Edmonton Valley Line LRT Expansion Project (Phase 1)

under construction

Opportunity Edmonton is Canada’s fastest growing city with a population expected to increase by half a million in the next 30 years. Transportation investment, including public transit, is critical to shaping growth and giving residents’ choices for how they live, travel and work in the city. The Valley Line LRT project has received support from all levels of government as it will generate numerous economic and environmental benefits for the City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta. The City of Edmonton committed $800 million to the project while the provincial government has agreed to finance up to $600 million. On March 14, 2013 the Government of Canada announced its support for the project with a P3 Canada Fund investment of up to $250 million. Challenges Developping a predominately at grade, low-floor urban style LRT system that will thread through developed residential neighbourhoods. Innovations Public input played a major role in determining the route for the Valley Line and how the new LRT would fit into the neighbourhoods it would serve. Payments to TransEd Partners are performance-based, meaning that they can be reduced in the event that standards set out in the Project Agreement are not met. In 2043 and 2048—seven and two years prior to the expiry of the Project Agreement—the City and TransEd Partners will perform a detailed condition assessment to ensure that the infrastructure meets the Handback Requirements specified in the Project Agreement. Results Edmonton’s new LRT system will include the construction of the southeast leg of the Southeast to West Valley Line, which will run 13.2 km from Mill Woods to downtown Edmonton. Initial projected daily ridership is 28,000, increasing to 49,000 by 2044. The project also includes construction of a signature bridge spanning the North Saskatchewan River, a 350 meter tunnel, and an operations and maintenance facility for the new line. The project will reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and deliver residents with direct economic benefit by providing a low-cost transportation alternative. Over the next six years, construction of the Valley Line LRT will generate 20,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs; and $1.3 billion in direct, indirect, and induced wages and salaries in Alberta. The project will additionally generate $131 million in personal income tax revenues for Alberta and $331 million for the federal government, offsetting capital grants by the provincial and federal government to the City of Edmonton. Operation and maintenance of the Valley Line LRT, including the anticipated rehabilitation and replacement investments over a 30-year operating period, will generate 12,100 direct, indirect and induced jobs and $1.1 billion in direct, indirect and induced wages and salaries in Alberta. The project will contribute to the retention of skilled trades, engineers and other workers within Edmonton’s labour force required for major road or transit infrastructure and address a key requirement(access to rail transit) to attract workers into Edmonton’s high tech and emerging knowledge intensive industries. “Our Government is proud to support municipal investments in infrastructure projects that harness public and private sector expertise to deliver vital local services, like light rail transit, that promote long-term economic growth.” - Ted Menzies, former Minister of State(Finance)

High