LRT Consultation Planning Study

Exploring the possibility of Light Rail Transit in St. Albert

The City of St. Albert, in partnership with AECOM, a global provider of technical and management support services, is conducting a planning study to discuss and determine the long-term strategic plan for the possibility of Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the city. The study is being conducted in two stages:

Stage 1 - Completed in 2014 - identified St. Albert Trail as the preferred LRT corridor and outlined considerations needed in the future should it become part of the City's future plans. This is the first step in a lengthy planning study that gives the City the opportunity to explore and undertake a more detailed analysis.
Stage 2 - Completed in 2015 – identified benefits, conceptual plans and projected costs of the preferred alignment, as well as reviewed alignment alternatives.

Stage 2 Results

Residents and stakeholders were invited to an Open House on June 16, 2015, to learn more and provide their input on the Stage 2 Study. The open house presented information for the preferred LRT route along St. Albert Trail. Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and participated in the public engagement process.

Stage 2 findings of the LRT Functional Alignment Study include:

The preferred LRT alignment would begin at the planned Campbell Road Station within the City of Edmonton and run up the east side of St. Albert Trail with a bridge crossing of Anthony Henday Drive to an LRT station on the northeast corner of Hebert Road/Gervais Road and St. Albert Trail intersection.
North of Hebert Road/Gervais Road, the LRT will continue along the east side of St. Albert Trail, replacing two existing lanes. The LRT will cross Sir Winston Churchill Avenue on a new bridge structure. An LRT station will be located near downtown on the bridge structure crossing the Sturgeon River. A new pedestrian overpass will be provided across St. Albert Trail to access the station. The existing St. Albert Exchange will be relocated to the north of Sturgeon Road adjacent to the LRT station.
The LRT alignment continues on the east edge of St. Albert Trail to an LRT station at the Boudreau Road/Giroux Road and St. Albert Trail intersection. The LRT alignment will continue to the north of Erin Ridge Road, where it will cross St. Albert Trail to the west side, where the North St. Albert Station will be located adjacent to a Transit Centre and a 500 parking stall Park and Ride facility.
The proposed LRT will be approximately 7 km in length and cost an estimated $1.1 Billion

Open House Boards

LRT Planning Study Background Information

St. Albert LRT Planning Study Phase 2 - Alignment Selection Report

Stage 1 Results

The St. Albert LRT Planning Study Stage 1 – Corridor Selection Report identifies St. Albert Trail as the preferred LRT corridor, should the City determine that an LRT extension is viable based on priorities and future City vision. See the complete report (under Resources below) and the public consultation feedback.

The discussion of an LRT route at this early stage was necessary as long-term strategic plans for the City of St. Albert and the Capital Region Board have identified the need for a LRT line through St. Albert, connecting to the City of Edmonton’s LRT system.

LRT routes need to be planned well in advance of the actual construction for several reasons, including:

Defining locations of major transit nodes to plan for potential higher density, mixed-use redevelopment.
Providing costs and benefits to help make informed decisions on future financing, project delivery strategies and implementation.
Developing concepts and plans to position the project for potential Provincial and Federal funding.
Identifying land requirements to prepare for future land purchases on an opportunity basis (as it becomes available).
To protect a future corridor for compatible development.