Building LRT

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Building a new LRT line is a significant infrastructure project that can take several years of planning, engineering and public engagement before construction can begin.

LRT Network Plan

The need for LRT in Edmonton was first identified in 1962. In 1978, ETS started operating Edmonton’s first LRT line from Belvedere station to Central station. With this, Edmonton became the first city in North America with a population of less than one million to build a modern light rail system.

In 2009, City Council adopted a long-term LRT Network Plan. As time passed, elements of the plan continued to evolve and were incorporated into The City Plan, Edmonton’s combined municipal development plan and transportation master plan. With the approval of The City Plan in 2020, the LRT network will continue to expand to all quadrants of the city in conjunction with bus rapid transit (BRT) along key routes.

Property Acquisition

The City considers the impact on property owners when approving projects and selects plans that minimize the need for the acquisition of private property. In some cases, privately-held property will need to be acquired in order for the project to move forward.

The City prefers to acquire properties needed for a project that are listed or otherwise offered for sale. For properties not offered for sale, a City of Edmonton property agent will contact owners when the City begins to actively acquire properties for the project. City property agents will negotiate in good faith in an effort to reach agreement with the owners to buy the required properties for fair compensation.

If a property owner and the City property agent cannot reach an agreement to purchase the property, the City may proceed with expropriation of the property as a last resort.

Property Expropriation

Expropriation is a process by which an authority such as a municipality can acquire property or a portion of a property without the consent of the owner. The process is governed by the Alberta Expropriation Act. Expropriation in Alberta is overseen by the Land Compensation Board.

The City is committed to work with affected property owners to try to reach an agreement throughout the expropriation process.

LRT Network Map

Map Legend

	Capital Line		Metro Line North
	Capital Line South		Metro Line Northwest
	Potential Future Extension		Valley Line Southeast
			Valley Line West

The City Plan is Edmonton’s long-term vision that charts how we will get to a future city that supports two million people. Expanding the LRT network is one way the City aims to meet the objectives of The City Plan. The City Plan focuses on a healthy and diverse mobility network that provides residents with a variety of more sustainable travel options.

The City has reviewed Edmonton’s network-wide LRT expansion plans with goals to:

Define the type of LRT system that best meets Edmonton's long-term objectives
Identify the number of lines and their ultimate destinations
Review system design and technology

Completed Projects

Metro Line: Phase 1 Extension

January 20, 2024

Phase 1 of the Metro Line Northwest is a 1.6-kilometre extension. The extension includes two LRT stations: NAIT/Blatchford Market Station and Blatchford Gate Station.

Blatchford Gate Station will not open for service until the criteria for the City’s Transit Service Standards (Policy C539A ) is met.

Valley Line: Downtown to Mill Woods

November 4, 2023

Valley Line Southeast is a 13-kilometre low-floor LRT system from downtown to Mill Woods. Valley Line Southeast connects to the Capital Line and Metro Line at the Churchill stop in downtown.

2023: 11 street-level stops and one elevated station at Davies opened.

Metro Line: Churchill to NAIT Expansion

September 6, 2015

With the opening of the Metro line it expanded the LRT Network 3.3 km from Churchill LRT Station in downtown Edmonton northwest to NAIT.

2015: MacEwan, Kingsway/Royal Alexandra Hospital, NAIT stations opened

Capital Line: Health Sciences to Century Park Expansion

2010 to 2009

With the opening of three more stations it expanded the line to 21 km.

2010: Southgate and Century Park stations opened
2009: McKernan/Belgravia and South Campus/Fort Edmonton Park stations open

Capital Line: Clareview to Health Sciences

1962 to 2006

2006: Health Sciences Station opens
1998 and 2001: Upgrades to the Belvedere and Clareview stations occurred
August 23, 1992: Extension from Government Centre to University Station opened. It includes a North Saskatchewan River bridge crossing
September 1989: Extension from the Corona Station to Government Centre Station opened
December 1983: The D.L. MacDonald Yard, between Belvedere and Clareview, opened for storage and to service the vehicles
June 1983: Downtown was extended to the Bay and Corona stations
April 26, 1981: Extension from the CN right-of-way to Clareview Station opened
April 22, 1978: Service started from Central Station to Belvedere Station in time for the 1978 Commonwealth Games
1974 to 1977: Construction and testing started
1962: Plans for Edmonton's LRT were developed

History

Council Approved The City Plan

The City Plan is about our spaces and places and how we move around the city. The City Plan combines the Municipal Development Plan and Transportation Master Plan, and includes strategic direction in environmental planning, social planning and economic development.

Council Approved LRT Network Plan

June 2, 2009

Transportation and Public Works Committee Minutes (Item E1)

Regional LRT Network Plan Report

LRT Network Plan Elements

Long Term Potential LRT Ridership Map

The report outlines key characteristics of the future LRT network, recommendations on system style, vehicle technology, number of LRT lines and tunnel capacity constraints.

These documents are located in the Transportation Committee Archives.

Information Sessions

May 2009

The City held two open information sessions, where aspects of the LRT Network Plan were shared with the public.

LRT Expansion Plan Presentation

Project Lifecycle

Project Lifecycle No Stage

Strategy

Project Lifecycle Strategy

Strategies examine how potential LRT expansion fits in with long term plans to use land and manage growth. Two strategic studies for LRT are The Transportation Master Plan and LRT Network Plan.

Concept

Project Lifecycle Concept

Concept plans define the route, stop/station locations and LRT track alignment within transportation corridors. They also identify all major infrastructure, crossings, property requirements and initial cost estimates.

Projects

Metro Line Northwest

Design

Project Lifecycle Design

This phase includes two successive parts: preliminary design and detailed design. The design phase further refines engineering details and develops architectural, landscaping and aesthetic plans. Property requirements are confirmed.

Projects

Build

Project Lifecycle Build

A project delivery strategy, detailed cost estimates, construction plans and tender packages are developed. Construction begins.

Project

Heritage Valley Park & Ride

Operate

Project Lifecycle Operate The new stops/stations open and the LRT goes into service.

Projects

Design Guidelines

LRT Design Guidelines provide standards, guidance and performance-based design criteria for engineering and building LRT in Edmonton. These guidelines ensure that the City designs and builds a uniform system that is easy to maintain and upgrade.

City projects adhere to City Design and Construction Standards.

The City's High-Floor LRT Design Guidelines (36MB) were updated in 2022. Council has provided direction to adhere to urban LRT principles in future high-floor LRT projects.

Valley Line LRT

The technical requirements for design and construction of the Valley Line LRT are embedded in Schedule 5 of the Valley Line - Stage 1 P3 Project Agreement.

Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI)

With direction from the City and two years of public consultation, the principle of Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI) was established.

SUI looks beyond the building of tracks and trains to create neighbourhoods that are safe, attractive and connected. This involves designing livable, pedestrian-friendly environments, and adding enhancements that reflect the feel and character of each of the communities along the LRT corridor.

Some examples of SUI enhancements include:

Building shared-use pathways, sidewalks and trails
Adding bike lanes that connect to the City’s existing bike lane network
Designing pedestrian-friendly zones around stops and stations
Using enhanced landscaping and streetscaping along the length of the corridor to create a more natural environment
Incorporating organic materials such as stone and wood wherever possible

These principles were incorporated into the Valley Line LRT - Stage 1 Project Agreement.

Council Approved LRT Crossing Assessment Framework

June 13, 2017

As a result of traffic-related concerns, Council approved a framework to evaluate if LRT crossings should be street level, above or below the road.

Council Meeting Minutes June 13, 2017 (Item 6.2)

LRT Crossing Assessment Framework Fact Sheet

Urban LRT

Between 1978 and 2009, Edmonton’s LRT system was best described as a “suburban style” system with longer distances between stations that were mostly located at key destinations. With the approval of the LRT Network Plan in 2009, the City adjusted its approach to an “urban style” system. Urban LRT is designed to have smaller-scale stops that are spaced closer together and fit into neighbourhoods, while balancing mobility needs with traffic flow.

The urban approach improves connections between the LRT and city life. Changes include:

Most tracks at street level
Stops/Stations built closer together
Some connections between different LRT lines, especially at Churchill Station
Reduced speeds through residential areas

Urban LRT Factsheet

Transit Oriented Development

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is an approach to building a city that concentrates on housing, shopping and employment along a network of walkable and bikeable streets within a five minute walk of transit stations – or 400 metres in any direction.

Contact Us

Phone	311

Building LRT

LRT Network Plan

Property​ ​Acquisition

Property​ ​Expropriation

LRT Network Map

Map Legend

Completed Projects

Council Approved The City Plan

Council Approved LRT Network Plan

Information Sessions

Design Guidelines

Valley Line LRT

Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI)

Council Approved LRT Crossing Assessment Framework

Urban LRT

Transit Oriented Development

Contact Us

Property Acquisition

Property Expropriation