. Administration makes a recommendation for a name and submits a report to the Municipal Names Committee. The Committee then reviews the report and determines if it should be forwarded to Council for approval.

The Community Consultation Committee representing the communities of Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak, and Tuscany have suggested the name Tuscany Station. At the most recent open houses in June 2009 and 2010, the majority of attendees that filled out comment sheets also supported this name.

Please see Why Tuscany Station for additional details on the proposed station name.

Focus on Sustainability
At the beginning of this project, the project team, The City of Calgary, and the community identified sustainability as a key element for success. Sustainable design has been considered and investigated throughout the project, incorporating The City's Sustainability Principles as outlined in Plan It Calgary.

Several areas within the Park and Ride and bus terminal facilities have been identified to implement bioswales, also known as Rain Garden Beds. Rain Garden Beds are similar to stormwater retention ponds in that they provide storage for run-off from the paved parking areas.

The Rain Garden Bed is a shallow ditch with an engineered base and specific vegetation that helps slow down and reduce the amount of water entering the stormsewer system, as well as filter the water before discharge removing silt, salts and hydrocarbons. During typical rain events most of the water will be retained in the beds and absorbed by the plantings.

Station concept
Station design is nearing completion. Many stakeholders have had a positive impact on the design including the Community Consultation Committee, residents, Access Calgary, Calgary Transit, and the Calgary Police Department. A post on the final station design including some new renderings will be up in late August.

Schedule
In May 2009 City Council approved a budget update to reflect the current economy, and changes to Provincial funding. The overall project budget was increased to $115 million based on the preliminary design estimate. Although total project funding has increased, the timing of distribution has changed. As a result, this project is currently scheduled for completion in 2014 based on the projected funding availability in the coming years.

Please see Project Timeline for more information.

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to leave your remarks here or call 3-1-1 and we'll be sure to get back to you.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Province Announces More Funding… Sort of

2010-07-26T12:44:00.004-06:00

Some recent articles in Metro (see below for links) had one of our CCC members about the Green TRIP funding program and if it will affect our project.

Déjà vu all over again on transit announcements
Province earmarks $800M for local transit projects
We shouldn’t hold our breath on Green TRIP funding

We’d like to provide some clarification.

In July 2008 the Province announced their climate change action plan, including $2 billion for Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP). The announcement did not specify how the money would be allocated or to whom (as described in this article in the Edmonton Journal earlier this year).

In late June of this year the Province released additional guidelines for the Green TRIP program. This is the $800 million mentioned in the Metro article; Calgary’s share of the total funding. However, there is still some uncertainty as to the length of the program and how The City will find the local matching funds required under the program.

At the July 19, 2010, meeting of City Council, Administration was directed to propose Southeast LRT to the Province under the Green TRIP program. We will be working with the Calgary Regional Partnership to develop a proposal that includes Southeast LRT along with other regional transit projects proposed by other regional municipalities.

The NW LRT Extension to Tuscany and Rocky Ridge is funded through the MSI. Please see Project Timeline for more information.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Nice photos of Eamon's Camp

2010-07-18T19:06:00.007-06:00

We found some photos of the Eamon's Camp site while browsing the web. Photo number 8 shows the sign we would like to incorporate in the Rocky Ridge Park and Ride (circled in the picture below) should the land be acquired.

Why Tuscany Station?

2010-06-26T22:19:00.004-06:00

We’ve been getting some questions about why Tuscany Station is the proposed name for the station, and not Rocky Ridge Station or Eamon Station or Tuscany/Rocky Ridge Station. Below you’ll find some information about how stations are named, and the process by which Tuscany Station came to be suggested for this extension.

When it comes to naming LRT stations, or any other infrastructure for that matter, City Administration refer to the Municipal Naming Policy and the Municipal Names Committee for direction.

With the general rule that LRT stations should be named for their geographic location or proximity to a significant landmark, Calgary Transit, the Municipal Names Committee and City Council often endorse names of adjacent communities. Since no name had been assigned to this station when the funding was announced, the project team felt it was an excellent opportunity to solicit feedback from residents. At the initial open houses held in June 2008, attendees were asked to provide suggestions.

Many names were put forward, but no clear leader emerged. (A complete list of suggestions is available in the open house summary.) Each community showed a preference for naming the station after their own community, and Mountainview Station was frequently suggested but does not reflect a geographic or easily identifiable area. A few people also commented about their displeasure with hyphenated names. Calgary Transit agrees, and is moving away from hyphenated names because they can be unclear and confuse riders. Hyphenated names also don’t fit well on electronic banners and signage.

Several names were considered and discussed with the Community Consultation Committee (CCC), including Stoney Trail Station and Eamon Station. The CCC felt Stoney Trail Station was not representative of the location since Stoney Trail will ultimately circle the city, and Eamon Station resonates with community residents but not with citizens at large. With two distinct communities (Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak) on the north side forming too long a name when combined together, Tuscany station began to emerge as the preferred name. It meets the criteria for a clear, and geographically identifiable name.

One additional item that resonated with the CCC was the fact that the previous three stations were all named for the communities (or areas) on the north side of Crowchild Trail (Crowfoot, Dalhousie and Brentwood). The CCC, Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak Community Association, and Tuscany Community Association support the name Tuscany Station. Do you? Fill out your feedback form here.

~ Erin Russell, Project Communications

One down, one to go!

2010-06-15T12:12:00.003-06:00

We had a very successful open house in Rocky Ridge last week! CBC and Breakfast TV both covered the event, so some of you might catch a glimpse of yourselves on television. Approximately 200 people came out, with the majority coming from Rocky Ridge (111) and Royal Oak (52). Thanks to all who attended.

For those that weren’t able to make it, we’re holding another open house tonight in Tuscany (see Public Open Houses blog post for details).

The plans presented at the open house will be available online in the coming days, as well as an opportunity to provide your feedback. We’ll keep you posted.

~Erin Russell, project communications

Public Open Houses June 10 and 15

2010-05-26T21:22:00.002-06:00

The project team will be hosting two public open houses to present the latest information about the LRT Extension. The first will be held on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rocky Ridge Ranch Homeowner’s Association located at 10709 Rocky Ridge Blvd. N.W. The second will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tuscany Elementary School located at 990 Tuscany Drive N.W.

Attendees will have an opportunity to view preliminary landscaping and pathway connections plans, the final station design and updated parking facility layouts, and to provide comment on the proposed station name. Transportation Infrastructure staff will be in attendance to answer questions about the project.

If you aren't able or interested in attending the open houses, you will be able to view the plans and provide your feedback online. Check back here in the coming weeks for the links.

~Erin Russell, project communciations

Grading Tuscany Park and Ride

2010-05-21T17:55:00.004-06:00

Grading of the Tuscany Park and Ride site is scheduled to begin the week of May 24 and will continue intermittently throughout the summer. The design for the Park and Ride requires a significant amount of dirt be added to the site to create the necessary grades. A cross section illustrating the existing and future grades is below.

Although LRT construction is not scheduled to begin until 2012, The City has chosen to take advantage of the material available from the Stoney Trail/Crowchild Trail interchange construction and use it to build up the Tuscany Park and Ride site. This will save time and money for both The City and the Province as a result of reduced transport and storage costs.

Trucks will be hauling material between the Stoney Trail/Crowchild Trail interchange site and the future Tuscany Park and Ride site. Every effort will be made to access the site from Crowchild Trail or through the construction site, but on occasion trucks may need to use Twelve Mile Coulee Road via Tuscany Springs Blvd. All work will be done between 7:00am and 10:00pm Monday through Saturday, and 9:00am and 10:00pm Sundays and statutory holidays, as outlined in The City of Calgary Community Standards Bylaw 5M2004.

All trucks carrying material will be tarped when traveling, and the site will be watered regularly to keep dust to a minimum. Once complete, the areas within the Park and Ride site that will be landscaped in the future will be seeded.

~ Andy Esarte, Project Manager

Follow up to Calgary Herald Article: City projects will proceed as province approves more borrowing

2010-04-14T10:31:00.000-06:00

Last month an article titled “City projects will proceed as province approves more borrowing” ran in the Calgary Herald. I think you’ll find the article interesting because it outlines the new funding deal with the Province – a change in the rules that will allow The City to apply more of the MSI funding to interest costs associated with borrowing – and features a quote from Erin Stabbler, President of the Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak Community Association.

One of our Community Consultation Committee (CCC) members was asking if this meant we would be moving ahead with LRT construction sooner than the currently scheduled start date of 2012. Unfortunately no. But the good news is these changes to the funding structure mean construction won’t be further delayed.

To recap our funding situation, the project is fully funded with monies disbursed over several years:

2009/2010 complete design for the station and Park and Rides, public consultation, and construct storm sewer and LRT bridges at Stoney Trail
2010 complete finishing work on LRT bridges and storm sewer, and procure trackwork material
2012 – 2014 complete LRT station and Park and Ride construction

I hope this helps clear up any confusion. As always, if you have questions or comments they are welcome!

~ Andy Esarte, Project Manager

Public Input – The Time is Now!

2010-03-21T16:52:00.003-06:00

I’ve been doing public consultation for about five years now, and I’ve noticed that it’s really difficult to get people interested in a project before the backhoes are digging up the ground. Unfortunately, by that time it’s too late!

We’ve heard from many people that public meetings or open houses aren’t necessarily their preferred method of receiving information or providing feedback, so we’ve made efforts to diversify the way we give and get information. You can visit our website which contains all of the plans that have been presented to the public thus far, recent Community Consultation Committee meeting notes, and just regular project information like schedule and budget. You can subscribe to this blog where we try to provide more detailed and engaging information. This is also a great place to ask questions or leave a comment. And of course you can always call or email us, either directly or through 3-1-1.

The point is we want your input. Getting good feedback is not enough; it has to come at the right time. If we get it while we’re in the design process we can incorporate it and make sure your opinions are reflected in the project. So please have a look at the plans, and tell us what you think.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Positive Changes to the Tuscany Park and Ride

2010-02-09T22:08:00.015-07:00

As part of The City’s continuing efforts to build the best public transit system possible, Transportation Infrastructure (TI) recently undertook a couple of best practice initiatives:
· Value Analysis
· Accessibility Review

The value analysis and accessibility review provide an opportunity for individuals not embedded in the project team to take a bird’s eye view of the preliminary design and determine areas for improvement. As a result, we have a revised concept for the Tuscany Park and Ride with several improvements I’d like to outline here.

Improved Accessibility
The City of Calgary’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility reviewed the preliminary design, and identified some concerns about the length of the ramp to get to the station, as well as the location of the accessible parking stalls.

In the previous concept (pictured below), the accessible parking stalls were located as close to the pedestrian bridge as possible, but users would still have to cross the pick up/drop off and bus loop areas to get there. The previous concept had also located the Handi-bus drop-off area at the most convenient location available, but it required users to cover a considerable distance from the west end of the plaza to a ramp at the east end of the plaza, and then up another ramp to the pedestrian bridge.

The new concept (pictured below) has located a bus loop in the elevated area where the plaza used to be, separating the buses from pedestrians and cars. This also provides better service for bus users, who typically represent 70% of the trips to the station, and improves safety by reducing the number of conflict points between different customers.

The new concept also shows the pick-up/drop-off area relocated to the lower elevation and reconfigured into a loop, providing a more direct and convenient access.

These changes allowed the accessible parking stalls to be moved to the west side of the Park and Ride, and resulted in shortening the distance between the accessible stalls and the pedestrian bridge by 34 metres. Additionally, the new, elevated bus loop means Handi-bus and bus patrons are 2.3 metres higher than they were in the original concept; a big gain if you have difficulty moving with ease!

Improved Bus Shelter
The Value Analysis revealed concerns about the shelter being recessed into the berm (pictured below), both from a cost and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) perspective.

The physical requirements associated with recessing the shelter into the berm meant the cost of the shelter was considerably more than a standard Calgary Transit shelter typically found at other stations. Additionally, building the shelter into the berm provided an enclosed area with potential sightline issues at the back of the shelter. One of the primary goals of CPTED is to provide open spaces where it is difficult to hide.

The new configuration of the Park and Ride allowed the bus shelter to be moved out of the berm and into a central area providing greater visibility from all sides, as well as serving Handi-bus, pick-up/drop-off, and bus users more effectively. Now people will be able to wait comfortably in the bus shelter with a full view of the pick-up/drop-off area, buses and Handi-bus.

The same process was undertaken for the north side Park and Ride. We will provide an update in the near future. Stay tuned!

~Andy Esarte, Project Manager

Survey to Evaluate Project Communications

2010-01-11T09:24:00.004-07:00

The City of Calgary is always looking for ways to improve communication and build relationships with stakeholders. To this end, I would really appreciate your feedback about communication to date for the Northwest LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak and Tuscany project through a brief, ten-minute survey.

Survey responses are guaranteed to be anonymous. The information you provide will be recorded in such a manner that respondents cannot be identified directly. In other words, your data is being submitted by unidentifiable sources; your name will never be associated with any of your responses. The survey administrator can’t see who answered in a specific way, just the raw results.

Please click on the link above to complete the survey. If you experience difficulty don’t hesitate to let me know so I can address any issues and ensure your view is heard.

It will only take a few minutes to provide your opinion so it can be reflected in this and future projects. Thank you in advance for completing this survey before end of business, Friday, January 15, 2010.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Arbour Stone Rise Pedestrian Bridge

2009-12-22T10:44:00.005-07:00

The Arbour Stone Rise pedestrian bridge is nearly done! We know many of you are curious so here’s a brief overview of the project, an update on the current status and some recent photos.

This 120-metre bridge boasts two regal steel arches intended to mimic the clouds during a Chinook. The area topography, high embankments, depressed roadway, and large span requirements to bridge the expressway make this an ideal location for the dramatic arches. The focus on aesthetics continues with an oscillating wave pattern in the railing reflecting the curves of the arches.

Work has been ongoing over the fall and will continue through the winter when possible (-30 not helpful). Recent accomplishments include completing the installation of both the structural steel and the pre-cast concrete deck panels.

Crews will pour the concrete deck as soon as the weather cooperates, and the overpass is anticipated to be open for use in early 2010. You will see us out working again in the spring for minor seasonal work like landscaping and sealers.

As always, questions and comments are welcome.

~ Erin Russell, Project Communications

Project Timeline

2009-10-19T16:48:00.008-06:00

I have received numerous inquiries about the project timeline and why completion has shifted from 2011, to 2012, and now 2014. A couple of key developments have contributed to this change.

When announced in late 2007 it was anticipated the extension would be completed in four years. Here's a rough breakdown of the phases of work:

Note: phases may overlap

Chartering and planning - 6 months

Preliminary design - 10 months

Detailed design - 10 months

Tender, award and mobilization - 2 months

Construction and commissioning in portions or all of 3 construction seasons - 28 months

As the preliminary design progressed, it became apparent there would be limited opportunities to work within the TUC during Stoney Trail / Crowchild Trail interchange construction. The Province's contractor would be doing utility work and constructing the roadway and roadway bridges in the LRT right-of-way, at the same time as work on the LRT track and overhead catenary system should be happening. Given the risks associated with having multiple contractors in such close proximity, it made sense to allow the Province to complete Crowchild Trail construction first, before beginning LRT construction (with the exception of the LRT structures).

A large portion of funding for capital projects throughout the province, including this one, is provided through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI). As a result of the lagging economy, and lower oil and gas revenues in Alberta in particular, the Province reduced overall MSI funding by $100 million in 2009.

As explained on the Province's website:

“The Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) is the Province of Alberta’s ten-year funding commitment to provide significant long-term funding to enhance municipal sustainability and to enable municipalities to meet the demands of growth. The MSI funding formula recognizes that if provincial revenue falls, MSI funding levels may have to be adjusted. Given the significant decline in provincial revenue, capital support to municipalities under the MSI will be lower than planned in Budget 2008.”

Other sources of capital funding, such as the Acreage Assessment levied on new development, have decreased substantially with the economic downturn.

As a result, The City of Calgary has adjusted the capital budget to accommodate changes to available funding. Timelines on several projects have been extended or delayed, and some projects have even been cancelled.

The budget for this project has been allocated such that construction can begin in 2012 with estimated completion in 2014. Design will continue through 2010 and some construction, such as the LRT bridges and underground utility work, is underway. More details on the revised project schedule are shown on the project website.

A couple of noteworthy bullets about capital spending in the 2009 Budget Highlights Brochure:

• $1.1 billion will be directly borrowed each year for the next three years to support capital spending.
• The government recognizes that continued support for building roads, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure is not only necessary to meet Alberta’s future economic and population growth needs, but is also an effective way to support the economy and jobs.

It is clear the Provincial government intends to continue funding sustainable infrastructure. The economic reality is that in a world of shrinking revenues we will wait in line a little longer.

~ Andy Esarte

Looking for Tuscany volunteer to sit on committee

2009-09-24T21:52:00.000-06:00

Do you want to get involved? This is your chance to influence development in your community.

We are looking for a volunteer from Tuscany to join the XRT Community Consultation Committee (CCC). Sitting on the committee requires about 10 hours per month, an interest in your overall community, and a willingness to participate. More information about the CCC's mandate can be found in the Terms of Reference.

The CCC has been meeting since late 2008 providing input on the preliminary design for the project; primarily the station concept and the Park and Ride layouts. The project is moving into detailed design this fall, and the CCC will discuss topics including final configuration of the station and Park and Rides, landscaping, overflow parking, and more.

To download an application, or view more information about the project, please visit our project web page.

Applications will be accepted until October 18, 2009.

~Erin Russell, Project Communications

Scenic Acres Link / Tuscany Boulevard Interchange

2009-09-09T16:23:00.005-06:00

I'm working on a short project update flyer to be mailed to residents sometime this month, so I asked the Province if they'd like to provide some information about progress on Stoney Trail in this area also. Good news - the Scenic Acres Link / Tuscany Blvd Interchange will be complete this fall!

The following update was provided by Alberta Transportation:

The contractor, Graham Construction, has made significant strides toward completing the interchange project. Both bridges are complete, with the exception of minor finishing work. The intersection of Tuscany Boulevard and Stoney Trail is closed, and traffic on southbound Stoney Trail has been shifted to its final alignment south of the former intersection. Access to Tuscany Boulevard is now via the interchange.

Work on northbound Stoney Trail continues, and traffic is expected to move to the new bridge in mid-September. After that, only the final clean up remains: detour removal, spreading topsoil, seeding and site clean up.

Alberta Transportation anticipates interchange construction will be complete in October 2009.

Information about this, and other Alberta Transportation projects, is available at www.transportation.alberta.ca. Click on Ring Roads, then Calgary Ring Roads.

September 2009 Update

2009-09-04T07:00:00.018-06:00

August has been a busy month for the project with several accomplishments to note.

LRT Overpass over Stoney Trail construction has progressed (large green rectangle in attached link). Graham Construction is on schedule for completion in July 2010 and with the girders in place things are taking shape. See LRT Overpass - Girders Placed and LRT Overpass Update for more details.

Alberta Transportation closed the tender for the construction of the Stoney Trail / Crowchild Trail Interchange (and for more info: summer update). Work is scheduled for completion in Fall 2011. It seems as though this project has been ongoing for a while (or forever if you drive this stretch). Keep in mind that the delay in interchange completion is due to the announcement of this LRT extension. As a result Alberta Transportation has invested a significant amount of money to make the interchange free flow without signals or at-grade crossings at the LRT tracks. It's an excellent long term solution, but it's not without short term pain.

Stoney Trail is a Provincial roadway built within an area called the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC). You may have spotted signs along the boundaries (shown in red here). This is the first time The City has built an LRT extension within the TUC, and it has presented some challenges and opportunities.

One of the opportunities was to jointly tender the LRT Ramp Overpass (small green rectangle in link) along with the Alberta Transportation interchange. This way we ensure the same contractor builds all of the bridges associated with the interchange ramps. This is more efficient and avoids conflicts between contracts. The bid price for the LRT Ramp Overpass came in at $2.042 million or roughly 15% below the engineers estimate. A portion of the savings can likely be attributed to these efficiencies.

As the contractor begins to mobilize for interchange construction in September, construction of the LRT Ramp Overpass will begin also. Work on the LRT Stoney Trail Overpass will continue through the fall. Bridge deck formwork will be placed on the recently installed girders.

Last month, CH2M Hill (a local engineering consulting firm) was awarded a contract to conduct a Value Analysis for the project. As part of that process, they will facilitate a workshop this month with industry experts to review the preliminary design presented at the June open house and make recommendations to improve value. Areas of focus and improvement will include upfront costs, maintenance costs, quality, and functionality. I've also asked the team to make environmental sustainability a priority. I'll dedicate a blog posting to share the results of the Value Analysis, expected to be complete by the end of October.

We are preparing to use the results of the Value Analysis and begin detailed design in early November. This will also mean resuming regular meetings with the Community Consultation Committee after a summer break.

If there's something you'd like more information or discussion about, let us know. If you're interested, others probably are too.

~ Andy Esarte, Project Manager

LRT Overpass - Girders Placed

2009-08-28T15:08:00.004-06:00

This week girders were put in place for the LRT Overpass. A total of eight girders were lifted with the use of two large construction cranes. The concrete girders were cast off-site.

LRT Overpass Update

2009-08-21T14:38:00.003-06:00

The LRT Overpass is being built in the median of Crowchild Trail NW, between the two road bridges that take Crowchild Trail over Stoney Trail. The overpass is 143 metres long and 9.75 metres wide, and will carry the CTrain over Stoney Trail.

The LRT Overpass is the first component to be built as part of the NW LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge/Tuscany. Construction began in April and the contractor for the project is Graham Construction.

Three bridge piers and the east and west abutments are complete. Next will be the placement of eight concrete girders on the piers.

The contract completion date for this overpass is July 30, 2010.

Bart Rakoz

Project Engineer

Transportation Infrastructure

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-07T15:45:00.014-06:00

Welcome to the new home of the NW LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge / Royal Oak and Tuscany. This blog is intended to provide a forum for sharing information about the project and an open dialogue with and among the community. Through continuous information sharing we will keep you informed about the project and solicit your feedback to help deliver the best possible project.

This first post provides a quick introduction to the project team; the folks who will be browsing the comments daily and working to put together information for posting. Future posts will focus on specific aspects of the project such as the station, parking facilities, pedestrian circulation, architecture, traffic, parking in the community, bus routes, and much more. We look forward to reading your comments!

My name is Andy Esarte, a project manager at Transportation Infrastructure (the City of Calgary Business Unit responsible for delivering the project). I’ve met or spoken with many of you over the past 18 months as we’ve launched the project and completed the preliminary design.

Erin Russell and Julie Yepishina-Geller are communication strategists for the project. They help develop open house content, newsletters, and information notices. They also organize community consultation meetings and in general work to maintain a strong tie between the project team and the community.

Chris Jordan is a planner for Calgary Transit representing the interests and answering questions on behalf of our second critical stakeholder (the community is the first).

Bart Rakoz is a project engineer responsible for overseeing the construction of the LRT bridges currently underway at the Stoney Trail / Crowchild Trail interchange. Bart has a background in electrical engineering but I think we’ve convinced him the fun is in infrastructure.

Jason Lin is a structural engineer responsible for quality assurance for design and construction of bridge and station structures, retaining walls and shelters. Jason is the project engineer responsible for the pedestrian bridge.

Sarah Alexander just joined the team as a project coordinator and will be assisting with the design for the station and Park and Ride facilities.

Gord Stewart, Manager of LRT Projects, is our project support. As the project manager for Crowfoot Station he has worked with many of you over the years and will continue to play a significant role in the execution of this project.

Ryan Gidluck is the project manager from our prime consulting firm AECOM. Ryan leads a team of excellent engineers and architects who have done a great job in developing the design with the input of the community and various other stakeholders.

Janice Liebe is the architect in charge of our station and shelter designs. She is also a principal at Cohos-Evamy.

Last, but certainly not least, our Community Consultation Committee (CCC) was established in 2008 to meet with the project team and provide the type of input only an individual living in the community can provide. The group consists of several members of the community, including representatives from the Community Associations, and Ward Alderman Dale Hodges.

We hope many people will participate in the discussions generated in the comment section of the blog postings including members of the project team, Community Association, the Community Consultation Committee, and of course the residents of Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak, and Tuscany.

To post a comment just click on the comments link at the end of the blog post, scroll through the comments, then fill in the form at the bottom.